People at the Center: ICGT Community Members

Since its inception as the Syrian American Moslem Society in the late 1930s, community has been at the heart of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo. In addition to its religious services, the Center has for decades offered a remarkable breadth and depth of educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs in a variety of formats – including schools, classes, lectures, youth clubs, festivals, camps, and picnics – through which Muslims in Northwest Ohio have nurtured and cultivated a strong and supportive community anchored by the Center’s cosmopolitan and unifying approach to Islam. While the Center was founded primarily by Syrian and Lebanese Muslims, today its community is comprised of well over twenty nationalities.

A community picnic at a Toledo area park, circa 1950s. The Muslims of Toledo often held community picnics at area parks.

Children at Islamic holiday event, circa 1950s.

The first Youth Club, many of whom are still members of the Toledo community.

A banquet at the Islamic Center with Jack Shaheen as the keynote speaker. Shaheen was a writer and lecturer whose work focused on racial and ethnic stereotypes in popular culture.

Children at Sunday School.

Children at ICGT event.

Anne Sharp, a founding member of the Toledo Muslim community, maintained the Gift Shop at the Islamic Center from its inception. The space has been repurposed to a cafe.