“Inspiration Day is an event that gives our community a chance to come together, connect, and feel inspired,” said Salma Hasan Ali, chief inspiration officer (CIO) of MoverMoms. “It’s a day when we invite our members along with the larger community to take a pause from their busy lives, listen to three amazing speakers — and leave feeling fulfilled, empowered and motivated.” Salma added that since this year they have their first teen speaker, it’s a great opportunity to also invite teenagers to attend and feel inspired.
The event is sponsored by MoverMoms, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization whose goal, as stated on their website www.movermoms.com is: “To inspire and enable busy moms and families to actively participate in community service by organizing and facilitating a variety of short-term volunteer projects and educational programs that address some of the most urgent needs in our society. Our projects focus on poverty, hunger, the environment, health, emergency relief, and tolerance.”
Inspiration Day will be held at the River Falls Community Center, 7915 Horseshoe Lane, Potomac on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 1-3 p.m. The event will include lunch provided by Whole Foods, a silent auction, time for conversation and camaraderie and the speakers’ messages. Men’s and women’s trial-size toiletries will be collected. The cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and tickets can be bought at www.movermoms.com. All proceeds will go to organizing MoverMoms’ service projects.
Each of the speakers will present her own personal story of struggles and triumphs. The speakers are: Sareana Kimia, a 16-year old high-school student, political activist and national youth advocacy organizer, who was homeless for some time; Asma Hanif, a nurse, community health activist, domestic violence advocate, and professor who has dedicated her life to serving marginalized communities; and May Rihani, a pioneer in the field of girls’ education and women’s empowerment, who has worked on these issues in more than 40 countries.
Although Sareana Kimia is only 16 years old, according to her mother, “she has always had a different capacity for doing things.” She holds a student seat on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. She served as field director for the 2014 primary campaign of Del. Will Smith (D-Montgomery) and youth outreach coordinator for the gubernatorial run of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. She works part-time at a law firm, founded an advocacy group called Youth for National Change, home-schools herself as a junior in high school while attending classes at UMD, and was honored with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award in 2011.
Asma Hanif is the founder of Muslimat Al-Nisaa, the only known shelter in the country that exclusively serves Muslim women. She also runs a free holistic health clinic for women who are homeless, uninsured or victims of domestic abuse and coordinates a food pantry for Baltimore’s poor. Her inspiration is her grandmother, who never turned away a person in need. Hanif is a nurse-practitioner who was married and raised four children. Now she lives in the shelter with 50 women who need her help and support. Every year for the past 20 years, on Super Bowl Sunday, she serves chili to the homeless. She has been recognized for her work by the Baltimore Ravens, appeared on MSNBC and invited to forums at the White House and United Nations.
May Rihani has designed and implemented programs to advance girls’ education and women’s rights all over the world. She was co-chair of the United Nations Girls Education Initiative, senior vice president for the Academy for Educational Development, and contributor for the film “Girl Rising.” Through her travels to more than 70 countries, she learned how much cultures have in common, and will be talking about the importance of understanding this common ground. Her new memoir is “Cultures Without Borders,” and she will be signing her book at the event.
“We all need a dose of inspiration,” said Salma Hasan Ali. “These women are doing amazing work, overcoming tremendous challenges, and living life with tenacity and compassion. We need to hear these stories and take sustenance from each other.”
The silent auction is unique because many MoverMoms’ members have donated their personal talents. “My mother will be offering a ‘Samosa Making Workshop’, teaching a group of 8 - 10 how to make samosas and mango lassi drinks — she makes fantastic samosas.” Others will be teaching resume writing and offering babysitting services. There are also restaurant, spa and salon gift certificates. These silent auction items can be seen on-line at www.32auctions.com.
All are welcome to come to Inspiration Day. To register, to learn more about the organization, or to join MoverMoms, go to www.movermoms.com.