With all the stories on the Internet it can be difficult to always stay in the know. To help, we’ve searched the web for interesting pieces of news, videos and tips to help you start off your week on the right foot.
1. ‘Curious George’ learns about Ramadan
Curious George, after celebrating Easter and Hanukkah, is curious about another world faith: Islam.
Over the years George has celebrated holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Easter. Now the iconic monkey and his friend in the yellow hat have become curious about another world faith: Islam.
‘It’s Ramadan Curious George’ written by Hena Khan focuses on George, the Man with the Yellow Hat and their new friend Kareem as they learn about the Muslim holy month of fasting, prayer and charity.
“I thought it was an amazing opportunity for inclusion, and to really allow Muslim children to identify with this character they love so much,” Khan told NY Daily News.
Khan, a Pakistani-American, said she grew up reading Curious George. The Maryland writer was brought on to the project by editors at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in part because she’s already penned two successful Islamic-themed picture books.
“The idea of working with a character that is so well known and beloved was a little intimidating at first,” Khan said, “Those feelings quickly gave way to the thrill of introduction George to new concepts and traditions that I hold dear, and to know that he would in turn bring them to other children and their parents.”
[tweetthis] The iconic Curious George and his friend in the yellow hat have become curious about another world faith: Islam.[/tweetthis]
2. Michelle Obama assembles a kick-ass lady crew to talk about the #StateofWomen
On June 14, the first United State of Women Summit will be held. The event, created by The White House, will feature a variety of sessions that are designed to recognize how far women have come as well as add to the conversation the ways in which women can continue to succeed and push for change in the future. On Monday, Michelle Obama posted a promo video featuring a collection of kick-ass ladies such as Kerry Washington, Laverne Cox , Tina Fey and Cecile Richards.
“We are the United State of Women, and we stand stronger when we stand together,” the first lady stresses in the video.
According to the summit’s website, the event will focus on six topics: economic empowerment, health and wellness, educational opportunity, violence against women, entrepreneurship and innovation and leadership and civic engagement. Since the video’s posting, social media users have shown their support with the hashtag #StateOfWomen.
[tweetthis]“We are the United State of Women, and we stand stronger when we stand together,” Michelle Obama stresses in her promo video for the first United State of Women Summit.[/tweetthis]
3. Student feeds hundreds of people every night during Ramadan
Rooful Ali/ Ramadan Tent Project
Omar Salha, founder of Ramadan Tent, says it started out small. With the help of a handful of friends they set up their first spread on their university’s [School of Oriental and African Studies] grounds, inviting random passersby to join them in breaking their fast during Ramadan. Sala told BuzzFeed News that in five years his grassroots crowd-funded project has grown rapidly. Tents have been pitched in seven cities across the world including Manchester, London and Plymouth in the UK, Istanbul in Turkey, Ndola in Zambia, and Toronto and Portland in Canada. He explained that around 400 volunteers have signed up to help and over 300 guests come to London’s Malet Street Gardens each night.
“In 2011 when we started, we had only a [shopping] trolley with a handful of foods donated to us,” Salha said. “It wasn’t healthy at all – we only had things we could get our hands on. Most of the stuff was [from] the supermarkets. Around 10 to 15 of us would go and buy pizzas, crisps, tea, coffee, water, and dates – you know, the simple stuff.”
4. Veil starts Kickstarter for better modest athleisure
Veil, the athletic clothing line known for bringing innovation to the table and revolutionizing the way women wear the hijab, has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to finance looser-fitting, flattering workout wear.
According to Veil’s website its vision is to “not only encompasses the need to make modest-wear more comfortable and functional, but to motivate and inspire women around the globe to follow and accomplish whatever goals they dream of.”
The campaign includes two new tops. The Spark Half-Zip Sweater ($45) and Halo Running Hoodie ($45), are cut long with high slits that allow full mobility while working out. They also have smart design features such as a hidden pocket for a phone or keys and motivational phrases printed on the inside.
5. Thirteen fun ways to celebrate Ramadan with your kids
In celebration of the start of Ramadan, craft stylist Manal Aman from Hello Holy Days! created a number of crafts, games and treats that parents can share with their kids. The list of 13 activities ranges from paper bag mosques to crescent star garlic bread bites to Eid guessing games.
[tweetthis]13 super fun ways to celebrate Ramadan with kids[/tweetthis]
6. “Just me and Allah” photography series documents the experiences of queer Muslims
queermuslimproject.tumblr.com
Toronto-based photographer Samra Habib got the idea to start a photography project featuring queer Muslims a few years ago.
“I wanted to show everyone the creative and brilliant LGBTQ Muslims I identified with the most and would hang out with at art shows, queer dance parties and Jumu’ah prayer,” Habib to BuzzFeed LGBT.
The project’s Tumblr account was created only a few days ago and Habib is already receiving requests from Muslims all over the world to take her project on the road. She is scheduled to show her exhibition in Toronto starting June 18 in coordination with World Pride.
One of Habib photography subjects said, “We have always been here, it’s just that the world wasn’t ready for us yet.”
Habib described to BuzzFeed LGBT what the project means to her saying, “Mainstream Islam isn’t always welcoming of LGBTQ Muslims, yet a lot of the Muslim traditions and rituals bring queer Muslims comfort and provide a sense of belonging.”
[tweetthis]altM’s weekly roundup of news[/tweetthis]
This list was curated by Kaitlin Montgomery, altM News Editor
