First Annual Research Journalism Initiative Gourmet Dinner

To: Friends and Acquaintances Interested in Middle East Peace
From: Ibrahim Kazerooni and Rob Prince
Date: 10/4/2009
Re: First Annual Research Journalism Initiative Dinner – Thursday, October 22 at 6 pm. St. Pauls United Methodist Church (Ogden and 16th Street, Denver, Colorado)
Dear Friends,

We are hosting the First Annual Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) Dinner on Thursday, October 22 at 6 pm at St. Pauls’ United Methodist Church (Ogden and 16th St. Denver Colorado).

As we are not sure you know about the Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) we want to take this opportunity to tell you a little about it and the dinner.

Founded several years ago by a group of young peace activists, including Mark Turner and Jennifer Klein, RJI is an attempt to link young people in different parts of the world with one other through computer links. One of the projects links high school students in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine with high school students in different parts of the United States, including Denver. The students exchange art work, photos, poetry. In so doing, RJI provides a way for young people to meet each other, exchange ideas, hopes, and creative works. In an age where we hear so much about the importance of `dialogue’ and `compassionate listening’, this project provides an excellent opportunity for both.

We urge you to check out RJI’s website to get a better idea of the wonderful work that they do. The link is located at http://www.researchjournalisminitiative.net/

Ibrahim and I have supported this project from its beginnings a few years ago, and have been impressed with its progress. We talked about what we might do to familiarize others with the project with the hopes that friends and acquaintances would consider offering it their financial support (tax deductable). We hit upon the idea of what we call `Dinner with the Imam’.

Unbeknownst to many of his friends and associates, Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, besides his many other talents, happens to be a gourmet cook. He is willing to utilize his skills for the common good and prepare a full Arabic meal, dessert included, the proceeds to go to the Research Journalism Initiative. We hope this to be the first in what will be a series of annual events here in Denver, where the Initiative was first conceived, in order to garner more local support and participation.

Besides the dinner, there will be a short presentation by Jennifer Klein to explain the work of the initiative and there will be materials available that evening.

Because of its relative youth, only two or three years old combined with the global financial crisis, this is a project which is seriously underfunded. It cannot survive and continue to do the wonderful work it has done without your support.

We are asking for a minimum contribution of $30 to attend.

We realize that this is a healthy sum, but it is for a worthy cause and we can promise you that the meal alone will be worth it. We are asking you to RSVP so that we might know beforehand how much food to prepare. We are grateful to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for providing us with the venue and cooking facilities. RSVP’s can be made to me (robertjprince@comcast.net), Ibrahim Kazerooni (mikazerooni@gmail.com ) or Jennifer Klein ( jdeborahklein@earthlink.net ). We will also be selling tickets prior to the event available from any of us.

Hope to hear from you and see you at St. Paul’s on Oct.22

Rob Prince and Ibrahim Kazerooni