With a foot in each culture, Rihab Sawah is uniquely equipped to share her Syrian culture with Americans.
The physics professor will discuss "Islam vs. Islamic State" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 324 Madison St., sponsored by the Capital Area Interfaith Alliance and the Jefferson City Evening Rotary Club.
"We are hosting this event because we feel a strong need for our community to be educated about the truth of the Muslim faith, and the reality that ISIA (the Islamic State) does not represent the teaching of Islam or its prophet Mohammed," said alliance member the Rev. Dave Henry, associate pastor with First Presbyterian Church.
This will be Sawah's first time in six years to visit Jefferson City, having shared several programs with the local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship before 2011.
Listeners to her weekly radio show on KOPN at 2 p.m. Thursdays called "Arab Culture, Arab Music" will have a different experience at the event, which will focus on a more political and cultural topic, she said.
Recent world events often put the terms "ISIS" and "Islam" in one context, Sawah said.
"They may wonder if this is a true representation of Islam," she said. By sharing her personal accounts, Sawah said she hopes "to help them sort things out."
Since returning to the United States in 1990 after growing up in Damascus, Sawah said she noticed she could be a bridge between cultures to help one relate to the mindset of the other and bring understanding.
"I felt like I had a moral responsibility, then it developed into a joy," she said. "People realize how we are more alike than different."
Sawah teaches physics at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley and also serves as the college's global education coordinator. Also, she teaches a course on Islam at Eden Theological Seminary. She was born in St. Louis to Syrian parents, who moved back to their homeland when she was 3 years old.
Her first presentation about her culture was in 1999, while working at Moberly Area Community College. That led to her radio program, which connected her with community organizations, like the alliance, who wanted to hear from her more.
"My hope is that members of our churches, worshipping communities and community-at-large will come to a deeper understanding of the true beliefs of Islam," Henry said. "I hope that we can enter into a deeper conversation with our Muslim sisters and brothers, learn from one another and build relationships based on trust and mutual respect."
A member of the Jefferson City Muslim Community, Noaman Kayani said some of their members will attend Thursday. Although he does not expect they will agree 100 percent with what she will say, Kayani said he expects her message to have a positive effect for Islam and Muslims.