Maryam to Speak at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

As part of the continuing "The City Talks" series at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), Maryam (MIIM Designs) will be joining MFA's Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art and Acting Matsutaro Shoriki Chair, Art of Asia along with  Michael Dwan Singh (SubDrift Boston) and Robb Johnson (Fenway Health) to discuss "How do we unlearn differences within communities"?
 

Join Boston-area thinkers, institutions, entrepreneurs, activists, city officials, and artists at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for a free discussion inspired by themes in the exhibition “Political Intent,” on view now.

Archinect's Executive Editor, Nick Korody, Interviews Maryam

Nick Korody, the Executive Editor of Archinect Magazine, recently sat down and interviews Maryam on weaving her values into MIIM Designs. 
Recently, Archinect has been taking a look at the relationship between faith and architecture. In this interview, we speak to Maryam Eskandari, Principal of MIIM Designs and Adviser in History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University. A practicing Muslim, Eskandari views her practice as an extension of her faith—which means, basically, to make "good architecture" for the 99%.

Read the FULL INTERVIEW HERE. 

Grateful to the 150 people who have supported the OAC

This past year Open Architecture Collaborative laid out the infrastructure, defined its niche, and now is turning to you for support to build the programs that will help us all reach and assist more marginalised communities.

Your gift of at least $25 can make all of the difference, providing tools, connecting and engaging architects around the globe. Make your donation today to help us reach a groundswell of support of 2000 donors.

A note from Maryam, our Principal and Board Member of Open Architecture Collaborative: 

Harvard Islamic studies scholar Celene Ibrahim talks Feminism

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Islamic studies scholar Celene Ibrahim says in places like America, much of what Muslim women do is a matter of choice. Ibrahim was the guest speaker at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Diversity Dialogues series.

"Ibrahim, a scholar in residence at Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School and a Muslim chaplain at Tufts University, addressed the stereotypes at “Muslim Feminism,” the second of three Faculty of Arts and Sciences Diversity Dialogues.

Ibrahim also challenged the misconception that Muslim women are not allowed to pursue education. She pointed out that Muhammad directed that every person must seek knowledge, regardless of gender.

'Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim,” she said. Citing as examples Farah Pandith, the State Department’s first ever-special representative to Muslim communities; architect Maryam Eskandari; sitcom creator Zarqa Nawaz; and Ghazala Khan, the gold star mother of a U.S. Army captain killed in Iraq, Ibrahim said, “For Muslim women there is not a single path. Their influence is broad and takes many different paths.'”

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Fast Company features OPEN ARCHITECTURE COLLABORATIVE

Earlier this month, Fast Company Magazine named Open Architecture Collaborative as one of the best Design Non-Profits to donate too. 

And if those interests happen to be design-related, we've done your research for you. Below are design and architecture nonprofits that are doing great work and need your money. A note on our methodology: Since we're a national publication, we limited the list to organizations that have a national presence (though we encourage you to donate to local organizations, too). 

the newly relaunched Open Architecture Collaborative is an international nonprofit that provides grassroots advocacy, planning, and socially responsible design to communities where those services are needed the most. Volunteer architects and designers working with the 30 chapters worldwide have done everything from building a neighborhood arts center in Chicago to providing post-Hurricane Katrina reconstruction in Mississippi…. The organization put humanitarian design on the map, and with its new structure and leadership, it's poised to keep doing so. Donate here. 

source: FASTCOMPANY