March 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:

• Shoulder to Shoulder Statement on International day to Combat Islamophobia including faith leader quotes
• Ramadan | 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. We’re looking for volunteers to help populate the listing. Please contact Becca Tyvoll on our team, Becca.Tyvoll@S2SCampaign.org
• Ramadan Resources including hosting guides and Ramadan Road Trip video and discussion guide
• 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.
• Spring 2023 Messaging Campaign is live with a slightly 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!
• Dinner Dialogues during Ramadan & Beyond — The People’s Supper — Wednesday, May 3rd at 2pmET

Resources & Upcoming Opportunities

Shared from various partners and friends:

Events

• Calling all writers! Christians Against #ChristianNationalism is holding an op-ed training for everyone who wants to put their faith into action confronting this toxic ideology. Join us! March 23 @ 3 pm ET & March 28 @ 11 am ET
• Learning For Justice offers virtual open-enrollment learning workshops for current K-12 classroom teachers, administrators and counselors, and for anyone who coaches classroom teachers and administrators. Register today!
• 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

Jobs

• ISPU is hiring for several positions. Communications Campaigns Associate, Research Project Manager, Outreach and Partnerships Manager, Outreach and Partnership Associate, and Development Manager. https://www.ispu.org/work-with-us/
• The Pillars team is growing! We are currently looking for a full-time Executive Assistant based in Chicago to join our staff. More information here.
• The RISE Together Fund team (RTF/RTAF) is hiring a Program Associate to join our dynamic team, and help advance our work on behalf of BAMEMSA communities. This is a critical position offering operational, logistical and administrative support across all of our grantmaking, program development, capacity building and fundraising activities.
• RISE Together team is hiring a Strategic Partnerships Officer to work hand-in-hand with the talented RISE Together program team to engage new and existing individual and institutional donors to support the critical work of BAMEMSA individuals and organizations facing targeting, hate crimes, and xenophobia.
• Positions with the Othering & Belonging Institute. Project Coordinator; Development Director; Field Strategy & Research Analyst; Housing Policy Associate
• American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP) is a national non-profit organization focused on empowering Muslim health professionals to advance public health, social justice, and civic engagement within their communities. Executive Director; Marketing and Communications Coordinator; Grant Write; Executive Assistant. More information here
• The Arab American Civic Council, based in Anaheim’s Little Arabia, is seeking to hire a Program Manager to join our small but growing team. Click here for more details about the position.
• Learn more about the Arab American Business & Professional Association internship placement program here.
• Vets for American Ideals are hiring! If you are interested in challenging extremism, check them out here.
• Interfaith America’s Bridging the Gap equips students and educators with the skills and knowledge to better engage across deep divides in our polarized society.

Fellowships/Internships

• 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.
• South Dakota Voices for Peace 2023 Cohorts of Courage Youth Advocates Program for BIPOC Youth! If you are between the ages of 16–24 and are wanting to learn how to build community & take action to implement strategies of social change, APPLY TODAY!
• Applications are now open for the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship! Meet virtually once a week for 6 weeks in the spring to hone leadership skills, and complete a project in your community! Head to https://RAC.org/fellowship to learn more and apply by March 8th!
• The Sarah Hegazi Fellowship is named to honor the Egyptian queer socialist activist who died by suicide in 2020. A tenacious resistor of state repression and violence, Sarah sustained harms and trauma while a political prisoner in Egypt in 20217, leading her to seek asylum in Canada. In her final letter to community, she says: “To my siblings — I tried to survive and I failed, forgive me. To my friends — the experience was harsh and I am too weak to resist it, forgive me. To the world — you were cruel to a great extent, but I forgive.” Applications are due soon, please spread the word! If someone needs an extension to the deadline, just connect us directly (shenaaz@queercrescent.org). Details on the opportunity can be found here: https://www.queercrescent.org/sarahhegazi
• The Family and Youth Institute (FYI) invites applications from exceptional undergraduate and graduate students from diverse educational backgrounds and a strong desire to promote Muslim American mental health and family well-being. Internships and applications
• Inclusive Leadership Development Program with Talem. We believe when women from nondominant communities are properly invested in and supported, they will become more confident in their professional leadership, more effectively navigate power and privilege issues, increase their capability of bringing people into their cause, and adeptly utilize collaborative networks to raise funds and cross-pollinate the issues their organizations’ address.​ More Information Here
• The Religion, Spirituality, and Democratic Renewal (RSDR) Program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) aims to bring knowledge of the place of religion and spirituality into scholarly and public conversations about renewing democracy in the United States and around the world. This program is offered by the SSRC Program on Religion and the Public Sphere with the support and partnership of the Fetzer Institute.

Grants/Awards

• The Rise Together Fund (RTF) is pleased to announce two open funding opportunities for Black, Africa, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (BAMEMSA)-serving organizations. Our communities have shown that we can organize, come together to support one another, and respond to urgent and unexpected needs. In recognition of this, RTF is announcing two separate funds with open calls for inquiries — our Rapid Response Fund and Opportunity and Convening Fund. Inquiries for each fund will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funding is committed.
• Apply for Interfaith America’s new Religion & Health Curriculum Grant to develop inclusive health education programs that promote respect for diverse beliefs and practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a positive impact on your community! Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/40OOQlr
• The Young Scholar Awards for Outstanding Research on American Muslims, awarded by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, recognizes emerging leaders whose research focuses on American Muslims. Learn more here.
• Peace Catalyst Rick Love Peace Award ($2,000 awarded to 1 recipient) This award is for peacebuilding practitioners who reflect the values and vision of Rick Love. All applications must be submitted by March 31, 2023. Information and Application
• Peace Catalyst Rick Love Young Innovators Award ($750 awarded to 2 recipients) These awards are for full-time or part-time students under the age of 30. All applications must be submitted by March 31, 2023. Information and Application

Resources:

Toolkits

• Over Zero Resources
• Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) Countering and Dismantling Islamophobia: A Comprehensive Guide for Communities and Individuals done in partnership with ISPU, Shoulder to Shoulder, America Indivisible, and the Western States Center
• ISPU Islamophobia is Pervasive, Systemic, and a Threat to All
• ISPU Islamophobia Resource Landing Page
• Shoulder to Shoulder Messaging Guide
• One example of storytelling about community change: Upstanders — The Mosque Across the Street (Video)
• Muslim Civic Coalition’s Ramadan: Faith and Service one-pager to share with students, colleagues, and neighbors.
• ISB-Atlanta Ramadan Resources for Educators and families
• The Non-Muslim Guide to Fasting During Ramadan | Wisconsin Muslim Journal
• Celebrating Together: 2023 Spring Festivals & Religious Practices | Aspen Institute by Sheridan Ruiz
• Share the richness of Ramadan by participating in the International Ramadan Digital Storytelling Initiative. This is an immersive experience! All are welcome: Muslims and people of all faiths and walks of life can now share Ramadan experiences as written digital stories. Ramadan is so much more than what most people know. This is an opportunity to go beyond the basics. Each story offers education and outreach to help change the narrative about Muslims and Ramadan. Got a few minutes? That’s all it takes! Tell your Ramadan story: islamophobia.io/ramadan islamophobia.io is developed by artist @studentAsim
• Religion Link created a reporting guide on Christian nationalism.
• Interfaith Immigration Coalition Spring 2023 | Holy Days & Holidays Toolkit
• Black History Month, learn about the unique contributions of Black Jews to Jewish and African American culture. Check #JewishTogether for more resources, including tomorrow’s event about Black-Jewish partnerships for today’s civil rights movement. Engage in Racial Justice and Jewish Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
• A compilation of the Interfaith America resources you need to bring people together, foster conversations, and spur interfaith action.
• Youth Mental Health Toolkit for Faith Leaders and Communities
• Interfaith America and the Asian American Foundation are excited to introduce a qualitative research and storytelling initiative centering the #AAPI community. Read more on https://bit.ly/3YkZy0J
• · ISPU Islamophobia Resource Landing Page

Books

• 30 Days Journal: Stories of Gratitude, Traditions, and Wisdom.

Reports

• The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund released a Censorship Report of when Sikhs are banned and censored. Check it out here.
• A collaboration of Over Zero and the Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council, The Belonging Barometer assessed Americans’ experience of belonging, or lack thereof, across major life settings–family, friends, the workplace, local community, and the nation. In addition to providing a clear way to measure belonging across a range of contexts, the report offers important insights for communities, organizations, and individuals engaged in belonging work. Read the Report Here
• Exploring AAPI Experiences of Religious Identity and Diversity page on Interfaith America’s website

Newsletters

• Get updates from the National Sikh Campaign by signing up for their emails here.
• Sign up for Muslim Caucus Education Collective’s newletter.
• Sign up for the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program’s newsletter here .
• Follow Poligon Education Fund on Twitter to stay up to date.
• Sign up for the Religious Freedom Center’s First Five newsletter! It provides a weekly dose of First Amendment news. Sign up here.

Articles/Film

• SPLC Recognizes International Day to Combat Islamophobia
• Calvin University Adopts Statement on the role for Interfaith Dialogue “This document should make it clear that interfaith engagement is a constructive part of a Christian education.” — Frans van Liere. Calvin University was one of several sponsors for our Faith Over Fear: Addressing anti-Muslim Discrimination training in March last year. We celebrate this continued commitment to learning how to live well together with all our religious diversity.
• Stranger at the Gate: Stranger at the Gate tells the story of an Afghan refugee family, who are members of an Indiana mosque, who came face-to-face with a U.S. Marine with secret plans to bomb their community center. Directed by Joshua Seftel, Stranger at the Gate is a story of grace, transformation, and hope. watch it here.
• Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life documents Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Through the voices of survivors, family members, diverse Pittsburgh residents and leaders, the film shows unity in a moment of crisis, the resilience of a vibrant city, and a community working together to understand what it means to be “stronger than hate.” Watch the film
• On February 10, the Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice (CCME) hosted a discussion that asked how preachers might handle the anti-Jewish undertones in the passion narratives throughout the season of Lent. A recording of that conversation can be found on our Youtube channel.
• Preaching_And_Teaching_With_Love_And_Respect_For_The_Jewish_People.pdf (elca.org); find it, and other resources from the ELCA online at Jewish Relations — Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• “Matthew and Anti-Judaism” by Amy Jill Levine in Currents in Theology and Mission, 34 no 6 Dec 2007, p 409–416;
• Jewish Annotated New Testament: Mark Nanos’s chapter on “Romans”
• Krister Stendahl’s Final Account: Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Stendahl writes, “Do we do away with the law? No, we establish the law in a deeper sense.” (p. 25).
• Pam Eisenbaum’s Paul Was Not a Christian.
• Fighting Antisemitism — The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
• Harvard Law Review article, “From the Chinese Exclusion Act to the Muslim Ban: An Immigration System Built on Systemic Racism.” co-authored by Tina Al-khersan & Azadeh Shahshahani on how the U.S. immigration system is rooted in white supremacy: https://harvardlpr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2023/02/HLP103.pdf
• Digging Our Well | This new publication from Jordan Denari Duffner offers reflections and analysis on Muslim-Christian relations, interreligious dialogue, Catholic life and more. You can read about the inspiration behind the name and the purpose of the publication here.
• “In both his successes and his missteps, Francis offers us lessons not just about improving our relationships with Muslims, but with all those we might meet.” 5 lessons from Pope Francis’ commitment to Muslim-Catholic dialogue by Jordan Denari Duffner
• How high schoolers made a GRAMMY-nominated album | THE MOVEMENT | Best Children’s Album 2023

Podcasts

• “With That in Mind by The FYI,” The Family and Youth Institute’s very own podcast! We’ll be discussing research, but make no mistake — these conversations are not just for researchers — they’re for anyone who wants to learn how research can improve our lives. In each episode, we’ll leave you with at least one practical takeaway to apply in your life. Our first conversation is about a research study — conducted through a series of text messages — that looks at virtue development in Muslim American youth before, during, and after Ramadan.
• State of Belief a Podcast project of Interfaith Alliance
• In this second episode of The Bridge Initiative’s Unpacking Islamophobia podcast, Bridge Initiative host Arsalan Iftikhar interviews Peter Beinart, Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York and Contributing Opinion Writer at The New York Times. Peter is also a CNN Political Commentator, Editor-at-Large of Jewish Currents, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace
• Recording from the 2023 Jews Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT) General Assembly On Confronting The Global Rise Of Religious Nationalism Our lives and well-being are being negatively impacted by the rise of religious nationalism in America and around the world; threatening minority rights and democracy wherever it rears its ugly head. Recording
• Implications of Great Replacement Theory Recorded Webinar. MPAC welcomed Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds, Civil Rights Lawyer Leslie Proll, and American University Literature Professor Sarah Trembath to discuss the Great Replacement Theory, race relations, and discriminatory policies and ideologies in the U.S.

Closing

The Holy Month of Ramadan by Zoha Butt

Indeed it is not a burden, but a blessing.
from dawn to dusk
to talk with you is to talk with he who illuminates noor
the flowers that you so blossom
during this month

and celebrate this as if you’ve been given a new beginning, a restart

as if he has entered this dunya and was introduced to the blessings of such
as if he has little to no knowledge of what Islam is.

take this as a way closer to he who has given you the heavens and earth

and you shall know what it feels like to have remembrance of he who has given him such:
given him the rivers, the flowers, the satin sheets, the roses, the air that he so consumes

and take this month as a way to be with he who you shall trust,
he who gets rid of what is poison for you like the water running through the waterfalls

the month where there is no good or bad

but you, Allah, the flowing rivers, trees

and chirping birds flying towards the sounds of the adhan

the echoes of the beautiful Adhan,

indeed he is calling my name,

come talk to me my servant

and to run to him during this month is what makes person safest.

and to be able to take journey in this great blessing, in the month of April, we shall take|
we shall take the good and the bad and turn it into the pleasing and comfort.

to run to you is to run to a dreamy rooftop in Manhattan, the stars that you so collide. and the crescent moon that you so provide.

ramadan mubarak 🌙