The Center grew from a small group of Muslim families, mostly immigrants who settled in Nassau County in the early 1970's. Meetings were initially held in nursery schools, in basements of private homes, and rented church facilities. As the local Muslim community grew, members realized the need for a permanent home.
The Center was incorporated in 1982. The current structure, which was completed in 1991, comprises 10,000 square feet and houses an inspiring prayer room, a library, classrooms, and offices. As many as 1,000 Muslims now attend the Center for Friday prayers.
The Center has a proud history and tradition of celebrating diversity and building bridges of respect, peace, and understanding with various interfaith and ethnically diverse communities on Long Island. Highlights:
- Letter Writing Campaign: The Center aims to dispel the myths of fanaticism, terrorism, and intolerance about Muslims and supports various awareness initiatives for the larger Long Island community.
- Community Service: Center members supply, prepare, and serve food at soup kitchens at St. Bridget Catholic Charities, Pax Christie, Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), and Long Island Council of Churches (LICC). They also conduct blanket and shoe drives.
- Interfaith service, promotion, and recognition: The Center is proactive in developing and sustaining dialogue and fellowship with communities at large. Recently, Center president Dr. Isma Chaudhry co-hosted an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Temple Sinai in Roslyn. Working with Temple Rabbi Michael White, she also organized a community forum to discuss the impact of recent federal policies on vulnerable populations. Additionally, Senior Center officials frequently provide interfaith chaplaincy services at Northwell Health System and Hofstra University, and have been recognized for community service by Pax Christie, LICC, and Hofstra University, among others.
- Beautification: The Center has adopted a portion of Brush Hollow Road in Westbury, maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of a one-mile stretch.
The 2017 ERASE Racism Leadership Award to the Islamic Center of Long Island will be accepted by the Center's president, Dr. Isma Chaudry. Dr. Chaudry was elected in 2015 to serve as the Center's first female president. She is a physician by profession and has practiced medicine in three countries. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree from Hofstra University.
Dr. Chaudry is one of the most sought after speakers on Long Island. She has had many prestigious public appearances and speaking engagements, including the United Nations conference on Islamophobia, United States Institute of Peace, United Nations office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. Her curricula on Islam and cultures of Southeast Asia are taught in several public school districts on Long Island. For two successive years, the Long Island Press named her as one of the 50 Most Influential Long Islanders for her work as an Interfaith Champion and activist for the rights of Muslim women.
ERASE Racism is proud to honor the Islamic Center of Long Island for its leadership, advocacy, and promotion of interfaith harmony and social justice and we are privileged to have Dr. Isma Chaudry accept the award for the Center.