A World Without Hate & How We Get There || Rais Bhuiyan at SILS’17
Rais Bhuiyan, (Founder & President, World Without Hate) an American Muslim from Bangladesh, is an extraordinary individual with a powerful story. After serving as an air force pilot in Bangladesh, Rais moved to the United States in 1999 to study computer technology. Ten days after 9/11, Rais was the victim of a horrific hate crime. Shot in the face at point blank range by white supremacist, Mark Stroman, self-described as “the Arab slayer,” Rais barely survived. Sadly, two other victims were killed. Stroman was sentenced to death; ten years later, Rais led an international campaign, fighting to save Stroman’s life.
Rais’ near death experience and subsequent religious pilgrimage sparked a profound journey of soul searching and began his path as a human rights activist for peace, forgiveness, empathy and understanding. Rais’ effort to save Stroman from execution in 2011 was unsuccessful, but his transformative ability to turn hate into compassion and forgive the unforgivable has been transformative. Through his non-profit, World Without Hate, Rais has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people as he shares his inspirational story and message at schools, universities, organizations and conferences all over the world.
Rais’ efforts have been widely recognized, receiving the Excellence for Human Service Award, United for Change; Search for Common Ground Award, Search for Common Ground; 2011 American of the Year, Esquire Magazine; 2014 Human Relations Award, Muslim Public Affairs Council Foundation, among others. Rais is a full-time IT executive at Sabre Corporation in Dallas, but works relentlessly to end the cycle of hate and violence. To create a better world, Rais believes in peace, love and forgiveness. We must all work together toward tolerance and understanding and knock down the walls of difference and hatred that too often separate us.
Rais Bhuiyan’s extraordiary story has been chronicled in The True American: Murder & Mercy in Texas by NY Times journalist Anand Giridharadas; the 2014 New York Times Book Review Notable Book and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. He is also prominently featured in the 2016 documentary, An Eye for An Eye. During 2016, Rais worked with the Obama Administration’s Domestic Policy Council and State Department, recently receiving a personal letter from President Obama thanking him for his courage and efforts. Rais is featured in the Emmy Award Nominated documentary series, The Secret Life of Muslims featured on Vox, PRI, and the USA network. His segment was chosen by CBS Sunday Morning for national broadcast on November 27, 2016.
Join us on September 27th to hear Rais Bhuiyan present how we can create a World Without Hate.
Tickets:
$40 – General Admission
$50 – General Admission Week-Of Event (9/25-27)
$55 – General Admission At-The-Door
Date / Location:
September 27, 2017
11:30am – 1:00pm
Magnolia Hotel Dallas Park Cities
6070 N Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75206
The Social Innovation Luncheon Series Is Sponsored In Part By:
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