A Day Of Education At Nation Of Islam Headquarters

By Final Call News | Last updated: May 24, 2016 - 1:44:15 PM

Hundreds gathered in the gymnasium at Muhammad University of Islam on the grounds of The National Center Sunday afternoon on May 15 for a job and resource fair.

Local businesses were on hand looking to hire community residents in Chicago.

CHICAGO—Hundreds of Chicago area residents packed the gymnasium of Muhammad University of Islam on the grounds of The National Center, international headquarters of the Nation of Islam for a job and resource fair. Men, women and teens applied for jobs with local businesses, received information on trade schools and community colleges, and for those with prior criminal records, contacts including some representing local and county government agencies were on standby providing information on expungements.

The event themed, “A Day of Education” was coordinated by a small but hard-working group of Muslims from Mosque Maryam including Sondra Muhammad, George 5X Muhammad, Luvenia X, Michael 41X Muhammad, Carla Muhammad, Jackie 2X and George Muhammad from the Nation of Islam’s West Side Study Group. Inspired by the call from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to make their communities a safe and decent place to live, the group wanted to provide an avenue for something they knew Black people desperately need in Chicago, jobs.

After a spirit filled presentation earlier in the morning by Nation of Islam Student Minister Dr. Wesley Muhammad on Black manhood, residents quickly filed into the gymnasium to complete applications and talk to representatives from local area businesses.

Representatives from smll and large retailers, fast-food restaurants and other businesses patiently assisted hundreds of people, who desired to make an honest living to provide for themselves and their families at the May 15 job and resource fair.

There are many ways to support our people and make our communities safe and decent; including providing job opportunities, explained Sister Sondra. “Our focus was really on the brothers on the corner that the community basically has dismissed,” said the longtime community advocate who has coordinated job and entrepreneurial programs and opportunities throughout the city. Workforce programs and organizations that assist with summer jobs for youth also participated.

“The theme was just to bring some opportunities to our community, particularly to the young people,” said Sis. Sondra. Students from various high schools and youth organizations were also there.

Several people were hired and have already started working as a result of attending the resource fair, said Sis. Sondra. Many of the companies that participated were excited about hiring people from the community, she explained.

Just a few days after the event, Sis. Sondra stopped by a Subway sandwich shop on the city’s South Side, and thanked the store’s representative for participating. “I said who did you hire? And she pointed to the girl who waited on me and said ‘I hired her and we have more coming in,’” Sis. Sondra reported with excitement. The young lady said she heard about the job and resource fair from her sister.

Sister Carla said several of the young men mentioned, if they had a job, they would no longer have to resort to criminal activities to make money to eat.

“I have never seen nothing like that before in my life. I just say all praise is due to Allah, it was just so beautiful and the community business owners, they supported this. The theme was stop the violence, save our community and so they picked up on that theme, and they responded very well. And they’re still responding to it … a lot of people got blessed that day.”

Teens and college-age students received information on available jobs and educational programs.

Organizers who helped make the “Day of Education” a resounding success included, (left to right), Brother Michael 41X Muhammad, Sister Sondra Muhammad and Bro. George Muhammad (West Side Study Group).

Bro. Michael 41X Muhammad and Bro. George Muhammad speak with young men at the May 15 job and resource fair.

Local area businesses as well as representatives of community colleges, trade schools and other programs were on hand to offer valuable information about job opportunities.

Young women listen to information from a company representative.

Nation of Islam Student Minister, Dr. Wesley Muhammad greets visitors and guests at Mosque Maryam after delivering a powerful message, May 15 and prior to the highly successful job and resource fair held next door in the gymnasium of Muhammad University of Islam on Chicago’s South Side.

The Final Call