Irshad Manji

“Irshad Manji generated the largest daytime event ever hosted at the Clinton School of Public Service. The audience, which consisted of students, faculty, policy-makers and interested citizens, was flowing out of the building. Moreover, I’ve never seen our audience so inspired to action.”
– Patrick Kennedy, William J. Clinton School of Public Service

“Your message transcends that personal experience and asks each one of us to apply an honest intellectual questioning of other facets of our lives, whether they be religious, personal, or professional. It is a message that has deep meaning and inspires all of us to endeavor to always do the right thing. Part of the culture of the White House Fellowship is a lifelong commitment to public service. We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to meet with you and inform our own thoughts with respect to moral courage and leadership in the face of pressures to conform without critical thinking, debate, and when necessary, dissent.”
– White House Fellows Foundation & Association

“Now that you have convened town halls at all five of our Young Women′s Leadership Schools (Philadelphia, Jamaica, Astoria, Brooklyn, and East Harlem), I wanted to let you know what a strong and positive impact your visits have had with our students and teachers. Your clarion call to moral courage touched children from ages 11 to 18 and all of the adults who were able to participate in these sessions. I can think of no more important role model for our students in 2009 than a woman who has dedicated herself to the promotion of freedom, dignity, and human rights for every person. Your steadfast dedication to rational dialogue, respect for the individual, and compassion for all is the lesson every child needs – our children were fortunate to be the beneficiaries of your message in a most personal way.”
– Young Women′s Leadership Network

“This was the biggest conference in the 131-year history of the American Library Association, and Irshad Manji was a major factor in its success. Her astonishing presentation about the simple yet sometimes daring act of asking questions drew two standing ovations, while the surprise she delivered at the end of the Q & A shows that she has an extraordinary ability to connect with her audience. The fact that C-SPAN continues broadcasting this event is proof of just how much hunger there is for Irshad′s message that every voice matters.”
-Leonard Kniffel, Editor in Chief, American Library Association

“Irshad Manji was absolutely outstanding at Carleton College! She is a gifted communicator. By that I mean that she is not only an intelligent and articulate speaker, but her presentation was well structured, clear, and lively. She very quickly connected with our very diverse audience and was extremely well received. She was very approachable to our students and engaged in some wonderful discussion with them during the post-lecture luncheon. We look forward to continuing on our campus the very important dialog that Irshad initiated for us today.”
-Carleton College

“Irshad Manji, with her knowledge of Islam and her passion for change, generated the largest daytime event ever hosted at the Clinton School of Public Service. The audience, which consisted of students, faculty, policymakers and interested citizens, was flowing out of the building. Moreover, I′ve never seen our audience so inspired for action. Irshad stirred people′s emotions and called them to act upon a noble cause for modernity and reason. The overwhelming response was also indicated by media. The state′s largest newspaper ran a large feature and, later, a lengthy editorial about the hope that Irshad provides. Even after months of her speaking at the Clinton School, people are asking when she′s coming back. The Clinton community has developed what I call ′Irshad-itis;′ more commonly known as Irshad-Withdrawal.”
– Patrick Kennedy, Director of Public Programs, William J. Clinton School of Public Service

“Our audiences demand a lot – courage, passion, integrity, intelligence, curiosity, humor, empathy, candor and celebrity. Irshad over-delivered on all scores. She provoked her listeners to come up with new questions and inspired them to find their own answers. And she′s got some of the funniest zingers I′ve ever heard. Irshad proves you can have a mind, a spine, and tons of fun.”
-Bob Benia, Executive Producer, SMART TALK Women′s Lecture Series

“I wanted to write to let you know what a terrific speaker Irshad Manji was at the 92nd Street Y. Her enormous knowledge of religion and world events, clear expression of her views, and passion for truth and justice, were just a few of her very special qualities that she brought to our stage. Our audience walked away with their minds expanded and lives enriched. In my 22 years of planning lectures, rarely have I seen such a captivating speaker. In addition to preparing a fascinating talk, she was most engaging in the question and answer part of the program, and took the time afterwards to answer individual questions as well. In this time of such political turmoil, Irshad′s voice of reason and questioning is one people of all faiths and political leanings, need to heed. I would be happy to recommend her as a speaker to any interested parties, and wanted to let you know what a tremendous success she was at the 92nd Street Y.”
-Susan Engel, Director of Lectures, 92nd Street Y, New York

“The church was full, and everyone went away inspired and challenged. In the words of one email I received, ′Irshad Manji was absolutely stunning in her presence and message. She speaks not only to Muslims and her faith but, of course, to our own.′ She was warm, and friendly, and funny, with a very serious message and mission, and took much time in talking with people while signing books. Everyone was impressed with her knowledge, intelligence, and humility.”
-William Field, Christ Church

“As a company focused on developing leaders, LINKAGE Inc. knew that Irshad would be the right fit for our Summit theme: diversity and inclusion. But we didn′t know HOW amazing she would be! Irshad had our audience of 750 diversity leaders rising to their feet with her humor, her insights into social change, her understanding of the questions that many people have but are too afraid to ask, and the permission she gave us to ask anyway. Irshad inspires each of us to be our unique selves. The word she epitomizes is authenticity. That is the essence of leadership in a competitive era.”
-Karina Wilhelm, Program Director, Linkage Inc.

“During a Chicago blizzard, Irshad Manji managed to pack the auditorium with eager, excited, and sometimes angry students. She questioned received wisdom about hot-button issues: multiculturalism, Islam, human rights, media censorship, US foreign policy, Israel, and the power of citizens. Her entertaining style not only lowered defenses; it made representatives of the campus think. The campus is still buzzing about her visit. This is the university experience at its best.”
-Patrick Finnessy, Director, Office of GLBT Concerns, University of Illinois at Chicago

“Our college aims to be on the cutting-edge of diversity. Irshad Manji was the perfect speaker to engage students about why diversity is about more than race and gender. It is also about different ideas. Her articulate defense of controversial yet humane ideas, and her respectful challenges to critics, gave more students the strength to think for themselves. They surrounded her for two hours after the event, participating in dialogue and debate. Irshad was, in the words of one onlooker, a ′rock star.′ That kind of relevance is what education should be about.”
-Ambassador Walter Carrington, Warburg Professor in International Relations, Simmons College, 2004-2007

“Irshad Manji’s questioning techniques propelled our students to look deep within themselves and identify how global issues are affecting them personally. We term this not the ‘Socratic method’ but the ‘Manji method’!”
-Kathleen Ponze, Director of Education, Young Women’s Leadership Foundation

“I started a Global Religions Club and invited Irshad Manji to speak to my peers. She was riveting. Her personality and humor engaged the students immediately and left them with a desire to learn more. Irshad even came back months later to interact one-on-one with our club. To me, Irshad represents the passionate drive for change that is required to make a difference.”
-Mark Prinz, Trinity High School, New York

“It was a huge success. Ms. Manji was very well received by an audience of about 300, many of whom bought her book and solicited an autograph afterwards! Our leadership was thoroughly thanked by many of our members, as well as members of the public for inviting her…We were thrilled to have that feedback, and certainly would recommend Ms. Manji as a speaker to our ally organizations.”
–Canadian Union of Public Employees

“Irshad, I want to thank you for your awesome presentation. For me and almost everyone else I spoke with, your speech was the highlight of our communications conference.”
-Chris Powers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

“The response last night and today have been so positive. We will be sending a significant check to the Save Darfur Coalition. We have been organizing the Distinguished Speakers Program for five years, and this was one of the best evenings ever.”
-Harvey Gold, Executive Director, Congregation Beth Shalom (Illinois)

“Thank you for participating in the India Today Conclave and speaking on the subject of ′Does Terror have a Religion?′. Your valuable contribution helped in making the Conclave a great success. As a writer and activist, your passion and commitment to combating the distortions in Islam and making the crucial separation between faith and dogma was highly appreciated. The personal examples you quoted about education and indoctrination were extremely well put and struck a chord with the audience.”
– The India Today Group

“She was WONDERFUL in every way!! So smart, gracious, warm and generous with her time. The audience feedback was very positive and she received a standing ovation on Saturday. Her message is powerful. And, we sold EVERY book – over 100 copies. Irshad has a new fan club here!”
– Newport Beach Public Library Foundation