California Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, who represents the state’s 26th Assembly District, visited the Dawoodi Bohra San Jose masjid complex in Palo Alto, accompanied by members of his staff.
Warmly received by the community president and representatives, the visit began with a short introductory video on the Dawoodi Bohra faith and culture. A guided tour of the Dawoodi Bohra masjid complex followed, highlighting its distinctive architectural design, cultural significance, and the role it has in the daily lives of community members.
Assemblymember Ahrens was introduced to several initiatives undertaken by the community, reflecting its core values of compassion, equity, and service. These included efforts to support economic self-reliance that promote local entrepreneurship and small business development. He also learned about Faiz al-Mawaid al-Burhaniyah, the community kitchen initiative that provides daily nutritious home-cooked meals to Bohra families. Particularly noteworthy to the Assemblymember and his team was the community’s support of women-led businesses, where women are encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship and lead their enterprises. The Assemblymember also engaged in discussion about Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic initiative supporting social welfare, environmental conservation, and sustainability.
“We’re grateful to Assemblymember Ahrens for his time, engagement, and interest in learning about our faith and practices,” said Moiz Sonaseth, member of the local Dawoodi Bohra community. “This visit marks the beginning of a meaningful relationship and opens the door to future collaboration with local leadership.”
The visitors expressed admiration for these efforts, commenting on the community’s unity and commitment to social responsibility.
Assemblymember Ahrens expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality and conveyed his enthusiasm for attending future events at the masjid.
The visit concluded around a shared traditional meal.
