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I'm aware the timing of this thread may not be ideal but I'm going to run with it while I still have it in my head. Today I just saw such a wondrous example of what happens with a healthy news ecosystem. The story involves both @projo and @TheValleyBreeze.
Just a heads up, I will be going through these stories by when they were published, first to last.
I saw @TheStoryShorey share a piece by @lclemjourno breaking that Masjid al-Islam was seeking to expand in order to better serve its congregation and the wider community of North Smithfield. https://www.valleybreeze.com/2019-10-30/woonsocket-north-smithfield/mosque-plans-expansion-sayles-hill-road#.XeGYRuhKjIU
That prompted me to make a call to @AskaMufti to arrange an interview with him. I did not want to rip off the previous story so I picked the angle of, why is it expanding? Turns out, bigger congregation than before (duh). What's also interesting is this mirrors national trends.
“Fifteen years ago, I would say that the population was mostly immigrant [here]. Now, the majority of Muslims [in the U.S.] are, like myself, born in the U.S... about 40% of our population is 35 or younger at the masjid." @AskaMufti https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20191105/north-smithfield-mosque-looks-to-expand-to-better-serve-community
Shortly after, @lclemjourno wrote a piece localizing mine further that examined who goes to Masjid al-Islam and looked deeper into its 24-year history.
“It’s probably the most diverse place in the state, I would say,” @AskaMufti. https://www.valleybreeze.com/2019-11-13/woonsocket-north-smithfield/growing-community#.XeGazehKjIU
I stumbled across that while researching a story that @AskaMufti told me about. Very soon, his mosque will no longer be the only-purpose built one in R.I. It turns out, The Muslim Society of Rhode Island is planning to triple with a new mosque. Opening summer 2020.
“The mosque is not just a prayer space but it’s a community center too. You provide [people] with activities, education, religious services, you will start to attract more.” - Amjad Kinjawi, VP of Muslim Society RI. https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20191129/NEWS/191129350
This is why, yes, competition is good, but we need to remind ourselves we both call home, home. People won't remember us for being first to a story, they'll remember us for doing it right and well.
We'd do well to remember to lookout for each other. We're all in the trenches day in and out to get our communities their stories. #subscribe #savelocalnews #rhodeisland #blackstonevalley #islaminus #Muslims
