June 5, 2016

Dear Friend,

Ramadan is a time to strengthen our resolve and invigorate our relationship with God and each other. As we reflect on our personal spiritual journey, we must also reflect on the collective spiritual journey of American Muslims in this charged political climate. How can we as Muslims practice the Islamic values of mercy, justice, and equality against a backdrop of ignorance and fear?

We believe engagement is the answer. We are committed to integrating American Muslims into public affairs by engaging our government, media, and communities to influence policies and improve perceptions that affect our community.

I need your help so that MPAC can continue to engage to improve policies and promote understanding. Invest $200 in MPAC today to help us reach our $200,000 goal. Your donation is considered zakat and is tax deductible.

Influencing Policy

Throughout the presidential primary season we’ve advocated on issues important to American Muslims, including organizing a roundtable discussion on national security with Hillary Clinton, speaking at a town hall on Islamophobia with the Bernie Sanders campaign, and challenging Donald Trump to a debate. Our work ensures that American Muslims speak confidently about public affairs so that government policies affecting us are more equitable.

Improving Perceptions

We partnered with the Japanese-American community and actor/activist George Takei to repudiate bigotry aimed at our communities in a unified voice against hate. By creating alliances and speaking directly to the American public, we are amplifying our voice, aligning our concerns as American issues, and assembling stakeholders who are committed to a more inclusive America.

Engaging Communities

Realizing that by working together our impact is greater, we partnered with two national Muslim organizations to mobilize the American Muslim community. In partnership with Emerge USA, we published a Presidential Primary Voter Toolkit, and held workshops at college campuses and community centers across the country. With support from the Islamic Scholarship Fund, we recruited, vetted, and trained our second cohort of Congressional Leadership Development Fellows who are working as interns in Congressional offices this summer. This combination of grassroots and grass-tops activism is creating an active constituency that will influence policy and improve perceptions in American public affairs.

"Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend."
- Quran 41:34

A better America for American Muslims is a better America for all! Thank you for your generosity and for making MPAC an integral part of your spiritual journey!

Sincerely,

Salam Al-Marayati
MPAC President