| |  | | |  | The Heart of Community: Embracing Our Latin-American Roots By Alejandra Sepulveda Elshaer When I moved to the United States from Mexico in 2018, I had to start over far from my family. As a single mom of two young boys, managing everything alone was very challenging, especially when I needed help or had to work while my kids were sick. American culture often emphasizes individualism and career focus, but my struggles as a parent made me realize the critical importance of community and mutual support. Through these challenges, I came to understand how essential it is to build a strong, supportive network for both my own well-being and my children’s growth. | | | | | | Parenting Tip Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 through October 15. There are several reasons why we should all embrace the opportunity to learn more about Hispanic history and its connection to Islam, the rich cultural heritage, and how we can support Latino Muslims, one of the fastest-growing sectors of our community in the U.S. | | | |  | The Importance of Hispanic Heritage Month By Uthman Guadalupe Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 to October 15 and is celebrated annually. Hispanic heritage has been commemorated for decades in the United States, but have you ever wondered how this celebrative month came to be? Or why it takes place during this specific time? It is important to learn why the month is important to people of Hispanic or Latino origin and Muslims as well. | | | | | | Inspiration "Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." Cesario Estrada Chavez, co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, civil rights activist | | | | | |  | Notable Contemporary Latino Muslims You Should Know By Wendy Díaz While initiatives in recent years to explore the history of Islamic Spain, tour heritage sites, and honor our legacy are the first steps to recognizing and celebrating Hispanic heritage, we should also look at our contemporary history to find some of the lesser-known heroes. In the past century, Latin American Muslim figures emerged to make significant contributions to Hispanic dawah, social service, and education, and raise awareness about our forgotten Islamic roots. These individuals served as ambassadors of faith, breaking down stereotypes, and fostering connections between the Latino and Muslim communities. Here are short biographies of five of our brothers and sisters who serve. | | | | | | Quranic Guidance “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Surah Al-Hujarat, 49:13) | | | |  | Navigating Intercultural Marriage and Child-Rearing By Wendy Díaz Intercultural marriages are becoming more prevalent in the Muslim community, bringing together diverse backgrounds that can enrich a family’s experiences. Over the years there have been a growing number of intercultural marriages between Latino Muslim spouses and those from traditionally Muslim-majority ethnic backgrounds. Ximena Linares, a Mexican convert to Islam, and her Pakistani American husband are navigating this very dynamic as they begin their journey of parenthood. Ximena shares her reflections on balancing Mexican and Pakistani traditions, blending these two cultures in their marriage, and raising their daughter with both Islamic and ethnic values. | | | | | | Latino Attitudes toward American Muslims and Islam - According to the U.S. Census, just under 20% of Americans are Latino, a sizable proportion of the American public.
- Demographic data from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding’s American Muslim Poll finds that 9% of Muslims in the United States are Latino, a steadily growing percentage.
- In previous research, ISPU found that Latinos have lower levels of Islamophobia than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States and the general public.
For more information on these facts, see the full ISPU report. | | | |  | Why Your Child Should Learn Spanish By Wendy Díaz For many Muslim children attending public schools in the West, the curriculum calls for taking a world language to meet graduation requirements or to choose a foreign language as an elective. When it comes to learning another language for Muslim parents of any ethnicity or background, the obvious choice is Arabic, the language of the Quran. However, Arabic is not among the world languages offered in elementary, middle, or high school grades in public schools. When it comes to school, writer Wendy Díaz makes the case that the most practical and widely spoken language to consider is Spanish. It not only offers significant advantages but is increasingly essential in today's world. | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Adam's World Video: Let's Talk about Racism - Trouble at School When Angie’s classmate says mean things about her hair, Adam steps in. Racism is the problem and there is dialogue in the video that can help children open up to discuss it. (4:01) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
