30 Mosques in 30 Days: An American Trip

Day 11: Houston
Parking on a Friday at Synott Mosque is grueling. Ismail Baker, pictured above, stands in the sweltering heat conducting traffic every Friday. When a community member gets ill, he is the first to show up at their house. During Ramadan, he prepares Iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal, and is the last one to eat, after everyone else is finished. "Brother Ismail is one of those unsung heroes that is tragically sidestepped at our local mosques," Bassam wrote.

• For more photos and stories, visit the 30 Mosques project website