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I& #39;m aware the timing of this thread may not be ideal but I& #39;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">https://www.valleybreeze.com/2019-10-3...
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& #39;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">https://www.providencejournal.com/news/2019...
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">https://www.valleybreeze.com/2019-11-1...
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">https://www.providencejournal.com/article/2...
This is why, yes, competition is good, but we need to remind ourselves we both call home, home. People won& #39;t remember us for being first to a story, they& #39;ll remember us for doing it right and well.
We& #39;d do well to remember to lookout for each other. We& #39;re all in the trenches day in and out to get our communities their stories. #subscribe #savelocalnews #rhodeisland #blackstonevalley #islaminus #Muslims
