How ISNA-Canada's 1st female chair hopes to overcome a major scandal

When Katherine Bullock converted to Islam 24 years ago, the political science professor and mother of three teenage boys says she wouldn't have believed it was possible.

But now, she's the firstwoman toleadone of Canada's largest MuslimorganizationstheIslamic Society of North America - Canada (ISNA-Canada)at a time in its 50-year history when it needs to regain the trust of the community after a major scandal.

One of her firstacts: encouraging seniors in theGTAto become more active and socially connected. It's a small step, butBullocksays it's a crucial part of the effort to reconnectwith Muslim Canadians.

"People are really looking for an organization that can be their voice in the wider Canadian public. They feel likeISNAhas the potential to be that voice, but it's not," Bullock told CBCToronto.

ISNA-Canadahassome of the nation's mostdiverse mosques, attracting Muslims from around the world. It offers aprivate school, runs a Halal meat certification agency, hosts marriages and funerals and even provides services for Syrian refugees.

But in2013, its members were shocked whenaToronto Star investigationrevealed that the Canada Revenue Agencyhad revoked the charitable status of an affiliate organization,ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) Development Foundation,after discovering it had sent some $280,000 worth of donations to theHizbulMujahideen a Pakistani group with connections to violent militants in Kashmir.ISNA-Canada was also audited when this was discovered.

"The people that made those decisions are notISNA. They don't speak for us,"Bullock told CBC Toronto.

"ISNA'sbrand has been damaged."

Bullock, who teachesthe politics of Islam at the University of Toronto, became ISNA-Canada'schair in January.

With the election of KhajidaSaidiandBurhanaBello-Ayorinde, the board is also thefirst gender-balanced, most ethnically diverse and youthful board the organization hasever had.

Senior forumaims to forge connections

The revival of a seniors' group that was disbanded after the scandal hit is just one ofseveral initiatives the organization is leading to earn backthe community's trust.

The Muslim Senior Forum, which launches Friday, aims to create a space where seniors can participate in physical activities and an educational program that focuses on topics relevant to them, such as health and changes in technology.

Seniors, along with Bullock, aregatheringat ISNA-Canada'sheadquarters, located near 2200 SouthSheridan Way in Mississauga, to kickstart the programwith a discussion on how seniors can bepositive contributors to society and to the community.

A new ISNA-Canada

Aside from the revival of a seniors forum, community members say other changes are being made.

ISNA-Canadahas participated in various focus groups as a part of a campaign calledISNAListens, whichhas heard from women's groups, social service groups, imams, youths, civic activists, and think tanks in the Islamic community, according to Bullock.

"This is incredibly important. The ISNA brand has suffered for the last few years, so this is a way to ask the community what is important to you, what challenges do you face, what solutions do you want to see," Bullock said.

Arshia Lakhani,25,a marketing adviser for Islamic Relief Canada and a long-time member of the ISNA-Canadacommunity, says Bullock's election has made her confident that the organizationcan address these concerns in its mosques.

"I remember going there for prayers with my mom during Ramadan and she would force me to sit quietly while we prayed. There was never any programs for women during Ramadan," Lakhani said.

"Women were often seen around the mosque, but never in leadership positions. They were doing the grunt work, the babysitting program, the clean up,but never decision-making power."

Lakhani says Bullock's election means that the needs of the community in the mosque will be more adequately heard and met.

"It represents what Islam means to me, what being a Muslim woman means, and it shatters all stereotypes of women in leadership," and Islam, Lakhani said.

For Bullock, the Muslim Senior Forum is just the beginning for ISNA-Canada.

"Because Muslims are so talked about in the media and in public spaces, and because we're the subject for so much hatred, there needs to be a voice that addresses the needs of the community and the perspective of the community."