On behalf of the CUNY Dispute Resolution Center at John Jay College, we are writing to request your assistance in recruiting CUNY Muslim students and recent alumni to submit original essays for an upcoming book project on Muslim Identity funded by the CUNY Diversity Projects Development Fund.  The essays should be between 300-1,000 words and submitted by April 7, 2017 tomuslimidentity@jjay.cuny.edu. Selected entries will appear in an edited publication and the writers will be awarded a $25 gift card.

This important awareness project invites young Muslims on all CUNY campuses to submit original accounts sharing how Islam has shaped their identity as Muslims living in present day America.  It provides young Muslims with an opportunity to write about their Muslim identity and their understanding of Islam instead of having their narratives defined by the media and those misinformed about Islam and Muslim identity.

Please help us to circulate the attached flyer widely and encourage Muslim students and recent alumni of your CUNY campus to participate in this call for essays. Publication of the essays and distribution of gift cards will be completed by June 30, 2017.

Feel free to email us if you have any questions or need any additional information at muslimidentity@jjay.cuny.edu. This is our third edited book of essays by CUNY Muslim students.  If you would like a copy of our last book, email us your request.

Thank you for your time and assistance in helping to disseminate information for this important and timely project aiming to provide an opportunity for the voices of young Muslims at CUNY to be shared at CUNY and beyond.