August 2023 Resource Roundup

Our Shoulder to Shoulder Community & Congregational Network is an opportunity to connect with interfaith and community organizations and leaders throughout the country who are, in some capacity, addressing anti-Muslim discrimination in the U.S. In our meetings, members share resources, problem-solve, and reflect on this important work. Our network includes volunteer-run organizations and organizations with 10+ staff members. There are organizations in rural, urban, and suburban communities in red, blue, and purple states. Each of them recognizes anti-Muslim discrimination as a threat to our communities and country. Each of them is committed to addressing this issue in their community alongside their Muslim neighbors, friends, and siblings.

The notes below are a selection of public resources and events shared by network members and our various partners and friends. If you’re interested in learning more about our Shoulder to Shoulder Community Network, contact us and/or check out our website.

S2S Programmatic Updates

• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) annual convention in Chicago September 1–4, 2023 | Email Nina if you’re attending and want to connect.

Important Dates Coming Up

• October 27, 2018: Tree of Life Shooting

Events

• FBI-Orchestrated Conspiracy: The Story of the Newburgh Four, hosted by the American Bar Association | August 29 at 10am PT/1pm ET
• Public Forum on Islamophobia with New Ground, featuring Dr. Najeeba Syeed and Dalia Mogahed, in conversation with Edina Lekovic | August 30 at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET via Zoom
• Sept. 6 “We Need To Talk: Conversations on Racism for a More Resilient Las Vegas,” returns for a discussion with Muslims of Southern Nevada. The event is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. inside the Greenspun Hall Auditorium on UNLV’s campus. It will also be livestreamed. Learn More here This We Need To Talk discussion will examine this history of Islamophobia and share the experiences of several Muslim-Americans who are working to dismantle stereotypes, advocate for justice, and build mutual understanding.
• September 6 | 2 PM ET | Public Webinar: 501(c)(3) Advocacy During Election Years
• AmeriCorps, September 11, 2023: Each year, AmeriCorps works with 9/11Day.org, grantees and partners, faith-based, local, and national organizations to expand volunteering to honor the sacrifice of the families affected by September 11, 2001. This year, the 9/11 Day of Service is Sunday, September 11. You and your partners are encouraged to engage in service on this day and the days surrounding. AmeriCorps is calling upon organizations to become 9/11 Day Champions — promoting this national day of service as an opportunity to unite individuals, faiths, and communities. If you are spearheading a service project in your community, multi-faith or other, we invite you to become a 9/11 Day Champion and then register your project so that others may be inspired by your example and join your efforts. Still need ideas for projects, check out the resources and webinars on our 9/11 Day site.
• Council on American-Islamic Relations’ 2023 Muslim community one-minute survey on the Federal Terrorism Watchlist. This survey seeks to shed light on the Federal Watchlist, of which 98% of the names listed appear to be Muslim names. The survey closes September 12
• OMNIA trains religious, civic and business leaders, and citizens to become powerful actors for justice and peace in their own communities and around the world. Join these Interfaith Peacemaker Team online trainings on Saturdays, September 16 — October 7
• September 27 | 2 PM ET | Public Webinar: Lobbying and Advocacy 101
• Detroit Anti-Racism Training | October 14, 2023 | Prepare for a full training day for community-based organization leaders using MuslimARC’s unique ARCompetency curriculum. More information here
• October 14th, Houston Upholding Democracy and Human Rights: A Global Call to Action — IAMC Support the global movement for Democracy and Human Rights by attending the 2023 Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) annual convention. At this event, you can listen to inspiring presentations, gain knowledge about the threat of Hindutva Nationalism, connect with activists, involve your children in leadership activities, and enjoy a program suitable for the whole family.
• Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy in Religiously Diverse Societies | Tuesday, October 17, 12:00–1:15 pm, Online | The recent open-access volume Complexities of Spiritual Care in Plural Societies: Education, Praxis and Concepts (De Gruyter, 2022) contributes to an emerging field that could be referred to as “plural spiritual care and chaplaincy,” by innovatively bringing together contributions from a broad range of contexts and religious traditions. Including empirical work and conceptual explorations, the volume helps to fill the gap between practices and developments related to plural spiritual care and chaplaincy in the scholarly discourse, and their application for practitioners serving religiously diverse populations in health and chaplaincy settings. In this webinar, editor Anne Hege Grung will introduce the book and project, contributor Nazila Isgandarova will discuss female voices in Islamic spiritual care, and contributor Su Yon Pak will explore Buddhist chaplaincy education at a Protestant seminary. Time will be allowed for discussion and questions. Free and open to the public. Register Here.
• The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom regional conferences, From Dialogue to Action, on October 29th in Sacramento, CA. November 12th in Kansas City, November 19th in New Brunswick
• Muslim Public Affairs Council is hosting its annual convention with award-winning journalist Mehdi Hasan on November 11th. You can get tickets here.
• United Against Hate Week | November 12–18, 2023 | Toolkits, Resources, etc.

Grants/Fellowships/Jobs

• The Arts Administrators Pipeline Fellowship program is offering grant opportunities for 11 emerging arts administrators. The fellows will get a 12-month paid fellowship, a $50,000 stipend, and professional development opportunities. Host organizations will receive $35,000 to support fellows. Apply before September 20th. Click here to apply.
• The Center for Cultural Power’s grant awards for Artist Disruptors & Culture Bearers complement the Center’s two previous opportunities offered with Creative Corps program dollars, providing $15,000 grants to 60 individuals across the state: 30 carriers of tradition and cultural stewardship, and 30 who inspire action and work toward social justice. Applications close September 22. Click here to apply.
• The Individual Artists Fellowship program, Youth Speaks, has announced its application for Northern California artists. Youth Speaks will regrant $740,000 among 35 California-based individual artists and culture bearers, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. The fellowship period will be for approximately one year, starting this November. The deadline for applicants is September 30. Click here to apply.
• Muslim Narrative Power Fellowship is designed to provide the Muslim community in the US with knowledge and skills to challenge the discursive infrastructure of the War on Terror and drive systemic change. Applications and information
• Hindus for Human Rights is hiring a part-time New York grassroots organizer. This is an excellent opportunity for someone to engage with New York’s Hindu American community in support of progressive causes relevant for the Hindu and South Asian American community. Details Here
• Interfaith Alliance is now hiring for two positions: an Advocacy and Policy Associate and an Advocacy and Engagement Associate to support our grassroots advocacy and affiliate network. Details Here
• CAIR Georgia is looking to hire our next executive director! Job posting here
• The Religion & Society Program is currently seeking a Senior Development Associate and an Executive Assistant with a passion for creating a more inclusive society where religious and non-religious people can thrive.
• Workplace Program Assistant | Tanenbaum Center | The Program Assistant will work closely with the entire Workplace team (Associate, Senior Associates, and Assistant Director) and report to the Assistant Director. The Program Assistant will occasionally work with the Manager of Programs and CEO. The Program Assistant will also liaise with other programs and departments, as necessary. This includes collaborating with the Operations and Health Care programs on relevant administrative matters. Details here.

Resources:

Toolkits

• Design Principles for Building Belonging | Institute for Othering and Belonging
• State Digital Justice Advocacy Toolkit from the National Consumer Law Center and the United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry | The State Digital Justice Advocacy Toolkit will help the faith community, advocates and others to weigh in with their state broadband offices on important digital justice issues because all states and territories are making key decisions with respect to more than $42 Billion in federal funding over the next six months.
• Conversation Cards on Democracy, Freedom, Equality, and Common Good The Fetzer Institute offers these cards as a way to spark personal and community engagement with democracy and democratic values through reflection, journaling, and discussion.

Books

• Khayal: A Multimedia Collection by Muslim Creatives | Collected multimedia stories from The Muslim Narrative Change (MNC) Cohort, part of Pillars Fund’s Culture Change programming

Reports

• Factsheet: War on Terror | The Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University: The Global War on Terror (GWoT) is an international military campaign launched by the United States under President George W. Bush following the September 11th, 2001 attacks by Al-Qaeda. Dubbed the ‘Forever Wars,’ this conflict is a borderless and timeless campaign that has touched nearly 40 percent of the world, cost the United States an estimated $8 trillion, and has killed more than 900,000 people (although the actual death toll is likely to be much higher). The WoT discourse amplified Islamophobia as it dehumanized Muslims by tying them to terrorism and constructing them as ‘inherently violent’ and a threat. Along with formal military warfare, the WoT has also comprised of large-scale surveillance measures in the U.S, torture, global drone strikes, blacksites, and the Guantanamo Bay military prison.
• The Family & Youth Institute’s bullying of Muslim youth report summarizes the research findings on bullying experiences of American Muslim children and briefly provides recommendations and strategies for supporting their development. We can do our part to create a safe environment for generations to come and leave the world a better place than we found it.
• American teens, particularly those with high social media use, have considerably higher levels of belief in a range of conspiracy theories, including antisemitic and white supremacist propaganda, than adults. (Center for Countering Digital Hate)

Articles/podcasts/videos

• Travel as a Political Act with Rick Steves
• In the America Reframed film From Here, musician Sonny Singh shares what it’s like growing up Sikh in the U.S. — and why he’s committed to embracing his identity as an example for other young Sikh people. “Where are you really from?” Inspired by a young generation’s creative response to this loaded question, FROM HERE follows artists and activists from immigrant families coming of age in an era of rising xenophobia. Set in New York and Berlin, the film shows them create families, fight for citizenship, make art and forge identities, while redefining what it means to belong.
• Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life. The film will begin airing the week of October 26, the week of the five year commemoration of the attack at the synagogue. The film provides an inspiring view of Pittsburgh’s response to hate and antisemitism, and the powerful connections built across the community. Sign up for and host a discussion
• Interfaith America Magazine | Do New DEI Laws Pose a Threat to Interfaith Programs on U.S. Campuses?
• Muslim Women and Interfaith Spaces: Pluralism as a Daily Practice by Dr. Najeeba Syeed
• Listen to Simran Jeet Singh’s conversation with Clint Murphy on the Growth Guide Podcast, where he discussed the power of engaging with people who are different from us and the importance of embracing relationships that challenge us.
• Racial justice doesn’t have to divide us as Americans. Here’s how we can work together.

Closing:

“Muslim women like myself are walking fonts of experience and expertise, in the very lived sense of that word of pluralism. I often talk about it as “embodied religious pluralism,” linked very much to Muslim women and our experiences of constantly being in spaces of difference. What is often seen as irreconcilable by others is inherently contained in our own bodies, and we learn how to create the capacity to exist with others, internally coalesce these identities and make them functional as whole.”

— Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director of Interfaith Institute, Muslim Women and Interfaith Spaces: Pluralism as a Daily Practice