Category: CMGT News

Welcome our new CEO!

Posted on by CMGT in Blog Post, CMGT News

Layalee has volunteered her time to help grow Chicago Muslims Green Team. With her efforts, CMGT has expanded both financially and individually as a team.

Layalee is Palestinian/American and graduated high school in the West Bank, Palestine. There she discovered the true meaning of living through occupation. During her college studies, Layalee was president of MSA and Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa’s honors society at Moraine Valley Community. There, she won an award in Washington, DC for “Most Distinguished Chapter,” mainly due to a “2015 Student Success Conference” she helped run on campus.

She believes that all people deserve access to healthy lifestyle and resources to advance overall health. Receiving her doctorate in Pharmacy degree from UIC, she enjoys caring for people and advancing their health outcomes. She has a passion for the environment because she believes the environment is the root of having an “ideal” lifestyle. This could include eating wholesome food, being outside, being aware of resources available and working together as a community is a legacy she wishes to accomplish.

Living in Palestine for over 6 years has inspired her in wanting improvement in environmental services that include waste and recycle. After moving back to the states in 2014, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021.

She has accepted her position after being appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Muslims Green Team.

As CEO, she hopes to fulfil CMGT’s mission and vision in connecting Chicago Muslims and the greater community to issues of environmental justice while spreading awareness on eco-friendly lifestyles based on Islamic teachings. Hoping to advance scopes of work that include Building Bridges, Green Ramadan, Green Mosque, and Capacity Building.

Layalee volunteered at VeggieMijasChicago to prepare 372 plant-based sandwiches that were distributed to 5 Chicago Community Fridges

Updates from the Chicago Muslims Green Team

Posted on by CMGT in CMGT News

Our New Executive Assistant

We are happy to welcome Layalee Beirat, CMGT’s new Executive Assistant. Layalee’s first activity with the CMGT was when we participated at the Openlands Community Tree Planting in the Fall 2022, located in the Little Village neighborhood.

Layalee at the Openlands Community Tree Planting

CMGT on the News

Last March, CMGT was interviewed by Muslim Travelers, an Indonesian Award Winning TV show. The interview was aired in April, close to Eid and Earth Day. It focused on Masjid Al Farooq, the CMGT’s main partner in the 2023 Green Mosque Program and Tree Ambassadors Program. The 3 parts of the show can be found on Youtube here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

    On May 8, 2023, CMGT was featured in Media Milwaukee represented by CMGT’s Executive Director, Caroline Williams and former CEO, Rohany Nayan. Click HERE to read the article.

    The CMGT also was featured on May 2023 Tree Ambassadors Program Newsletter, published by the CRTI (Chicago Region Tree Initiative). Click HERE to read the article.

    Muslim Travelers interview at Masjid Al farooq
    Screenshot from Media Milwaukee
    Screenshot from CRTI Tree Ambassadors Newsletter

    Board & Executive Members’ Activities

    Board President Mohammed Faheem gave a speech at the Faith in Place‘s Earth Day Vigil on April 27th. Click HERE to read the speech.

    Board Member Nana Firman who is also a representative of ISNA Green Initiative and Green Faith was interviewed by ABC News on April 21, 2023. Click HERE to see the video.

    Board member and Executive Director Caroline Williams received an invitation from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to attend the 2023 Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Caroline said farewell to Mayor Lori and thanked her administration for starting Our Roots Chicago, a tree equity program and invited the CMGT since its early formation.

    Mohammed Faheem at the Faith in Place’s Earth Day Vigil
    Nana Firman interviewed by ABC News on Earth Day
    Caroline Williams at the Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Mayor Lori Lightfoot

    Tree Equity: Chicago is Going Greener

    Posted on by CMGT in Blog Post, Close to Nature, CMGT News, Conservation, Environmental Justice, News

    Since 2021, Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT) has been an active member of the Community Tree Equity Working Group in supporting Our Roots Chicago, the City of Chicago’s tree equity program.

    Our common goal is to expand the tree canopy coverage through an equitable approach. In simpler words, we want this Chicago map to go all green.

    Tree Canopy Coverage Percentage By Census Tract. Source: chicago.gov

    We want every neighborhood in the City to reap the benefits of trees. Trees provide shade for our home from the sun and blocking winter winds. Trees improve air quality, absorb water, thus help to prevent flood. Trees promote physical activities, increase walking traffic, and bring communities together. Trees reduce stress and anxiety. Trees also help to repair urban biodiversity. In conclusion, trees help to lower our energy bills, increase our property values, and improve the quality of life in our neighborhood.

    Source: chicago.gov

    The City of Chicago has a goal to plant 75,000 new trees in neighborhoods with low tree canopy. The City also has developed CHI311 App for anyone who wants to get involved.

    Tree Equity Working Group Year-End Report. Source: Raed Mansour

    However, it is still not an easy task without the support from community members. It would be a waste of tax payers’ money if the trees end up dying due to lack of water, being ignored, or vandalized by people who reject trees around their properties or in their neighborhood.

    From 2021-2022, CMGT has been educating ourselves, spreading awareness to our diverse communities, connecting to other organizations by attending and organizing trainings, hosting webinar, giving talks at events, and attending tree planting events. Here is the clip to see our activities.

    2021-2022 Tree Planting Program activities

    In 2023-2024, CMGT is grateful to be one of seven organizations who receives the Resilience Grant to expand our Tree Planting Program. Under the guidance of CRTI (Chicago Region Trees Initiative) Morton Arboretum we believe that together we could achieve our specific goals in greening our beloved city and spreading the benefits of trees to our diverse communities in Chicago this year. InshaAllah!

    The Resilient Grant Kickoff event on December 13, 2022. Source: Caroline

    Welcome our new CEO!

    Posted on by CMGT in CMGT News

    The Chicago Muslims Green Team is excited to announce and welcome Dr. Rohany Nayan as our new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

    Dr. Nayan has over two decades of experience as an educator and administrator. Her love for education, community work, and social and environmental justice led her to initially volunteer at CMGT as the Education Coordinator. In this role, she actively designed educational programs and provided professional development as needed. When asked to comment, Dr. Nayan said, “It is a great honor to be asked to lead CMGT in this position, and with gratitude and humility I accept the offer. I look forward to working with the wonderful, inspirational and dedicated CMGT’s team, and realize my beloved mother’s precious advice to me ~ Always leave a place better than you found it. We know that changes do not happen over night. As a Malay saying goes – Sikit-sikit, lama-lama jadi bukit (a little bit at a time builds a great mountain).”

    Currently as the CEO, Dr. Nayan is focusing on nurturing and growing the vision of CMGT, especially in raising awareness of and planting the seeds for a more mindful, eco-friendly lifestyle based on Islamic principles in the Muslim community and the larger society at large. Dr. Nayan holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Literacy Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also holds a master’s degree in Language Education (TESL) and a bachelor’s degree in English Education (ESL) from the Indiana University-Bloomington. Her work focuses on minority and immigrant families, and their children’s experiences in their adopted country and how the interwoven issues of culture, language, and meaning-making act upon their identity and literacy development. Her work has appeared in several academic volumes.

    Dr. Nayan describes herself as an “accidental immigrant” who came to the U.S. to study, but ended up making it her home. In her free time, she enjoys being a foodie who loves diverse cuisines. She also loves reading, studying languages and making paper arts and crafts (e.g., origami and kirigami). She is passionate about building bridges across communities by developing interfaith dialogues and collecting resources especially on Islam, diverse cultures, literacy development and researching cross-cultural awareness. Currently, her immediate goals in life include being more mindful in her choices and lessening her carbon footprint on Earth by adjusting her lifestyle and daily habits. She can be reached via email at: rohanynayan@chicagomuslimsgreenteam.org.

    From the Editorial Team of “The Green Leaf”

    Posted on by CMGT in CMGT News, Editorial

    Greetings and Salaam to Everyone! 

    We at the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT) are looking forward to two special celebrations during the month of April: Ramadan and Earth Day. As many members of the team prepare for the 29-30 day fast of Ramadan, we are mindful of the Islamic teachings that encourage us to reduce waste and live the value of Earth stewardship:

    “He is the one who made you Khalifahs (vicegerents, stewards, guardians)
    of the Earth    .” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:165)

    This year, Earth Day falls on April 22, nearly one week into Ramadan.  For the past two years, Green Ramadan has been an integral part of CMGT’s educational efforts to reduce waste and promote a sustainable lifestyle. Our signature event, Zero Waste Iftar helps to educate the Muslim community about recycling, composting, and food waste while encouraging the community to host events in an environmentally-friendly way.  Last year, because of the pandemic, we were able to extend our reach beyond local mosques by connecting online with national and international partners to share ideas and approaches that combat the environmental degradation of our planet. This year, we are working with a new partner, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to promote Green Ramadan through initiatives like “Zero Waste Iftars” and “Shop Free Eid.” Like the first Earth Day in 1970, it is our hope these initiatives will become a regular part of Ramadan celebrations across the world! During April, CMGT will continue to gather materials to support our current Jiran Project: PLARN SLEEPING MATS to help neighbors who are facing the challenges of houselessness in Chicago and other metropolitan areas. Please help us to reach our goal of providing 100 plarn (plastic yarn) sleeping mats to our neighbors. You can see our website for more information as well as upcoming distribution dates in early May.

    We wish you a beautiful spring, and remember to be light on Earth by being mindful, using environmentally-friendly products and practices. Ramadan Mubarak! May you have a blessed Ramadan, and enjoy the blessings of this holy month.

    – Editorial Team of The Green Leaf, Vol. 1, No. 3 – April 2021 Issue