CECS Hosts Annual Interfaith Dinner in DallasUS Ambassador Marc Stanley attends as Chief Guest.
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Dallas: The Center of Excellence for Community Services (CECS) hosted its third annual Interfaith Dinner, bringing together dignitaries and representatives from diverse religions and ethnicities to promote unity, mutual respect, and cooperation.
The chief guest at the event was former US Ambassador to Argentina, Marc Stanley, who shared insights from his diplomatic experience. He noted that during his time as ambassador, he hosted annual Iftar dinners with ambassadors from Muslim-majority countries, creating a bridge between civilizations. “The conversations held over Iftar are not just about food that nourish the soul,” he remarked. Ambassador Stanley emphasized the need for religious harmony to combat the alarming rise in religious prejudice in the United States, expressing his discomfort at the increased hate he witnessed upon his return. “We must find a solution to this growing hatred,” he urged.
Ambassador Stanley highlighted that Argentina, a Catholic-majority country, granted women the right to make decisions about her body, and the right to same-sex marriage right even before similar U.S. reforms. He emphasized that Argentinians live in peace and unity, without being divided on ethnic and religious line. “They have their issues, but they coexist with mutual respect,” he said.
Referring to the events of October 7, Stanley noted that while many believed it was a direct attack on Israeli Defense Forces, it was in fact Iran and Hamas attempting to disrupt the growing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. “That’s what October 7 was really about”, he said. He recalled that the very next day, people of all faiths in Argentina came together in a beautiful expression of solidarity. “I can’t tell you exactly why it works there, but it does,” he said, adding that similar harmony is possible in the U.S., where growing hatred must not be normalized.
He explained that Argentina is a nation of immigrants, shaped by people from England, Spain, Italy, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire including Jews, Arabs, Christians, and Muslims who built lives together, worked hand-in-hand, and eventually became one community. “Locals in Argentina would refer to all Middle Eastern immigrants, whether Jews or Muslims, as ‘Turcos.’ They lived on the same land, shared lives, and coexisted peacefully,” he said. “Jews and Arabs we’re cousins, after all.”
The event was also attended by Consul General Susan Harper of Canada, Deputy Consul General of Peru Rafael Vallejo, and representatives from various community organizations including the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Douglas Community Center, American Jewish Committee, Pakistan American Business Forum, Indian American Muslim Council, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, Minhaj-ul-Quran Islamic Center, Mecca Masjid Garland, Madina Masjid Carrollton, Islamic centers of Frisco and Plano, as well as members of Turkish, Chinese, Cambodian, Palestinian, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Mexican, and Azerbaijani communities.
CECS President Nadeem Zaman welcomed the guests and spoke about the challenges immigrants face in North Texas. “We will continue to provide a platform for every immigrant community, regardless of race or religion,” he said.
Dallas County Democratic Party Chairman Kardal Coleman also addressed the gathering, stating that such events are vital for social harmony, and commended CECS for its valuable service.
Rabbi Joel Schwitzer, Regional Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Dallas, emphasized the need for joint efforts to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism, and highlighted CECS’s collaborations with the FBI and Department of Justice to raise awareness on these issues.
This year’s Community Excellence Awards were presented to former State Representative and Vice Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, Terri Hodge, and Judge Tina Clinton for their exceptional achievement as women of color. Both praised CECS’s contributions and reaffirmed their commitment to continue serving the community.
In closing, the organizers extended special thanks to Judge Kim Phipps, District Clerk Felicia Pitre, and Councilwoman Rowena Waters. The evening was moderated by CECS Directors Parvez Malik, Maliha Shahzad, and M.O. Afzal.
The event’s true beauty lay not only in its words, but in its spirit that united diverse faiths around one table, proving that social harmony is not just possible, but essential.
