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Building Bridges with Fellow Texans, Northwood Church - Nov. 2011

Trac5 Intern & Ambassador Farrukh Ghouri shared news of an interfaith event at Northwood Church. It was an interfaith community event in its totality. Muslims and Christians coming together and showing their oneness as being proud Americans and sharing their stories, their faith, and expressing their love and gratitude. I think the pictures say it all about the turnout and the success bringing people of two faiths together in harmony.

Maqam Center Christmas Dinner - Dec. 2011

Trac5 Ambassadors at the Maqam Center hosted a Christmas dinner. We invited some people for pr-Christmas dinner with good response. They had dinner and "Celebrated Friendships" with food, stories, and gift for the children. They shared about Trac5 and had a good time together.

  





 


Hope House Thanksgiving Dinner - 11/24/2011

 
Trac5 Ambassadors Bruce & Jan Willson hosted a Thanksgiving feast for their neighbors at Hope House.  More than 50 friends, primarily from Somalia, gathered despited the rain and snow to enjoy wonderful food and friendship.  Read the full article in the Sun Journal here.

Mosque Visit - 11/18/11

 
Trac5 Ambassador, Farrukh Ghouri helped facilitate a mosque visit to the Colleyville Masjid in Dallas. A group from The first United Methodist Church came to the mosque with the intention of educating their children. Trac5 believes that when people of different faiths have personal interaction that it breaks down the walls of distrust.

Eid-Al-Adha Party - 11/6/2011

Trac5 Ambassadors Bruce & Jan Willson hosted an Eid-al-Adha party at their facility- Hope House.  Muslims and Christians gathered together for a time of singing, dancing and a sharing in the meaning of this special Muslim holiday.  New friendships were made and other friendships strengthened.

Creating Intercultural Community - 10/29/2011

Trac5 Ambassador Nicole Ketcham invited a group of 11 friends from 8 different countries to her home to share a bowl of Senegalese yassa.  Nicole calls the gathering “creating intercultural community.” The idea is that the group is up to the challenge to form real friendships with each other, learning about each other at deeper levels, cultivating mutual respect and showing true love of neighbor. The momentum is positive and is hopefully the beginnings of true intercultural community in Columbia, SC.








 

 
Arab Spring Gathering - 9/17/2011

Trac5 Ambassadors, Mark Siljander and Jeff Burns, were invited to the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park, Illinois to speak to 150 Syrian Muslims. They were able to share ideas for Trac5 type of engagement and to encourage the Muslim Syrian community as they grapple with the humanitarian crisis in their home counrty.

Hope House's 2011 Baby Olympics - 9/11/2011

Young Somali refugees gathered to compete in the Baby Olympics where everyone was a winner.  Bruce & Jan Willson, Trac5 Ambassadors and creators of "Hope House," hosted this community event with more than 60 little athletes participating.  "It's Your Day to Shine" was the theme, with songs and prizes as well as the message that God made each one of them.

 
The Abraham Build Project - 9/11/2011

Muslims, Christians & Jews came together for peace and solidarity at Long Acres in Raleigh, NC.  Jeff Burns, Trac5 Ambassador and East Coast Director of Peace Catalyst International, facilitated this gathering on the tenth anniversary of 9/11.  They are working on the "Abraham Project" which involved building a home together in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

The Peace Pole - 9/11/2011

People from the community of Clifton gathered at a ceremony at Allwood Community Church on 9/11 to dedicate an International Peace Pole.  On the pole is the prayer, "May peace prevail on earth" written in many languages.  At the dedication this was read in 10 different languages by people in the community.  The garden area is set aside for anyone who wishes to come and pray for peace on earth.

Sharing Ramadan - Ramadan 2011

Various Trac5 Ambassadors participated in Sharing Ramadan meals in 17 different events across the nation in August.  From California to Texas to Tennessee to Georgia to New Jersey, Christians were welcomed with open arms into homes and mosques to observe and participate in Iftar meals with their Muslim friends and neighbors.