2005 Annual Dinner Highlights
Comments from guest Speaker Elizabeth Alex
The Kansas City Star
Posted on Mon, Nov. 14, 2005
SUSAN PFANNMULLER/Special to The Star
Peace society honors advocates for harmony
By JAMES HART
The Crescent Peace Society — an area organization that promotes understanding of Muslim culture — presented a series of awards Sunday night at its annual Eid Celebration Dinner.
The dinner was held inside Pierson Auditorium on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus.
Sheila Sonnenschein, a freelance writer and peace advocate from Overland Park, received the Peace Award. Art Chaudry, Jackson County’s chief administrative officer, won the Civic Service Award. The Community Service Award went to Nigar Zaidi, who is active in the local Pakistani community and volunteers for several civic organizations.
Mervat Ibrahim, a community advocate and teacher, won the Education Award. Helen T. Gray, The Kansas City Star’s religion editor, received the Journalism Award.
“We tend to fear what we don’t know,” said Gray, who hopes her work informs readers and makes the world a more peaceful place.
A “surprise” award for community service and leadership was presented to one of the program’s organizers, Mahnaz Shabbir, a public speaker and consultant. Shabbir, who is active in several volunteer organizations, said she helps out so the world will be better for the next generation.
Eid al-Fitr is the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting for Muslims.