This past 4th of July weekend, ONE was with over 30,000 Muslims at the Islamic Society of North America Convention engaging people to act against extreme poverty. Meeting this year in Washington, DC, the ISNA gathering brought together Muslims from the US and Canada as well as people of other faiths to share ideas, build community, and broaden engagement in the areas of faith, art, culture, and global challenges.

Along with our partner Islamic Relief, ONE was there raising awareness about global poverty and treatable, preventable disease and signing up people to act in the fight by planning a ONE Sadaqa event for their local masjids and congregations back home. In a Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) workshop, we also had some fun breaking classroom rules together to take out our cell phones and text “Sadaqa” to 23663 and join ONE.

A highlight of the gathering was Saturday night’s keynote message by ONE Sabbath supporter Pastor Rick Warren. Addressing the crowd on Independence Day, Pastor Warren stood alongside ISNA President Dr. Ingrid Mattson and challenges the “the two largest faiths on the planet” (Christianity and Islam), to work together to tackle the major problems of the world, which include poverty as well as education for all.

Check out Naeem Muhammad’s comments from Islamic Relief who was there as well:

-Adam Phillips