Ever wish you could take a look back through history? The advent of photography has offered us a limited glimpse into the past, but just like historical narratives, photographs present a unique point of view that influences the observer. But what happens when various artistic points of view are brought together in the same space? 

Edina Lekovic’s passion for activism is one to be reckoned with. From her TV appearances to the leadership programs she helped create for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, it’s clear that Edina enjoys helping others and making a difference. And believe it or not - she has Peter Jennings to thank for all that. As the Communications Director of MPAC, Edina strives to create a more accurate image of Muslims in the media. But where did this passion originate and what can we expect from Edina in the future? elan is here to find out. 

Ah it’s that time of year again, Spring is around the corner, love is in the air. Well, maybe love is in the air. Or maybe I can’t smell anything because it’s freakin’ freezing here. Anyway - something to melt the wintry cold is the heartwarming rituals and melted chocolate of Valentine’s Day. And how will single Muslims be spending it?

Four animated, Arab grandmothers are taking over the world, one TV screen at a time. The hit UAE show “Freej” is soon to become the first globally distributed Arab series, centering around the lives of four traditional women living in a secluded neighborhood on the outskirts of Dubai.

I woke up Sunday morning to the sounds of car horns blaring and crowds chanting. In New York, this is not uncommon and on any ordinary Sunday, it is more than a little annoying. But on this Sunday, January 31, this was the sweet sound of victory. And no, I’m not talking about the Jets either. Egypt had won the Africa Cup for the third straight year in a row. 

The above picture is a screenshot of a series of email messages forwarded to me by a friend who was subjected to a common pastime amongst loser Muslim guys - creeping out girls on the Internet.

The Emirates are known for their larger than life buildings and excessive lifestyle, but they’re also big on preserving Arab culture through educational, foundational and award-based initiatives. One such initiative is the UN-backed Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, which has been awarded annually since 2003. Set up by Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohamed Al-Qassimi of the Emirate of Sharjah, the prize recognizes exceptional work in promoting and developing Arab culture throughout the world. 

Everything that glitters, whirs, whizzes or just plain looks “purty” can be found on the website Etsy. For those of you not fully acquainted with the intricacies of turning a ragged old sweater into a loveable “upcycled” teddy bear or just how divine a juicy red apple looks in its very own hand knitted jacket, Etsy is a website to be reckoned with! 

Ok fine. There aren’t very many examples of Muslims portrayed favorably in Hollywood movies. That we can all agree on. But I wanted to take some time out to remember the few Muslim characters that are, surprisingly, cool and somewhat accurate.

Maybe the reason why Tobey Maguire left the “Spiderman” franchise this year is because he realized he had nothing on Alain Roberts. Over the years, the infamous French “Spiderman” daredevil has risked life, limb and imprisonment to conquer some of the world’s tallest towers. The 47-year old Frenchman has scaled an impressive list of historical buildings including, the Sears Tower, the Empire State Building and Taipei 101. And now, he’s got his sights set on - what else? - the world’s tallest building.