Miftaahul Uloom Academy presents theater production based on immigrant experiences

UNION CITY – Miftaahul Uloom Academy will present a theater production titled “Their Story, Our Story” for the local community at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. Written collectively by a group of 80 elementary school students, it is based on stories they gathered from their family members. The production will be held at Miftaahul Uloom Academy, 501 15th St., sharing tales from a diverse community of families reflecting on struggle, sacrifice, triumph, and defeat during the process of migration.
“This project has opened a treasure chest of rich stories from our diverse community of families,” said Principal Fatima Abbasi of the Miftaahul Uloom Academy. “Not only has the project enriched students academically, but it has allowed students to experience the power of the arts in understanding themselves and the struggles that have shaped the opportunities they enjoy today. It has given them a platform to tell their own narrative as American Muslims and the stories that shape them.”
The artist-in-residence program at Miftaahul Uloom Academy is funded by the Artists in Education Residency Grant Program, a cosponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Young Audiences New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support has been provided by the Parent Association of Miftaahul Uloom Academy. Through this residency, students explore the creative process and learn firsthand from a professional artist. In addition to sessions with students, the artist serves as a resource for teachers and the community.
Miftaahul Uloom Academy, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1994 and is a co-educational preschool through 12th grade independent Islamic day school. Literally translated, the name Miftaahul Uloom means “The Key to Knowledge.” The school is home to a unique population of students from across varied cultures and socioeconomic levels. For more about Miftaahul Uloom Academy, visit www.muanj.org. For more information on the event, contact Faatimah Yanes at (201) 223-9920 or email events@muanj.org.