Islam 101 and the American Muslim Experience
 

Neighbors can get to know each other, learn about the Islamic faith and its traditions, and ultimately dispel stereotypes and break down barriers. Presented by Isam Zaiem. Isam is a native of Syria. He came to the United States in 1970 and has resided in the Cleveland area since 1974, when he began an internship at the Cleveland Clinic School of Medical Technology. He has worked as a medical technologist at different medical institutions in the city of Cleveland ever since. He earned a degree in Pharmacy from Syria and a degree in Medical Technology from Chicago. Mr. Zaiem retired in July 2012, after 25 years of service at the Cleveland Clinic transplant department.

Since the mid 1980s and in different capacities, Mr. Zaiem has volunteered and served on the boards of several Northeast Ohio institutions including the Islamic Center of Cleveland and Uqbah Mosque Foundation. In 2003, he co-founded the Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).* Mr. Zaiem served as the CAIR-Cleveland Chapter board president until 2010 and currently serves as board treasurer. 

He also served on the board of directors of the Housing Research and Advocacy Center
(an equal housing advocacy organization in the Cleveland area), and on the board of Cleveland Peace Action, a peace advocacy group. He also serves on the Community Committee for WKYC Channel 3.

Approximate length: 1 hour 30 minutes