Muslim families are celebrating Ramadan this year in-person at the Bronx Muslim Center. 

Families say it is nice to be around other Muslim families during the month-long celebration where families fast from sunrise to sunset. 

"It's a month of giving, it's a month of sacrifice,” said Bassal Omar. “I think everybody can understand that, whether you're Christian, whether you're Jewish, think that's something everybody could take with them."

Omar's family immigrated to the U.S. from Palestine in the 1970s. He later attended Lehman College and worked his way up to deputy chief of staff for the Bronx borough president. 

Omar has advocated for the Bronx Muslim community in many ways, including the push for the city to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as public school holidays, which Mayor Bill de Blasio approved in 2015.

Omar says everyone should take the opportunity to learn about communities from different faiths or walks of life.