McGovern to Host Central Mass. Muslim Community Leader as State of the Union Guest

Washington, DC, January 11, 2016

Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) announced today that he will host Asima Silva, a Muslim community leader from Central Massachusetts, as his guest for tomorrow night’s State of the Union address by President Obama. Click here for a photo of Silva.

“As both parties come together tomorrow night for the State of the Union, I am pleased to have Asima Silva, an inspiring leader from Worcester’s Muslim community, joining me,” Congressman McGovern said. “In recent weeks, we have heard some truly dangerous and hateful rhetoric from political leaders who want to divide us. By helping to bring our community together in the past month, Asima has shown that we are strongest when we are united against such hate. This is the kind of leadership our community needs, now more than ever, and I’m so proud that she will be joining me for the State of the Union.

A graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Silva recently co-founded EnjoinGood.org to strengthen communication between the local Muslim community and other area religious institutions. In December 2015, Silva joined other local Muslim leaders to organize a Worcester Interfaith Vigil to unite faith communities in condemning recent terrorist attacks and praying for the victims and families.

Silva also helped organize last weekend’s “Meet a Muslim Day” at the Worcester Islamic Center to continue to strengthen interfaith dialogue and help dispel myths about Muslim Americans. The event was a big success with as many as 2,500 attending.

“I am incredibly honored to join Congressman McGovern to hear President Obama deliver the State of the Union address tomorrow night,” Silva said. “I have seen the Congressman working with his constituents over the years and I am very humbled by this opportunity. Civic engagement is so important to me and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to help strengthen communication between our Muslim community and families of all faiths throughout Worcester.”

Silva lives with her husband and children in Holden, Massachusetts, and in addition to working for IBM as a software engineer, she was elected last year as a member of the School Committee for the Wachussett Regional School District.

Combining her passions and accountability as a member of the school committee, she is championing diversity training, advocating anti-bullying policies, and promoting fiscal responsibility within the district.

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