World Hijab Day encourages women to wear hijab freely
It’s the 11th year of #WorldHijabDay, a global organization that works to educate people about the hijab, or Islamic headscarves worn by women. Bangladeshi Organizer and founder Nazma Khan says she began this movement in 2013 after facing discrimination as being a visibly Muslim woman in a post 9/11 America. Now February 1st is known annually as World Hijab Day. Thousands of people from over 100 countries participate. Khan gave a TedTalk about the movement.
This year’s theme is “progression, not oppression,” using the hashtag #unapologeticallyhijabi. Last year the Michigan Senate passed a resolution to recognize World Hijab Day. Senator Stephanie Chang worked with APIA Vote-MI. Learn more on worldhijabday.org.
Detroit Public Library is missing over $407,000
During a Detroit City Council meeting in January, a former Detroit Public Library commissioner said that more than $600,000 went missing from DPL. Some of the money has been recovered, but $407,000 is still missing.
What does that mean for Detroiters? Listen to that discussion on WDET with Bridge Detroit Reporter Malachi Barrett.
University of Michigan’s National Poll on Aging finds older adults care about religiosity and spirituality in health care
The National Poll on Aging recently surveyed older adults between 50-80 years old. Researchers found that over 80 percent of older adults rely on and care about their religious or spiritual beliefs when it comes to health care - especially during coping.
Dr. Mark Adams is a clinical associate professor UM. He works in hospice and palliative care. Dr. Adams says people have unique holistic care needs.
LJ Brazier, a chaplain at Michigan Medicine, says patients want to know healthcare providers can create a safe space if they chose to disclose their spiritual beliefs.
What’s happening in Dearborn?
Dearborn’s Department of Health Director Ali Abazeed spoke to me about what the city is doing to meet residents where they are. That includes providing free Narcan units in vending machines, free menstrual pads in three public high schools, and providing flu and COVID vaccine clinics for city employees and residents. Abazeed says it’s part of the department’s push for integrating city services to meet residents’ needs.
Last week the Dearborn/Dearborn Heights Model UN team went to Harvard to participate in a Model UN conference. Community members crowdfunded $12,000 to pay for 12 students to attend. Among the sponsors were Team Wellness Center in Dearborn and Don’t Be Shai.
Baath Biran Recipe (Bangladeshi style fried rice)
Courtesy of Shamole Ahmed
This is probably one of my favorite dishes. My mom used to make this for breakfast all the time growing up and still does. (Yeah I know… Bengalis eat rice for breakfast too sometimes lol). Once I lived on my own, this was my go-to dish. It’s super easy to make and I always have these ingredients in my kitchen. It’s one of my husband’s favorite dishes too, so now I love making it on weekends as a treat. I use the ghee that my mom and I make, Desi Taste’s Homemade Ghee, and that really adds a nice touch to it!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Desi Taste homemade ghee
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or corn oil
1 large onion (chopped)
About 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or 3-4 dried red chili pepper
2 potatoes (peeled and chopped into small cubes)
3 cups white rice (cooked)
1/4 cup cilantro chopped
2 eggs
Recipe:
Wash the rice and then cook the rice in a rice cooker or start cooking the rice on the stovetop (1-day-old rice works best)
In a large frying pan heat the Ghee and then add the vegetable oil
Add the chopped onions and salt and sauté
Add red pepper flakes or dried whole red chili pepper and turmeric
Chop the potatoes and once the onions are golden brown add to the pan
Saute everything for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are done
(the rice should be done by now) Slowly add the cooked rice into the pan and mix well. You want all the rice to turn yellow so you’ll need to mix well for a few minutes making sure all the potatoes and onions are evenly distributed
Cook for another 10-15 minutes mixing every few minutes and then add the eggs and scramble into the rice.
Add the cilantro. Taste for salt and add more if needed and then you’re done!