• The.Ismaili | 07 February 2019

    Promoting Pluralism: US Delegation Visits the Ismaili Centre, Toronto

    A Delegation from the United States pose for a photo with some Council for Ontario Members and Ismaili Centre Tour Guides Akber Dewji

A diverse delegation from the United States consisting of a senior community affairs advisor in the Mayor’s office of New York City, a senior Rabbi from Los Angeles, President of the California Pakistan Arts Council and a Professor of Religions from the University of Southern California enjoyed a tour of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto.

 

 

Working in the New York City Mayor’s office, Dr. Sarah Sayeed is responsible for citywide Muslim engagement. Rabbi Ken Chasen is a prolific author on a wide variety of social justice topics and Senior Rabbi of Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles.  Samira Saleh is the current President of the Pakistan Arts Council of the USC Pacific Asia Museum and Dr. Donald E Miller is a Professor of Religion at the Unity of Southern California and co-founder of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. Professor Miller’s academic interests include global religious trends, new patterns of religious practice, and innovative organizational responses to cultural change.

Council for Ontario President Sheherazade Hirji accompanied the group on the tour and provided an overview of the Ismaili community’s settlement in Canada and the ambassadorial role that the Ismaili Centre, Toronto and other Ismaili Centres around the world play in promoting pluralism and building bridges. The group admired the art housed in the Centre and the beauty and serenity of the space and remarked that the Ismaili Centre, Toronto is a physical manifestation of the embrace of artistic excellence, modernity, and search for God. The group also enjoyed a tour of the Aga Khan Museum next door.