Gallery Talk: Campus Campaigns

This webinar/​virtual gallery talk will focus on the work of Muslim student activists at the Univeristy of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Anis Rahman, Jumanah Saadeh, and Zeina Reda will sit down for a conversation, moderated by Halal Metropolis Project Manager Asma Baban, on the power of student activism within the university system, the role of student leaders, and the specific campaigns that animate their collaborations on campus.

The Halal Metropolis exhibition, by artist Osman Khan, photographer Razi Jafri, and historian Sally Howell, explores the facts, fictions, and imaginaries of the Muslim population(s) in Detroit and Southeast Michigan as viewed through historical research, documentation of current conditions, and explorations of future desires. The Halal Metropolis is one where Muslims practice their faith freely and contribute to society with all of their talents and commitments. It is created dialogically and requires Muslims to be visible to one another and to non-Muslims. It encourages Muslims to organize and speak as believers, citizens, and artists.

Stamps events are free and open to the public, and we are committed to making them accessible to all attendees. This event will be online using the Zoom platform with an auto-generated Live Transcript available. Questions may be asked using the Q&A feature on Zoom. If you anticipate needing any additional accommodations to participate, please email asbaban@​umich.​edu at least one week in advance of the scheduled event so we can arrange for your accommodation or an effective alternative. After receiving your request, our team will follow up with you directly. This event can also be live streamed on Halal Metropolis and Stamps Gallery’s Facebook pages, @halalmetropolis and @umstamps.

Speaker Bios

Zeina Reda is a rising junior at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor studying Political Science. She is a Lebanese American born in New York, raised in Lebanon, and currently resides in Michigan. Zeina is passionate about empowering her community at U‑M to take ownership of their identity by advocating for increased ME/NA representation and awareness on campus.

Anis Rehman is an incoming junior studying Aerospace Engineering. He is the current Vice President, Internal of the Muslim Student Association as well as an affiliate of the Islamaphobia Working Group. Anis works to strengthen the bonds between fellow Muslims as well as serve God through community service, activism and consultation.

Jumanah Saadeh is the Student Services Coordinator at the UM Biological Station. She holds an MA in Higher Education and is currently pursuing her MBA. She is an active member of the Islamophobia Working Group. She is a proud Ann Arbor native who loves travelling and learning. She’s enthusiastic about diversity and leadership education with a global citizenship framework. She is always interested in recommendations of new things to explore and engage with. Her favorite book — and favorite suggestion to others — is the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Arab American Studies (CAAS), with support from the Knight Foundation, the Doris Duke Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the El-Hibri Foundation, the Community Foundation of SE Michigan, and the Michigan Humanities Council.