IOWA DIALOG CENTER

Dinners
Whirling Dervishes
Intercultural Trips to Turkey
Rumi Presentations
Other Activities
Projects

5th Annual Friendship and Dialogue Dinner, 2008

Keynote
"The Foundations of Dialogue"
Dr Zeki Saritoprak
Associate Professor of Islamic Studies
Department of Religious Studies
John Carroll University

Time, Venue
Friday, October 24, 2008 - 6:00 pm
Hy-Vee Conference Center - 5820 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines
Phone: 515.267.2892

RSVP by Monday, October 20
desmoines@iowadialog.org (515) 288 8900
Business Attire

Host Committee
Senator Daryl Beall, D (Chair, International Relations Committee)
Senator Nancy J. Boettger, R (Ranking member, International Relations Committee)
Senator Paul McKinley, R
Senator Dennis Black, D
Senator Larry McKibben, R
Senator Pat Ward, R
Representative Rich Anderson, R
Representative Lisa Heddens, D
Representative Rod Roberts, R

Legislative Reception

An Introduction to Iowa Dialog Center for Iowa's Legislators

Monday, February 18 2008
The Embassy Suites
5;30, 6:15 and 7:00 PM

To reinforce the friendship and dialog between diverse communities, we gather in the annual intercultural dinners with people from all walks of life of varied communities and faith groups to emphasize on the values such as mutual understanding, deep respect, love, and peace. These are such events where people from different traditions express their thoughts and offer their friendships. Among our guests are community leaders, university professors, religious leaders, business people, and families at each dinner.

Iowa City

Date:
Friday - Oct 5, 2007, 6:30pm

Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Kenneth Atkinson, UNI Department of Philosophy and Religion

Theme:
Sharing the Sacred: How To Begin Interfaith Dialogue

Venue:
Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Kindly RSVP by October 1st, 2007
to Murat Unlu at (319) 512 8539 or iowacity@iowadialog.org

Des Moines

Date:
Wed, Oct 10, 2007, 6:30 pm.

Keynote Speaker:
The Rev. Karen Parker, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Theme:
`Up Close and Personal’ – Interfaith Dialog, the Experience

Venue:
Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines - On The River,
101 East Locust St, Des Moines

Kindly RSVP by October 1, 2007
to Mehmet Caputcu at (515) 779 4867 or desmoines@iowadialog.org

Testimonials

Cedar Falls

Date:
Thursday , Oct 11, 2007, 6:30 pm.

Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Betty DeBerg, Head of UNI Philosophy & Religion Dept.

Theme:
Living Together, Working Together

Venue:
PIPAC Center, Cedar Falls

Kindly RSVP by October 5, 2007
to Kenan Baltaci at (319) 830 0010 or cedarfalls@iowadialog.org

ANNUAL DIALOG DINNERS - 2006 IN RAMADAN

Ramadan is a month when the relationships within and outside the community are strengthened by fasting and breaking the fast. To reinforce the friendship, and dialog between diverse communities, we gather in the intercultural dinners during the month Ramadan with people from all walks of life of varied communities and faith groups to emphasize on the values such as mutual understanding, deep respect, love, and peace. These are such events where people from different traditions express their thoughts and offer their friendships.

Cedar Falls

Date:
September 28, 2006, at 7:00 pm

Speakers:
Dr. Kenneth Atkinson, UNI Department of Philosophy and Religion
Prof. Mohammed Fahmy, Head of UNI Industrial Technology Department
Dee Lynch, Presbyterian Church

Venue:
Pipac Centre on the Lake, 1521 Technology Parkway Suite B, Cedar Falls

Speeches

Des Moines

Date:
Friday, October 6, 2006, at 7:00 pm

Speakers:
Randy Roth, the Pastor of Menonite Church-Des Moines
Jean E. McCarthy, Reverend and Rector of St Mark’s Episcopal Church-Des Moines
Mark Ferrara, Asst Prof., Director of Chinese Cultural Exchange Program at Drake University
Bill McCarthy, Chief of Police, City of Des Moines

Venue:
Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel, 1800 50th Street, West Des Moines

Iowa City

Date:
Friday, October 13, 2006, at 7:00 pm

Venue:
Sheraton Iowa City Hotel, Amos Dean Ballroom Section-D, 210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City

ANNUAL DIALOG DINNERS - 2005 IN RAMADAN

Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, October 2005

Details

ANNUAL DIALOG DINNERS - 2004 IN RAMADAN

Iowa City, October 2004

Date:
Saturday, October 27 - 2007, (Evening; the exact time TBA soon)

Venue:
Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory, 519 Park Street, Des Moines

RUMI EXCLUSIVE: WHIRLING DERVISHES IN 2006

Date:
Monday-September 18, 2006

Venue:
Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Gallagher Bluedorn at the University of Northern Iowa hosts a very special universal peace dance and music event on Monday, September 18 at 7:30 pm. Named as “RUMI EXCLUSIVE: Whirling Dervishes”, the group is known as one of the wonders of Turkey.

The event was co-sponsored by Iowa Dialog Center, University of Northern Iowa-Department of Philosophy and Religion, and the Rumi Forum.

Details

INTERCULTURAL TRIPS TO TURKEY

Iowa Dialog Center organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the East world and the West. Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table. Iowans are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding.

Trip to Turkey - 2007

Date:
July 21-29, 2007

Testimonials Part 1:

Testimonials Part 2:

Summary of Testimonials

Itinerary and Map

Photos

COMMEMORATING RUMI

In commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the birth of Mevlana Jalaladdin RUMI, Iowa Dialog Center presents a documentary movie on RUMI.

Alongside dialog dinners, whirling dervishes dances and trips to Turkey, the IDC is extending its projects to include a series of lectures, exhibits and concerts under the theme "Mevlana and Sufism", as 2007 has been declared by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) the year of Mevlana Jalaladdin RUMI, celebrating the 800th anniversary of his birth.

Details

other activities

Celebrating the Day of Ashure

Iowa Dialog Center is celebrating tha Day of Ashure in January 2008. This year volunteer members of IDC are gathering with Iowans from different walks of life at various places to serve the dessert ashure. Click to display the sample flyer.

Celebrating Mothers and Fathers Days - Honoring Our Parents:

“The Sacred Members of Our Families”

As Iowa Dialog Center, we are excited for our future projects one of which is the celebration of Mothers and Fathers Days under the theme "the Sacred Members of Our Families". This original event will take place at the Mickle Center, 1620 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, on Sunday June 3rd, between 2:00 and 4:30 pm. And traditional Turkish foods will be served as well.

Date: Sunday-June 3, 2007, 2:00 - 4:30 pm

Keynote Speakers: Robert & Nelda Mickle

Theme: Experiences & memories in raising their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Venue: the Mickle Center Community Room, 1620 Pleasant St, Des Moines, IA, 50314

Details

RAMADAN DINNERS

In Islamic tradition, Ramadan is the month where Muslims fast during the day. In Turkey, it has been a practice that people invite each other -their friends, relatives, neighbors- to theirs to serve them the fast breaking dinner. It is Ramadan now, and Turkish Muslim members of Iowa Dialog Center would like to taste the same joy of sharing with their friends here in US. Iowa Dialog Center has hosted such events for four years at different places in Iowa. This time, the friends of "dialogue" at churches have kindly accepted to host these diverse gatherings of friendship. Now, we are inviting you to enjoy delicious Turkish food served by volunteer members of the IDC and also very nice table conversation... Come and let's take advantage of these dinners to strengthen our relationship despite our differences. Let's feel the joy of deep respect, love and peace!

Sunday, September 21, 2008, 6:45 pm
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
2675 E Washington St, Iowa City

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 6:30 pm
St Catherine Catholic Student Center
1150 28th St, Des Moines

Friday, September 26th, 2008, 6:45 pm
First Christian Church
Clark Ave & 6th Street downtown Ames

Iftar Dinner with First Unitarian Church-Des Moines

Members of IDC are meeting members of First Unitarian Church to share a Ramadan fastbreaking dinner.

Date:
Saturday, October 6 - 2007, 6:30 pm

Venue:
Channing Hall, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, 1800 Bell Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa

Peace Fair - International Day of Peace

(Co-sponsored Event)

Building a culture of peace in your community,
with our earth and across the world

Date:
Saturday, September 22 - 2007, 11:00am - 5:00pm

Venue:
Court Avenue Bridge, downtown Des Moines

Flyer

Schedule of Activities

Celebration of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi's Urs: IDC visited Sacred Space

(Co-sponsored Event)

Date:
Sunday, December 17 - 7:30 to 9 pm

Venue:
Sacred Space Community Meditation Center, Iowa City

Celebrating The Day Of Ashure

Iowa Dialog Center is celebrating tha Day of Ashure in January again. Members of IDC are gathering with Iowans from different walks of life at various places to serve the dessert ashure.

Details

Time:
The month Muharram of Lunar Calendar every year, which is around January.

Venue:
Public places such as homeless shelters, schools, universities, churches.

Greenwood Elementary School Intercultural Exhibit