2017 Muslim Day at the Capitol Schedule
Morning workshops at the 2017 Muslim Day at the Capitol will take place at St. Luke's United Methodist Church ending with Lunch and Keynote speech by Rep. Scott Inman. The afternoon potion of the 2017 Muslim Day at the Capitol will begin with Zuhr Prayer on the 4th Floor Rotunda.
8:00 am-9:00 am Participant check-in and breakfast (St. Luke's UMC)
9:00am Opening Prayer, National Anthem, Welcoming Remarks (St. Luke's UMC)
9:30 am-10:30 am Session 1 (St. Luke's UMC)
1A: Failing Grades: The Deepening Crisis of Public Education
From teacher shortages to budget shortfalls, the status of public education in Oklahoma is troubling many state residents. The state budget for the 2017 fiscal year is facing yet another major shortfall; some schools have been forced to consider four day school weeks and are unsure how many more years they’ll be able to continue at current funding levels. This panel will seek to answer the following questions: What is the state of education in Oklahoma in 2017? What steps are being taken to find solutions and what solutions have already been proposed?
1B: Khalid Jabara: An Intersectional Approach to Strengthening Hate Crime Law
This session will address the case of the tragic hate crime that resulted in the death of Khalid Jabara in 2016. Legal scholars and activists alike will discuss their experiences working in communities under threat, and the strengths and weaknesses of state and federal hate crime law.
1Youth: The Legacy of Barack Obama: Youth Organizing, Advocacy, and Activism
According to The Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement, around 50% of eligible young people voted in the 2016 general election. This session will focus on the importance of millennial civic engagement and how being informed, engaged, and mobilized can harness the power to move an election.
10:45 am-11:45 am Session 2 (St. Luke's UMC)
2A: The Next Two Years: Ensuring Minority Voices Are Represented in Local Government
Across the country, minority communities are significantly underrepresented in halls of government at every level. Though more and more minority leaders are stepping up to run for office, there is still a significant barrier to gaining political access – and power. As the saying goes, decisions are made by those who show up. This panel seeks to inform attendees about the importance of minority representation in government and opportunities to become more involved.
2B: The Future of the First Amendment: Freedom of Speech, Press, and Religion in a Post-Trump World
Featuring some of the foremost legal minds who will share the importance of the preservation of the First Amendment in state functions and the ways that the First Amendment limits or empowers state governments to address issues of a religious nature.
2Youth: Young, Muslim, and Afraid: Being a Millennial Muslim in 2017
The challenges of anti-Muslim bigotry, Islamophobia, and other injustices can often seem overwhelming. Although many of us would like to take a greater part in promoting positive change, it can be difficult to simply find peace of mind in an ever more hostile political culture. This session will feature a panel of unique young leaders and will help facilitate a conversation about the importance of being unapologetically Muslim in 2017.
12:00 pm-12:30 pm Lunch & Keynote Speech by Rep. Scott Inman
12:40 pm Depart for Oklahoma State Capitol
1:00 pm Zuhr Prayer (4th Floor Rotunda, State Capitol) and Presentation of Citation from Representative Jason Dunnington
1:30 pm CAIR-OK Government Affairs Director Provides Advocvacy Instructions (4th Floor Rotunda, State Capitol)
2:00 pm-3:00 pm Meet with Legislators (4th - 5th Floor, State Capitol)
3:15 pm Closing Remarks from Imam Imad Enchassi (4th Floor Rotunda, State Capitol)