American Sons: Reflections On Being Muslim In America

Co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, this event, moderated by Dr. Sherman Jackson, will feature five Michigan men from various ethnic backgrounds who will discuss being Muslim in America from their own experiences and local perspectives. Dr. Sherman Jackson is currently the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Visiting Professor of Law and Professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Michigan. Other panelists include Ann Arbor resident, teacher and administrator Khidr Naeem; UM Graduate and Film Producer, Chris Abdur-Rahman Blauvelt; local attorney, Haaris Ahmad; local doctor, Asad Tarsin; and medical professional, Shamael Haque.

American Daughters: Reflections On Being Muslim in America

Featuring Heather Laird and co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, this event will feature speakers who will discuss being Muslim in America from their own experiences and local perspectives. Discussion will center on the diversity of our community, how Muslims deal with the issues of multiculturalism, and the tensions and barriers that exist in tackling this issue both within the Muslim community and the broader community. How these issues affect youth as well as adults will also be a focus of this important discussion.Heather Laird is the Director for the Summer Arabic Institute, and a Fellow for the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). Heather will be joined in this discussion by several area Muslim women.

Ignite Second Stage: The Silver Age of American Jewish Music is Happening Now! And You're Missing It!

Jewish music is exploding. Bands and labels and venues are multiplying. Rock. Hip Hop. Reggae. Punk. Klezmer. Sephardic. Choral. Jazz. Chassidic-Pop. Bible-gum. Beat Box. House. Socialist Yiddish Gothic. Indie. A revolution is happening but we're scattered across a big nation with no common media to connect us....except the net. Will it be enough? Jack Zaientz, an Ann Arbor area research scientist who blogs about contemporary Jewish Music, will introduce you to some of the most amazing new Jewish music that you've never heard.This Extended Play version of Jack's recent 5 minute Ignite Ann Arbor talk will be loaded with more music, a road-map of the contemporary Jewish Music scene, a case study in social-networking Jewish Music, and the greatest Jewish song you've never heard.

Ben Huh, Founder of Failblog.org & icanhascheezburger.com

Ben Huh - the Internet mogul behind the hit blogs - I Can Haz Cheezburger (also known as the LOL Cats blog) and FAILBlog will discuss his life as an Internet content connoisseur, what that means, and how he got started as the leader of a media empire. Huh founded his company, Pet Holdings, Inc., in 2007 and grew it into one of the largest blog networks in the world in less than two years -- while making a profit during one of the deepest recessions.He has been credited with bringing Internet memes to the mainstream and popularizing Internet culture. Huh is not shy about crediting the success of his company to the users and fans of his sites. His goal is to make the world happy for 5-minutes a day.

Author Gregory Orfalea Discusses His New Book: Angeleno Days - An Arab American Writer on Family, Place & Politics

There are more than 400,000 Arab Americans in Los Angeles--the largest contingent in America outside of Detroit. In his new book, 'Angeleno Days: An Arab American Writer On Family, Place And Politics,' Gregory Orfalea explores his own community and its political and social concerns. He agonizes over another destruction of Lebanon and examines in searing detail a massacre of civilians in Iraq. Books will be on sale at the event, which will also include a booksigning.Gregory Orfalea directed the Writing Program at Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, and currently teaches Arab American Literature at Georgetown University.

The Development Of Multicultural Children's Literature With EMU Professor Sheila Most

Multicultural literature for children has blossomed in the twenty-first century, yet books about many large groups of ethnic Americans still remain underrepresented. This lecture by Dr. Sheila Most of Eastern Michigan University will discuss the beginnings of multicultural books for children, influences on their development, awards for multicultural children's books, the role of publishers, important issues in multicultural children's books, and continuing needs for the future. This event is held in conjunction with the exhibit 'The Future Of Our Past: The Evolution Of Multicultural Children's Literature,' on display in the Downtown Library lower lever glass cases through November 29.

Detroit Derby Girls Rock!

The Detroit Derby Girls, established in early 2005, is an all-female owned and operated flat track roller derby league. Over 60 skaters strong, the Detroit Derby Girls are part of the national rebirth of roller derby. Drew Barrymore's new film 'Whip It' (based on the novel Derby Girl by Shauna Cross) was filmed in Detroit, centers on life on the roller derby track and features several of the actual Detroit Derby Girls!

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang Discusses Multicultural Toolbox: Strategies for Raising our Children with Culture(s), Language(s), and Pride

In our quickly changing world, cultural fluency and multiple languages are becoming more important for our children's identity, self-esteem, friendships, connections with family, and future job possibilities. In this lively and fast-paced event, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang will introduce practical tools and strategies to make cultural education a part of our everyday lives. How do we make teaching about their/our/other cultures and values "normal", and then use it to build better and stronger communities for all of us? Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American.

Discussion With The Godfather Of Nerdcore Hiphop - MC Frontalot

MC Frontalot is a NYC based hip-hop musician and a proud nerd who takes the stage in glasses, tie, and pocket protector to rap about web comics, computer games, blogs, and picking up girls at Star Wars' conventions.This is a great opportunity to find our more about the MC and his music. Ask him your questions about Nerdcore Hiphop and beyond. This discussion will be immediately followed at 1:30 pm by a screening of Nerdcore Rising, the 2008 documentary film (not rated) following MC Frontalot on his first national tour.MC Frontalot will perform with The OneUps at Videogame Night @Top of the Park on June 29 as part of The Ann Arbor Summer Festival.YOU FOUND A GAME CODE! Visit your player page and enter the code WELOVEYOUFRONT for bonus points!

The Art of Tribal Tattoo with Leo Zulueta

Do not miss this opportunity to meet one of the masters of the tribal tattoo! Known as the father of modern tribal tattooing, Leo is the owner of tattoo studio Spiral Tattoo in Ann Arbor. He'll show us some of his work, share his expertise, and talk about the process of getting a tattoo. Leo began tattooing in 1981 in San Francisco, under the direction of Don Ed Hardy, who encouraged Leo's collecting of imagery relating to traditional tattooing from around the world.