Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Friday, March 16, 2018 08:00PM
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) --
His Highness the Aga Khan is making a 10-day Diamond Jubilee visit to the United States, marking 60 years of his leadership.

He will be visiting Atlanta and Houston.

The Aga Khan will be received by the Secretary of the State and the Ismaili Muslim leadership upon arrival in Houston on Sunday.

During his visit, he is scheduled to meet with Governor Abbott and the Ismaili community. A significant portion of the Ismaili community from around the U.S. is coming to Houston for this occasion.

The Ismaili community in Houston has been anxiously preparing for this visit with thousands of volunteers helping to make this historic visit memorable by working around the clock.

The Ismailis enthusiastically contribute to community service initiatives in Texas.

"Houston is proud to have a strong and vibrant Ismaili Muslim community that is focused on giving back to the communities it lives in, focused on making Houston a better city for all its citizens," said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. "The Ismaili Muslim community is a thought partner and a symbol of the religious and cultural pluralism that makes America the greatest nation on earth."

The ethical principles that the local Ismaili Muslim community embodies, as exemplified by the Aga Khan, reflected in their everyday lives as Houstonians, and their work in the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts were recognized by the mayor's office, the Houston Food Bank and a Points of Light award presented to the Ismaili volunteers by five former U.S. presidents.

An interactive exhibition titled Ethics in Action: The Aga Khan Development Network, hosted by the City of Houston is on display at the City Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 23. This exhibition coincides with the Aga Khan's Diamond Jubilee by bringing to life the work of the institutions he has established through the AKDN to improve the well-being of individuals and communities globally.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) --
His Highness the Aga Khan's Diamond Jubilee marks his 60th anniversary as the Imam, the spiritual leader, of the Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world.

Celebrations will bring together the global Ismaili community, partners of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and government and faith community leaders in over 25 countries. The Diamond Jubilee celebrates the occasion on July 11 in which the Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, as the Imam of the Ismaili Muslims 60 years ago, at the age of 20.

Tuesday begins a year of redoubling the Aga Khan's commitment to improve the quality of life of people around the world. His Highness has improved the living conditions for millions of people worldwide over the last six decades in the areas of health, education, cultural revitalization and economic empowerment.

Throughout the yearlong jubilee, the Aga Khan will travel to countries where the AKDN operates to launch new programs that will help alleviate poverty, increase access to finance for education, health, early childhood development, among others.

"The world we seek is not a world where difference is erased but where difference can be a powerful force for good, helping us to fashion a new sense of cooperation and coherence in our world and to build together a better life for all," he said.

Houstonians began celebrating during the days leading up to the Diamond Jubilee and will partake in a religious ceremony Tuesday. There was a private event for His Highness and the leaders of the Ismaili community, making a historic occasion.

"During the Jubilee year and in the future, poverty alleviation will continue to be a primary area of focus for my Jamat and all the AKDN institutions," said the Aga Khan in the address to the global Ismaili community.

The Tolerance Sculptures along Buffalo Bayou Park and Allen Parkway are a visible gift Houston has received from the Aga Khan. The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center is also a well-recognized venue for civic, cultural and educational programming. Additionally, the Ismaili community works with a variety of programs, including the Houston Food Bank, Citizenship Month, Blue Bonnet Project and Compassion.