Grant Awarded to University of Richmond Chaplaincy, Karamah and First Freedom for Sept. 11 Anti-Bias Project
July 8, 2003
Three organizations will work together to prevent bias against the Muslim, South Asian and Arab communities in Richmond, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the ChevronTexaco Foundation.
The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) grant has been awarded to the University of Richmond Chaplaincy, Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Council for America's First Freedom for their "September 11th Anti-Bias Project."
The grant will fund the project, which will run for a year beginning July 15, 2003.
David D. Burhans, university chaplain, and Azizah al-Hibri, founder and executive director of Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights will co-chair a steering committee. Jonathan Zur, a 2003 Richmond graduate who worked with both the Virginia and New Jersey regions of NCCJ as a Bonner Scholar at the university, will serve as director of the project. Bonner Scholars receive scholarships for performing community service.
The anti-bias project also is forming an advisory board of representatives from communities affected by bias after Sept. 11, 2001, as well as other ethnic and religious communities.
The Chaplain's Office has worked for a number of years to aid South Asian, Muslim and Arab students, faculty and staff to create opportunities for worship and fellowship on campus.
Robert G. Moore III, associate chaplain and director of the Bonner Scholars program, said the grant would make possible citywide educational outreach and media campaigns.
Al-Hibri, a professor in the university's law school, is a former Fulbright Scholar. She has written extensively on issues of Islam and democracy, Muslim women's rights and human rights in Islam.
The mission of the Council for America's First Freedom, developers of the First Freedom Center planned for the 1780-1788 Virginia capitol site at 14th and East Cary streets, is to strengthen public understanding of religious liberty and Virginia's role in establishing that freedom. Its president, Richmond attorney Tommy Baer, is immediate past president of B'nai B'rith International, and its executive director, D. Stephen Elliott, has 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator.
The partners' proposal was selected from 300 applications from 36 states and Washington, D.C.
Sanford Cloud Jr., president and CEO of NCCJ, said, "It was both sobering and heartening to read of the many efforts nationwide to address the heightened discrimination against Arabs, Muslims and South Asians in the wake of September 11th attacks. In communities throughout the country, people are working hard to build bridges of understanding and respect across many faiths, races and cultures."