Rosie Haji – part of Houston’s Joshua Generation

By Barbara Karbaki and Diane Cowen

Houston Chronicle

Jan 23, 2009

Churches have preached for years the concept of the Joshua Generation, the new generation of community leaders who strive for a better world for all. Their goals are both simple and complex: to feed the hungry, house the homeless, heal the sick and empower others to help solve social and economic problems. If the first Bush administration had its 1,000 Points of Light, it seems the new Obama administration will both thank its elders — the Moses Generation — for all they’ve done and prod the current crop — the Joshuas — to carry the mantle for change. Here are eight people — from Houston’s lengthy list of change agents — who are part of this city’s Joshua Generation.

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Rosie Haji

Information technology/communityvolunteer

Age: 28

Cause: Women’s issues

Inspiration: My spiritual leader the Aga Khan, who teaches by example by building bridges and talking about pluralism and human dignity.

Mission: Building bridges and being an ambassador of Islam on a personal level. Studying other faith communities and their history, to avoid stereotypes. Encouraging youth to get involved as community volunteers, an important issue to Ismaili Muslims.

Advice: It’s time for us to unite, leave behind our animosities and have more mutual respect for each other.

Quote: “I see a more united world, that has respect for human dignity and cares for the community at large.”

Complete at source:  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/star/6227369.html