I hope you are having a blessed start to Ramadan. It goes without saying that this Ramadan is different, especially for those of you who are on campus. The communal aspect of this month is surely missing, but I hope you can find other ways to make it meaningful and still connect with family and friends digitally. The Markaz is planning special Ramadan events and activities from late night hangouts to nutrition and wellness tips, and our staff is working hard to make sure that we can bring virtual community to you during this time. As we progress through the month, I wish for us good health, deep meaning, and swift ease, especially for those most vulnerable. And, as I like to say to myself every year - may it be our best Ramadan yet.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Abiya Ahmed
Associate Dean & Director
The Markaz Resource Center
RAMADAN LATE NIGHT
Saturday, May 2 at 8:30 PM PST Join MSU, Markaz and ORL for a late-night community meet-up during Ramadan. We will use zoom break out rooms to create virtual dinner tables that you can join. Some tables will have games and facilitation, others will be completely free-form - you choose your own late-night Ramadan adventure! Participants will receive a door dash gift card from MSU to purchase a meal, snack or desert during the event. RSVP for zoom link and gift card.
RAMADAN RESOURCES & REMINDERS
To-go suhoor and iftar boxes: If you are on campus during Ramadan, sign up for to-go suhoor and iftar meal during Ramadan online atdining.stanford.edu/Ramadan.
Weekly Halaqa with Dr. Rania Awad: Thursdays starting at 6:30 PM PSTZoom link
Stay healthy while fasting: Markaz will be providing a weekly wellness tip in our newsletter and on our Instagram (@markazstanford) for those observing the fast during Ramadan.
MARKAZ COMMUNITY CREATIVE ARCHIVE: QUARANTINE FREESTYLE AND BISMILLAH
We have begun to add to our Markaz Community Creative Archive! Thank you to Tai Anthony McMillian and Habeeb Jimoh for this week's contributions.
QUARANTINE FREESTYLEfrom Tai Anthony McMillan.
Tai Anthony McMillan (IG @tvi_vnthony) is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Systems Engineering.
BISMILLAH from Habeeb Jimoh. Habeeb Jimoh (IG @habiblahjimoh) is a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Computation.
SUBMIT TO THE COMMUNITY CREATIVE ARCHIVE: The Markaz is holding an online space for creative and imaginative responses to COVID-19. We are accepting poems, visual art, music, and essays on themes of home, explorations of physical and digital space, and otherwise thinking on community in times of quarantine. Submissions added to the digital Markaz website will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.SHARE YOUR SUBMISSION HERE!
UPCOMING MARKAZ EVENTS
AFTERZOOM CHAI: FIT EDITION Tuesday, April 28 at 3:30 PM PST
This week at AfterZoom Chai, get a small, fasting-friendly workout in! Join for a short workout -- or just to hang out with friends. We’ll play workout videos in a breakout room and have the main room for chatting and games. Get in some wellness time and hang out with your friends for a fun experience! See you there. Zoom link here.
MARKAZ TOWN HALL | SPRING 2020 Friday, May 1 at 10:30 AM PST
Join Director Abiya Ahmed and Associate Director Cassie Garcia for an online town hall to discuss the future of the Markaz. Abiya will present her thoughts on Markaz's past, present and future, and both directors will be available to answer your questions. This community conversation will inform our efforts to envision the next five years of Markaz! We look forward to an engaging and lively discussion.
Book a 30-minute appointment between 3:15 - 4:45 PM on Mondays with Dr. Enas Dakwar. These telehealth sessions are designed to provide all members of the Markaz Community, wherever you are, with support. Due to legal restrictions, zoom video will be provided for students within the state of California. If you are out of state or country, only zoom audio will be provided.
How to book an appointment: Send Dr. Dakwar a message to request an appointment directly through the VadenPatient portal. Go to: https://vaden.stanford.edu/make-appointment
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
What's your story? Share at FACES 2020! NSO FACES is looking for speakers and student groups to preform for the Class of 2024 next fall. Faces of Community aims to introduce the incoming class to Stanford's diversity. This event includes speakers, dance and musical performances that serve to represent the many faces of the Stanford community. Speakers are encouraged to share their personal narratives to find their individual voice while inspiring others to embrace their own experiences. Applications are due May 15th at 5PM. If interested, please apply here! For questions, please email Hamzeh Daoud (hamzehd@stanford.edu).
Take a class on Contemporary Islam and Muslims in America over the summer: What is really going on for American Muslims in a post 9/11, Trump-era America? How are they managing their identities and commitment? What role do racial and gender dynamics, ideological differences, and politics play in this process? This course (RELIGST 26S), taught by Abiya Ahmed, will explore these questions (and more) and help develop a critical perspective on the American Muslim experience, particularly as a case of how one diverse religious community negotiates religion in a complex sociopolitical setting.
Apply for the Marhub International Internship.Marhub Internationalaims to eliminate barriers for refugees seeking pathways to safety and the chance to rebuild their lives. They are looking for an Arabic-speaking User Experience and Engagement Intern to help build and maintain an engaged community of Marhub’s users. Both spring and summer internships are available. Email jobs@marhub.co with your resume and a short paragraph about why you’re a good fit for the role to apply. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Intern with the Arab Film and Media Institute: Are you passionate about Arab Cinema? Would you like to spend a few hours a week supporting our mission of showcasing the best Arab films? The Arab Film and Media Institute is looking for volunteers and interns to join their all remote team. Find all the details and apply here.
A NOTE ON MARKAZ EVENTS
During Spring quarter, Markaz events will continue to be ways that we learn, engage and relax together. We know that we are a diverse and global community, however, for consistency, all events will be scheduled on PST. We hope that you will be able to join us as much as you can. We recognize that this will be most difficult for our international students and ask that you please let us know what times would be best for alternate events.
For all students, help us plan events that are meaningful to you by taking a few minutes to complete this form.
