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New Orleans, La. - "I want the motto of Muhammad Mosque #46 to be, We are a mosque of service!", stated Student Minister Willie Muhammad during a recent believers meeting. "Over the next couple of months we will begin developing monthly service oriented programs that will aide our people. I also want to strongly encourage each of us as believers to find an area of interest and go to work.", continued Brother Willie Muhammad. With those words spoken, along with the instructions that have been given to members of the Nation of Islam by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan during the recent webcasts the believers went to work.
On April 2 one of the registered FOI of Mosque #46, Brother Patrick X, who is a licensed electrican, began teaching a six month basic residential electrical wiring training program FREE of charge. "I am excited about helping the brothers and sisters discover some of their gifts and talents," stated Brother Patrick. Once a week for two hours enrolled students will work toward earning their Class E electrical apprentice license. In addition to acquiring their electrical apprentice license, the students will also be working toward attaining their GED. Brother Patrick has collaborated with a local GED edcuational training program that focuses on youth between the ages of 16-24.
The administration at the educational program not only agreed to allow Brother Patrick to use some of its facility space, but have purchased the class manual and have agreed to purchase the basic tools each student will need to complete the course. For three months the students will do most of their learning inside the classroom. After the three month period, the students will learn more about residental wiring while working hands on in a lab located at the electrical business of another electrican who wanted to get involved in the effort.
To see images of Brother Patrick addressing the students please visit http://picasaweb.google.com/crok333/ElectricalSchool2April2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCP3LwP6a9ouv5QE&feat=email#. Mosque #46 is working to develop other programs that will teach central air/heating, and basic carpentry.
On the following day, Brother Walter Umrani Muhammad participated in a panel discussion on the topic of reparations. The panel discussion was part of a local independent film festival that had been going on for a week. On the panel with Brother Walter were Sister Antoinette Harrell, who is an activist and an expert genealogist and Brother Ukali Mwendo, who is the president of the New Orleans branch of N'Cobra. The panel discussion was held at the historic Craige Cultural Center located on the Westbank of New Orleans. There was a brief question and answer session after the panel. One person asked whether liberation of our people could be accomplished without violence. Brother Walter went on to illustrate some of the reasons we must use our minds and the word of God and not guns. "If we use guns against our enemy, where would we send our injured? We don't even have our own hospitals and we won't be able to send them to the hospital of the enemy, " stated Brother Walter during his response to the question. To see images from that event you can visit http://picasaweb.google.com/crok333/CraigeCulturalCenter3April2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCJGnsczotKPU9gE&feat=email#.
On Saturday both the MGT and the FOI took part in the 20th annual Celebratio of the African Child. The event is held every year at the historic Congo Squre, located in Armstrong Park. The MGT helped with the registration and assisted the FOI as they sold fish sandwhiches as part of a monthly FOI fundraiser. This was the first year that the celebration was held without the presence of its founder Mamma Alma, who passed away last year. Despite not having her physical presence there her spirit was definitely felt. She would have been pleased to see all of the children who attended. To see images of the event click on the following link http://picasaweb.google.com/crok333/UmojaFestival?authkey=Gv1sRgCL3g8crc9I2cmQE&feat=email#.
The work was not over for the FOI. Many of the brothers left the celebration at the park and headed to the Lower 9th Ward to participate in the weekly "Hour of Power" Peace Keeper Street Outreach (Read the Accepting Responsibility to Reform Our Community article to find out more).
The FOI and other men from various churches and community organizations gathered in an area of the 9th Ward that is known for high rates of crime and violence. After getting instructions the brothers walked through the neighborhood speaking to and greeting our people. Members of the the Peace Keepers handed out information about jobs, HIV/AIDS prevention, Final Call Newspapers and invitations to weekly religious services. The Peace Keepers were guided through the neighborhood by Robert Glenn Jr. and Wesley McClendon. Both of these brothers are working hard to help the people who live in this area of the Lower Nine. The Peace Keepers were warmly recieved by the community. A local barber in the area offered to gather all of the young street soldiers in the area at his shop so they can hear some words of inspiration from members of the Peace Keepers. Contact info was exchanged and we will keep our readers posted on future developments. While walking through the neighborhood the Peace Keepers came upon a local community event that was being put on by Senator Ann Duplesiss. Due to the efforts of Mrs. Glenda Harris, who works for the Childrens Defense Fund, Student Minister Willie Muhammad was able to address those who were participating in the community event. Mrs. Harris was deeply impressed by the words shared by the young student minister doing the Yes We Care! anti-violence rally held on the 28th of March. "I was so moved after hearing him on last Saturday that I jokingly told some people that I was leaving the church and going to go join the mosque," Mrs. Harris said to the audience while introducing Brother Willie. During his brief remarks, Brother Willie explained the weekly "Hour of Power" outreach that he and others have been doing and he encouraged the audience to accept the responsibility to improve their community. The week was a busy one for the young minister as well. On Friday he spoke at two prisons and attended a follow up meeting for the Yes We Care! rally. Click on links to see images from the "Hour of Power" in the Lower 9th Ward http://picasaweb.google.com/crok333/PeaceKeepers9thWard?authkey=Gv1sRgCLn9ncCnl_WKqQE&feat=email#. Still fueled with fire, members of the FOI left to go and distribute the Final Call Newspaper on the popular Canal Street.
Brother Patrick, Brother Willie 4 Muhammad, Brother Kashif, and Brother Vincent flooded Canal Street with the Word of God. As usual the FOI were warmly recieved by the people. Click link to view images http://picasaweb.google.com/crok333/FOIInAction?authkey=Gv1sRgCObVt9z35O63ag&feat=email#.
Members of Mosque #46 know a tremendous amount of work is yet to be done, however the members of the Mosque are commited to working hard to do all that they can to see that it is.
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