“Civil society is powered by private energies, committed to the public good…It seeks consensus through genuine consent. It can experiment, adapt and accommodate diversity. It can in the fullest sense, be “of, by, and for the people.” Mawlana Hazar Imam, International New York Times Athens Democracy Forum, Athens, Greece, September 15, 2015.
Civil Society can be broadly defined as a wide spectrum of non-governmental and non-profit organizations that are important for communities, and that reflect their interests and values, based on cultural, political, scientific, professional, ethical, religious or philanthropic considerations. They are important for communities because they are grassroots individual and collective initiatives with the objective of representing common interests.
Participation in civic life allows people to be better informed on topics of interest, become active citizens who may be able to influence the decisions that affect their lives and communities, and advocate for policies about which they are passionate. Examples would include museums, charities, professional organizations, faith-based groups, and organizations such as the Red Cross and the Rotarians.
Within the Jamat, we have organizations such as the Ismaili Professionals Association, the American Ismaili Chamber of Commerce, Ismaili Health Professionals Association, and the Ismaili Media and Communications Alliance that bring people with common interests together to learn and network.
There is also a need to extend one’s perspective beyond the Jamat and contribute our talent and share our interests with others, to improve the lives of the community as a whole. As these organizations rely on volunteers and donors to provide services, information or access to their communities or members, their strength and impact is dependent on public participation.
Three individuals who have offered their time, talent or resources to organizations in the cultural field are Anil and Shaheen Nanji, and Omar Samji.
Supporting the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (content provided by Meena Nanji)
The Aga Khan Music Initiative and the Aga Khan Museum are examples of the Imamat’s interest in promoting arts and culture, particularly of Muslim civilizations. During his visit to Tajikistan, Mawlana Hazar Imam spoke, “...about the ways in which music can be a strong cultural anchor, deepening a sense of community, identity, and heritage, while simultaneously reaching out in powerful ways to people of different backgrounds.”
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“The arts matter because we matter, and our stories matter. We are moving miracles, walking creators engaging in a cosmic dance. The art we express is timeless,” writes Mohammed Sheriff of the National Endowment for the Arts. It is our responsibility to contribute to these stories for others to experience and to secure a place in the cultural heritage of local communities.
Individual initiatives can bridge distances in culture, and music and art can provide common platforms of interest.
Longtime Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) supporters, Shaheen and Anil Nanji were awarded LACO’s 2024 Heartstrings Award at its Annual Gala Celebration held in April 2024. LACO ranks among the world’s top musical ensembles, founded in 1968 to create an artistic for the recording industry’s most gifted musicians.
Shaheen has served on the LACO Board of Directors for the last decade and has Co-chaired the organization’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the past four years. Both Anil and Shaheen have hosted many events at their home, bringing in new audiences, with LACO musicians performing live for guests in an intimate setting.
In his introduction, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and record producer Mike Stoller said that the couple, “…through their hearts, have supported the heart of LACO with their incredible generosity of time and resources, and so have ensured that beautiful music can be played and heard live for future generations.”
Accepting the award, Anil remarked:
“Every great city has a beating heart made up of its cultural institutions …Among these treasures, LACO occupies a very special place for us – because it’s boldly adventurous in its programming, because it takes music directly to communities across our city, because of the tremendously talented virtuoso musicians who make up the orchestra…..bringing us all closer together through the power of music that uplifts and unites us all.”
Shaheen has been involved with LACO for 30 years, attending concerts and volunteering. She recounts:
“Being invited on the Board was an exciting opportunity to be a part of this world-class organization and to be involved in the music, arts, and cultural life of Los Angeles. Through this experience I have been able to build meaningful ties with leaders of LA’s civil society, allowing an exchange of ideas in a very positive environment.”
Greater civic involvement is something Shaheen encourages others to do, saying, “Getting involved in a positive way in the wider community is, I believe, very important to increasing mutual understanding and building influence – I highly encourage others to pursue such opportunities in a wide variety of fields.”
The couple have supported institutions such as Human Rights Watch, Everychild FoundationUCLA’s Academy for Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies, examples of the positive change Ismailis can make towards a more inclusive and just society.
Houston attorney makes time for arts and other groups
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Specializing in the legal issues of the energy industry, Omar Samji still finds time to engage in external activities that support the community. Based in Houston, he currently serves as the Member for Communications and Publications on the Ismaili Council for the USA. Previously, he served for ten years on the Ismaili Conciliation and Arbitration Boards (CAB). During his tenure on CAB, he became involved with the Texas Association of Mediators, and is currently President-elect of its Board of Directors.
Education and the arts have also been passions for Omar, who is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Fay School, a non-denominational independent elementary and early childhood education school. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Performing Arts Houston (PAH), the largest arts presenting organization in the southern US.
PAH is second only to New York City with the most live theater seats in the country. It brings artists from around the world - across nearly every genre of performing arts - to perform and conduct educational programs in Houston.
At the same time, PAH’s mission includes arts education and promotion, and it partners with public school districts to involve visiting artists in programs to expose and educate young people about the performing arts; and its local stage program identifies up and coming artists who could benefit from access to Houston’s biggest stage.
Apart from Omar’s appreciation for the arts as a source of richness in our culture and society, his activities may serve the Jamat well in the future. The Ismaili Center Houston plans to host cultural events and it also has a black box theater.
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As a performing arts venue located just down the road from the theater district, Omar believes the Ismaili Center Houston “… creates the potential for some amazing partnerships and collaborations with PAH. Houston’s landscape of big stages is about to get a new entrant, and creating a connection between the Center’s theater, and PAH as the largest arts presenter in the region, seems like an obvious synergy.”
Our stories and participation in the arts and other civic groups can make a difference, as they allow us to participate in decisions and present ideas that are of interest to us, thereby assisting in their success at reaching wider audiences.
