Join First Presbyterian Church and the Beloved Community Project for a community event centering the voices of our Muslim neighbors. All are welcome!

We begin at 5 pm with a discussion focusing on the experiences of Muslim women; Dayton-area Muslim sisters will speak and share, including conversations about the wearing of hijab. Present will be women who both do and do not wear head coverings, and a hijab table will be available for those who wish to try on a hijab or speak more fully on the subject. Muslim brothers will be present as well, also speaking to their experiences. This will be the listening portion of the program.

At 6, we will break bread together and form connections with one another or a more intimate level. The meal is a halal-friendly potluck; we ask that if you are able, please bring something for the table. It need not be halal, and you need not provide food in order to eat. 

This event is family-friendly. We will have child-care available (we’re looking for extra volunteers in case there is a large turnout; comment here or email revsaari@gmail.com) and art projects for the kids. 

At 7:15, we’ll regather as a group and begin talking about concrete actions we can take together to be better neighbors and allies to our Muslim siblings.

This event is open to people of all and no faith traditions. 

Finally, this event will be bookended by another event on November 16. The contents of the program will be determined by our October 28 event. 

There will be photography at the event, as it is part of Rev. Saari’s doctoral capstone project. No one will be photographed who does not wish to be; all children’s faces will be obscured unless explicitly permitted by parents. 

SurveyMonkey surveys will be part of both events; hard copies will be available, but the preferred method is online. 

Questions can be addressed to revsaari@gmail.com