Dr. Rami Nashashibi has been awarded the prestigious 2018 Opus Prize for his inspirational work as founder and director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) in Chicago, Illinois. The award was announced on Thursday, November 15 during a ceremony hosted by the University of Portland and the Opus Prize Foundation at the Chiles Center.
IMAN is a nonprofit organization that fosters health, wellness, and healing in some of the Chicago’s most challenged neighborhoods. The organization was founded in 1997 by Nashashibi and others directly affected by and deeply invested in social issues affecting communities of color living on Chicago’s South Side. The nonprofit’s endeavors include organizing for social change, cultivating the arts, and operating a holistic health center, corner grocery store initiative, and job-training program. Since its founding, IMAN has steadily grown and, in 2016, opened a second office in Atlanta to continue mobilizing a cross-section of people committed to their mission. More at www.imancentral.org/
Two other Opus Prize finalists, Daniel and Avitha Victor of Agape Rehabilitation Centre in Chennai, India, and Rev. Daniel Panchot, CSC, and Jose Antonio Patron of Yancana Huasy in Lima, Peru were awarded $100,000 each.
The Opus Prize is one of the world’s largest faith-based awards for social entrepreneurship. In the face of improbable odds, its laureates are creating change in their communities and demonstrating faith and creativity through their work. Their leadership and dedication is transforming the lives of people around the world.
The University was selected by the Opus Prize Foundation to administer this year’s award because of the school’s commitment to educating the hands and heart – in addition to the mind – of its students, many of whom are dedicated to service and social justice. The 21-month process to identify, nominate and review candidates was made possible by the involvement of University of Portland students, faculty, alumni and administration.
For more information go to this link or www.up.edu/opusprize.