Meet Eboo Patel

The Common Ground Awards are coming up (November 11) and if you’d like to come get your tickets now!

Leading up to the event we’ll be showcasing one of our exceptional 2010 awardees each week and we’ll kick it off with Eboo Patel.

If you haven’t heard of him, get to know his work. Named by US News & World Report as one of America’s Best Leader’s of 2009, Eboo is the founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYV), a Chicago based organization helping to build a global interfaith youth movement. Eboo is also a power voice for religious tolerance and acceptance in America and served on President Obama’s Advisory Council of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Eboo is an excellent writer, and the award-winning author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim–so perhaps it’s best to let him speak in his own words.

These days, much is made of the lack of “moderate” Muslim voices. It seems as though only extremists get the spotlights and microphones. But as he shows in this article for CSM, people needn’t look far to hear other tenors:

“There’s no great secret answer to the question posed so often: “Where are the moderate Muslims?”

The truth is, moderate Muslims are everywhere. They are your doctor, your son’s teacher, your daughter’s coach. One is the man who designed the Sears Tower, Fazlur Rahman Khan. Another is one of America’s greatest sports icons, Muhammad Ali. The moderate Muslims I know are inspiring because they act on the central values of their faith — loving god and loving your neighbor. There are a lot more you don’t know yet. Here are three who I have worked with through my organization, Interfaith Youth Core.”

Read the rest of “Where are the Moderate Muslims? Look Here.”