PRESCOTT – Prescott Community Education is hosting a two-part Community Conversation called 'Getting To Know Your Muslim Neighbor” on Jan. 12 and 19 featuring speaker Samir Saikali.

The public is welcome to attend one or both evenings of the two-part series. Free-will donations will be accepted and split between the speaker's educational organization and the Community Conversation series.

The first session runs 6:30-7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12. Learn basic beliefs and practices of Islam/Muslims, followed by a Q& A. The second session will be held 6:307:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 at the Prescott High School Auditorium (1010 Dexter St.) Learn about commandments and the two most misunderstood aspects of Islam –Sharia and Jihad. There will be time for Q& A.

Speaker Samir Saikali, whose grandparents came from Lebanon and Palestine, was born in Egypt and studied at the Holy Family Jesuits’ College and at American University in Cairo. He came to the US in 1986 and worked as a business and financial analyst for many years.

Saikali is currently the Senior Grant Writer and Information Manager for Neighborhood Development Center (a non-profit that promotes entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty); he also delivers the weekly sermon and leads the prayer on Fridays at Al-Salam Mosque in Maplewood. During the last 25 years, Saikali has been regularly teaching about Islam and Muslims in order to increase communication and build bridges of mutual understanding and respect among all people.

Submitted by Prescott Community Education