Join Commonweal New School host Irwin Keller in conversation with Sumbul Ali-Karamali, author of "The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing."

This event is free, but registration is required via this link.

Sumbul Ali-Karamali is a lawyer, scholar and frequent spokesperson on matters of interest to Muslim Americans. Her first book, "The Muslim Next Door" was published in 2008 and was a Bronze Medal Winner of the 2009 Independent Book Awards. The book appeared in the American Academy of Religion's Islam section as a recomended text for teaching Islam in classrooms, and on the Huffington Post's "Eleven Must-Read Books by Muslim Authors." Her second book, "Growing Up Muslim: Understanding the Beliefs and Practices of Islam," is directed at broadening the understanding of middle- and high-schoolers.

Sumbul is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and a frequent speaker and writer on Islam-related topics. She has been on the steering committee of Women in Islamic Spirituality and Equality and on the Muslim Women's Global Shura Council, both of which aim to promote women's rights and human rights from an Islamic perspective.

In her spare time, enjoys opera, whitewater rafting, reading fantasy literature and watching Star Trek reruns with her family.

This conversation is part of The New School at Commonweal Sonoma Series. It is co-sponsored by the "Of One Soul" Campaign of the Interfaith Coalition of Sonoma County (ICSC).

Ner Shalom is a scent-free space. Please come smelling as you are!