"Jews and Muslims, both of whom many of us in our own family histories have the experience of living under repressive regimes, should recognize how incredibly valuable it is to live in a country where our voices actually can be expressed, and by expressing our voices we actually strengthen those democratic institutions and make them more resilient so they can better sustain the threats they’re facing from within.” — Peter Beinart, American Columnist
This Is What Community Collaboration Looks Like
By Salam Al-Marayati
President, MPAC
Yesterday (June 7) was a momentous day for American Muslim organizations on the national stage. MPAC’s Policy Bureau proudly hosted the inaugural National American Muslim Policy Conference (NAMPC) at our offices in Washington, DC.
As a part of the Community Collaborative Initiative, a community-based action research project powered by Indiana University's Lilly School of Philanthropy, five organizations came together to discuss the challenges American Muslims face and how our communities must address them.
MPAC, Emgage, the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), and the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition brought together leaders and experts from across the country to discuss the most important issues facing our communities today. Among an expansive agenda that included elected officials, nonprofit leaders, journalists, and policy experts, Emgage CEO Wa’el Alzayat and I had robust conversations about the impact of White Supremacy and domestic terrorism in the United States and the importance of centering human rights in policymaking. Events like these send vibrations throughout the political and government worlds - it’s why every major interest group in Washington hosts conferences just like this one, year after year.
