Brother Ali to headline Day of Dignity event

Native Twin Cities hip-hop artist Brother Ali headlines the Twin Cities Day of Dignity event at the north Minneapolis mosque where he's a member.

The festival event, hosted by the Masjid An-Nur Mosque, includes lunch, a free clothing store and medical clinic with HIV testing. Mosque community outreach director Kamillah El-Amin says the event fulfills the Muslim duty to help others.

"This is part of our way of life," El-Amin said. "It's not just come here and, 'Here. take this.' It's 'We are honored. This is our pleasure to serve you.' "

There will also be free produce, a book fair, arts and crafts, haircuts, lessons on healthy cooking, and more than a dozen service providers that can connect people with housing and employment. El-Amin said.

The need for personal services is especially great in the north Minneapolis area where many were rendered in need since the May tornado, she said.

The festival will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Masjid An-Nur Mosque, 1729 Lyndale Avenue N. Minneapolis.

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