Don't let her patience and soft voice fool you. Mahnaz Shabbir is a force to be reckoned with.
"I'm a mother of four boys; I know there is a special place for me in heaven," the Kansas City resident joked.
That paired with personal challenges give the interfaith activist a special kind of insight and wisdom that she'll share with an audience at University of Missouri - Kansas City.
"The best way for people to understand about the issues is to become educated, no matter what position you have, no matter what the issue is," said Shabbir.
The specific issue she'll talk about Monday evening - what it's like to be Muslim in the metro.
"We are going to talk about our life and being a Muslim in the metro," she said. "There will be other Muslims in the audience. As well as those who will voice concern, because it's a two sided conversation."
Representing all sides, that's meant to dig deeper than what attendees may have seen on the front page of a social media site.
"It's important that we get good information out," she said. "My hope is that there is a ripple effect that whenever I give my talks I know that I can make an impact in that room but what I want is for that impact to keep on going beyond that room."
This talk is all through American Public Square, an organization that brings together people from across the political and ideological spectrum to discuss controversial topics.
On the menu for Monday night's dinner and discussion - local and national security, the Syrian refugee crisis and the application of Sharia Law.
WHEN: March 7, 2016
TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Pierson Auditorium: 5000 Holmes St. in Kansas City, MO
COST: $15 student, $25 single, $45 couple. Members entitled to complimentary tickets.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
You can also follow her on Twitter.
