CHICAGO, October 15 (IslamOnline) - The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), an umbrella organization of Chicago-area Muslim groups, celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting a fundraising dinner on over the weekend.

Imam Zaid Shakir and award winning photographer Peter Sanders were the keynote speakers.

CIOGC’s current chairman, Kareem Irfan, said that in the decade since its formation, the council has succeeded on many fronts including effective interaction with mainstream media, meaningful relationships with Muslim organizations and interfaith relations with non-Muslims.

He said the council has also succeeded in developing strong unity among various Muslim groups and organizations working in the Chicago area.

Irfan also pointed to the council’s collaboration with the City of Chicago and Mayor Richard Daley. Most recently, Irfan was invited to inaugurate a commemorative ceremony organized by the city of Chicago.

CIOGC has also produced a video program that was shown to the personnel at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, educating them about Muslim sensitivities.

Imam Zaid Shakir, in his keynote address, said that Muslims in United States should join with other well-meaning groups to preserve the democracy in this country. Comparing Christian right-wing leader Jerry Falwell’s hateful rhetoric with that of Adolph Hitler, he said that Falwell and his ilk wanted to develop a civilization clash between the Islamic and Judeo-Christian worlds.

Shakir urged Muslims not to be influenced by such rants, saying that Muslims in the U.S. should work to develop this country for the service of humanity.

He also exhorted Muslims to organize and unify. “If we fail to seize the moment then we have no one to blame but ourselves,” he said, adding that Muslim organizations should also utilize the power of Muslim sisters and use their skills in developing a strong Muslim community.

“We cannot be a passive community. We have to struggle for our country. We have to struggle for our Ummah. We have to be the voice for the voiceless. We have the challenge to build strong and effective organizations,” he added.

British photographer Peter Sanders (Abdul Aleem), who has spent several years capturing striking photographic images in the Muslim world, presented stunning slides from his selection.

Imam Jamal Saeed of the Mosque Foundation, youth leader Rami Nashashibi and a representative of Imam Warith Deen Mohammad’s Muslim American Society also spoke at the event.