The 1 Dinner of Abrahamic Traditions
February 2, 2004

Place:
Mount Prospect, IL

One of Niagara Foundation’s highlights is the event of Abrahamic Traditions. This is a unique opportunity for members of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths to celebrate their shared roots and traditions derived from their common ancestor, the Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him).

     

The 1st Annual Celebration of The Life of Prophet Muhammad
May 2, 2004

Location:
Hyatt Rosemont
6350 N. River Road
Rosemont, Illinois, 60018

Theme:
Lessons from the Life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)"

Niagara Foundation has a vital role in the communities around the Chicago land area, which is to represent the peaceful face of Islam through various Interfaith Dialogue programs.

Educating ourselves about one anothers’ traditions is the only way to battle misconceptions and quell our fears.

The Annual commemoration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad which is one of Niagara Foundation’s annual classics is a public event through which Niagara works to inform Chicagoans about the person, life, and work of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Keynote Speakers:

1-Dr. Marcia Hermansen
Loyola University

2-Dr. Zeki Saritoprak
John Carroll University

3-Dr. Souleymane Bachir Diagne
Northwestern University

 

The 1^st Friendship & Intercultural Tours to

Turkey
May 7-15, 2004


Niagara Foundation organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the Muslim world and the West. Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table. Chicagoans are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding.

   

The Whirling Dervishes of Rumi from Turkey
September 15, 2004

Place:
The Chicago Theater

Cultural activities provide prime opportunities to share our unique identities with each other. Coming to know one another helps to dispel bias and stereotypes, all the while building trust and friendship.

In this regard, Niagara Foundation works to bring top quality cultural activities to Chicagoans. In 2003 and 2004, the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey performed one of the world’s most popular expressions of Sufi music and traditional meditative dance.

Website:

sufinight.com

   

The 2^nd Annual Friendship & Dialogue

Dinners
October 21, 2004

Theme

Niagara Foundation organizes annual interfaith dialogue dinners and meetings with people from a wide variety of religious traditions.

Ramadan is a month when the relationships within and outside the community are strengthened by fasting and breaking the fast. To reinforce the friendship, and dialog between diverse communities, we gather in the interfaith dinners during Ramadan with people from all walks of life of varied communities and faith groups to emphasize on the values such as mutual understanding, deep respect, mutual love, and peace. This is such an event where people from different traditions express their thoughts and offer their friendships.

Keynote Speakers

1- Dr. Alison Boden
University of Chicago

2- Reverend Stanley Davis, Jr.
Interfaith Conncetions

3- Very Rev. Father Demetri C. Kantzavelos
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago

4- Kareem Irfan, Esq.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

5- Sr. Joan McGuire
Archdiocese of Chicago

6- Rabbi Ira Youdovin
Chicago Board of Rabbis