February 2023 Resource Roundup

Our monthly Shoulder to Shoulder Community & Congregational Network Call is an opportunity to convene and 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:

• Spring Holy Days | Spring Solstice March 20. Ramadan Mar 22, 2023 — April 21 (Eid al Fitr). Passover April 5 -13. Mahavir Jayanti April 4. Theravada New Year April 6. Easter: Western April 9 & Orthodox April 16. Vaisakhi April 13/14. Ridván April 20 — May 2.
• Interfaith Iftar listing is LIVE! Our nationwide listing of iftars, open to guests of any religion and none, is a testament to the ways communities are already treating each other with dignity and respect. This listing is a guide for people who have not met their Muslim neighbors, as much as it is for people already involved in multifaith engagement. Submit your iftar information on this form to be included
• Ramadan Resources including hosting guides and Ramadan Road Trip video and discussion guide.
• Spring 2023 Messaging Campaign is live with an updated messaging guide that includes sample actions communities can engage. Please let us know if you have any pieces published so we can celebrate and amplify your work!

Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

Shared from various partners and friends:

Events

• 2023 Listening Survey for Muslim Community Building. The survey’s objective is to gain insight about Muslim community members. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesQ8m9sE7uNhFfk1dmM2Jq3T78Q-eG6lFbiHSp2BYI7wDS_Q/viewform
• Addressing Islamophobia and Anti-Blackness Workshop | February 17, 5 pm PT | Muslim ARC: Anti-Racism Collective | Join us to deepen your commitment to center Black Muslims in our efforts towards addressing Islamophobia and racism. Information and Registration
• February 21, 7pm ET | Celebrate the global release of Seeking Asylum with a virtual screening and panel discussion featuring the film’s creators and leading asylum experts. Hosted by Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Welcome with Dignity, Center for Refugee & Gender Studies, and Honeypot Productions. https://www.seekingasylumfilm.com/event-details/seeking-asylum-virtual-screening
• February 22, 2023 8 pm ET Fireside chat exploring Interfaith Dynamics within Black communities. ISPU invites you to an informal conversation with two individuals that make our work so impactful at ISPU’s first fireside chat of the year. On February 22 at 8 p.m. EST, Executive Director Meira Neggaz will be joined by guests Dr. Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad (ISPU Scholar) and Erum Ikramullah (ISPU Research Project Manager). They will discuss, for the first time, ISPU’s soon-to-be-published research exploring interfaith dynamics within Black communities. Registration and information.
• Fifth Virtual National Town Hall | Hate-motivated Mass Violence Crimes: Addressing Victim, Survivor & Community Impact. Sponsored by the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center. #KnowBeforeYouNeedTo Thursday, February 23, 2023. 3:00 pm to 4:30 P.M. EST Click HERE to Register Now
• In honor of Black History Month, Emgage presents its 3rd Annual Town Hall Saturday, February 25, 2023 6:00 PM — 7:30 PM ET about the legacy of Black Muslims, their history and contributions to America and the importance of building bridges to establish stronger alliances while addressing anti-Black racism in Muslim American communities. The Town Hall will feature Black Muslim elected officials, comedians, poets, Imams, and other community leaders. Registration and Information
• TriFaith Omaha Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference to be held June 8, 2023 on the Tri-Faith Commons in Omaha, NE. Proposals due Feb 17 https://www.trifaith.org/rrsj-cfp/
• June 22–23, 2022. Aspen Institute is gathering leaders creating an inclusive America in Washington, D.C. for the first-ever Powering Pluralism Summit. Register today and join us in discussing and discovering the future of pluralism in America. https://bit.ly/3hxXsea
• Parliament of World Religions | A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights August 14–18 Chicago Information and Registration
• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) annual convention in Chicago September 1–4, 2023

Grants/Fellowships/Jobs

• ISPU’s Young Scholar Awards for Outstanding Research on American Muslims: https://www.ispu.org/young-scholar-award-application/
• The American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute is now accepting applications for its 2023 Leadership Program! The 2023 program will be hosted twice: a virtual retreat in May and an in-person retreat in September. It will include sessions on effective leadership, community organizing, conflict resolution, storytelling, and organizational and cultural change. https://crcc.usc.edu/events-and-training/amcli/application/
• 2023 cohort of the Immigration Leadership Hub (ILH). The Immigration Leadership Hub is a leadership program designed to provide ten rising immigration justice leaders with mentorship and training to prepare them to step into leadership positions on Capitol Hill, in the administration, and within the immigrants’ rights movement. Please share this opportunity widely within your networks! Applications are due by Friday, February 28th. Please apply at this link.
• Now accepting applications for America Indivisible’s Public Leaders for Inclusion Council (PLC) is a leadership development program that equips public servants in elected, appointed, and professional positions in local, county, and state government to explore practices and policies that challenge anti-Muslim bigotry and other forms of hate while building inclusion and social resilience in their communities.
• Interfaith Alliance Foundation. Director of Policy and Advocacy.
• One America Movement has several open positions https://oneamericamovement.org/careers/
• Houston Coalition Against Hate is hiring for a Program Coordinator! We are looking for an individual with a passion for social and racial justice and an optimistic approach to collective impact work. For more information, please review the job description on our website. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to info@houstonagainsthate.org.
• Last Call for Visual Storytellers: If you would like to participate in this spring’s Civic Media Lab, be sure to apply by February 20th. All you need to do is . . 1) Snap a photo that explores a way you encounter religion, spirituality, or belief in your everyday life. 2) Write a caption for your photograph, a short version of the story behind the photo. 3) Send the photo and caption to collaborate@interfaithphotovoice.org, and include details about your current involvement in interfaith engagement, your motivation for participating in Civic Media Lab, and your own religious/spiritual/other background. Keep it short and sweet: 50-words and a 2MB photo. Additional details are available here.

Resources:

Toolkits

• New ING (Islamic Networks Group) videos and lesson plans designed to bring attention to the experiences and contributions of enslaved African Muslims beginning in the 16th century, and African American Muslims in the early 20th century to ensure that their history is included and accurately represented in discussions about African American history.
• Research and Resources on Black Muslim Experiences for you and your network https://research.ispu.org/black-muslims

Books

• The Routledge Handbook of Religious Literacy, Pluralism, and Global Engagement. Edited By Chris Seiple, Dennis R. Hoover — This is a FREE download.

Reports

• Big Tech, Hate, and Religious Freedom Online — Interfaith Alliance
• A Christian Nation? Understanding the Threat of Christian Nationalism to American Democracy and Culture by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) Report, Recording of Launch and Data.

Articles, Podcasts, Videos

• Islamophobia makes democracies less safe for everyone by Dalia Mogahed (ISPU)
• Art, Religion, and Academic Freedom: Lessons From the Hamline/Prophet Muhammad Controversy. Interfaith America | Video | Constructive ways for leaders in higher education and other sectors to navigate the inevitable conflicts that will emerge in a religiously diverse democracy. On January 31, Interfaith America convened a distinguished panel of educators to discuss the recent events at Hamline University and suggest constructive ways for leaders in higher education and other sectors to navigate the inevitable conflicts that will emerge in a religiously diverse democracy.
• Protecting Academic Freedom, Empowering Muslim Students After the Hamline Controversy (2/3/23) Rutgers Center for Security, Race & Rights | Video | Simultaneous with the racial diversification of college student populations is the adjunctification of university faculty across the country. These two systemic changes came to a head at Hamline University when Black Muslim students complained of Islamophobic incidents on campus, in addition to taking offense at the showing of a famous Persian painting of the Prophet Mohammed in a global art history class. Join us for a conversation exploring challenges faced by faculty at the intersection of academic freedom, equity, Islamophobia, and the commercialization of higher education.

Closing

I grew up in a home of Allahuakbars and Amens. By Sasa Aakil (Click here for the video of her recitation.)

I grew up in a home of Allahuakbars and Amens.

Of Quran and Bible verses with song lyrics sprinkled between.

I grew up in a home of prayer and prayer.

Of Jesus and Isa.

Of clasping hands and dhikr beads,

“oh god” and “ya allah”, church Sundays and masjid Fridays.

Of Christmas and Eid and the holidays between.

What I mean, is that I grew up in a Muslim home

witha Christian grandma and interfaith just be the way we live.

Just be the way we breath and say “god is good” and “lord help me”

And mean the same things.

I grew up going to church when Auntie Charity, Granny, Darrell passed away

and calling the pews my friends when the tears came and they held me.

I grew up driving to the masjid every night in Ramadhan

calling soft rugs my friends as I sat and ate iftar.

I grew up wondering what could possibly be more beautiful

than the commonality of our belief in God?

My grandma, brown sisterlocks and fingernails polished red

or green or blue, she taught me many things.

Taught me Michael and Aretha.

Taught me all the holy things that exist in the space between sunday choirs and R&B songs.

Even taught me that saying “yo mama” is the fastest way to win an argument.

But most importantly she taught me the grace of occupying a space that was not built for you.

And loving it still because it is for the people you love.

She stood in a circle one time, clasping hands with a room full of people unlike her

and returned every “salaamu alaikum” with a wide smile and “wa alaikum salaam”

laced with a New Jersey accent.

Her lips, teeth, and tongue finding home

in the words of her daughter’s faith.

She took us to church once,

all four of her black muslim grandkids.

Showed us the space

and set us to work stuffing folders for their next event.

No one wondered at our places there.

Because what be more home than a black house of god?

What be more natural than a grandmother and her grandchildren

bound by blood

and love

and god,

unafraid to speak their names at full volume.

We, unafraid to list the things their mother, her daughter, taught us.

Like how a prayer rug is the safest place to be during the apocalypse.

Or the exact contour and value of a heartfelt “bismillah”.

Or how there was only one force in this world more powerful than Mommy and Grandma.

I grew up in a home of kaabas and crosses

and perhaps all this means is,

I grew up loving and knowing I was loved.

Youth poet laureate Sasa Aakil shared this original poem at the November 3, 2022 “Celebrating Black Interfaith” event where nearly 300 educators, scholars, writers, activists, faith leaders, and philanthropists gathered at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., to explore and celebrate Black interfaith stories.