Salam,
For many in our community this has been and unfortunately will continue to be a difficult time. As I watch the ongoing humanitarian crises unfold across the world, I think it's quite understandable to feel a sense of hopelessness. I also think it's quite natural to feel detached from other aspects of life, because how do we operate normally when there's so much going on? In moments like these, I think it's critical to think of the multitude of historical struggles for the establishment of various human rights. Specifically, to remember that the human spirit is a powerful and resilient entity. Even in the most dire and depressing circumstances, oppressed peoples have persevered, so what excuse do we have to be complacent? We must continue to fight the good fight. On the other hand, change takes time, and in the age of social media we often forget that because we feel so powerless whilst being overloaded by all sorts of content.
That said, when I think of MPV's advocacy, I must think about the long term while celebrating our short term gains. I know the world isn't going to change overnight for the better but when I look at MPV's work over the past year I feel a profound sense of hope. I'm so proud of the progress we've made on multiple fronts this past year. For example, earlier this year, we launched the Purple Check Mark Project. A wonderful and necessary initiative that is meant to connect vetted mental health practitioners with LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and/or female Muslims, since finding trusted professionals that share progressive Muslim values can be tragically difficult. I've wanted this project off the ground since I joined the Board of Trustees, so its launch filled me with a great deal of gratitude for MPV and hope for the future.
As I think about our goals for the following year, I'm actually thinking quite a lot about conversations that I had at MPV's annual conference, this past fall. Particularly, the need for new progressive Muslim leaders that are dedicated to advancing human rights. To help fill this void, we're aiming to create a program to mentor future Muslim leaders in the areas of inclusive and universal human rights values in Islam! As of now, we want to train the initial cohort in the realms of advocacy, policy and diplomacy, as well as the inner workings of the United Nations.
To create this fellowship mentoring opportunity, and continue all of the incredible work MPV continues to champion, we need your continued support. It's cliche because it's true that we can't continue our work without the support of our larger community. If you've ever wondered if giving to an organization like MPV does anything, obviously we have a catalog of incredible projects, but take me as your example. I found this organization in college at a moment in my life when I didn't know if I had a community within Islam. This broke me in more ways than one, and MPV has helped me in more ways that I can count. I love this organization, and please know that your support really does help us to do meaningful, valuable work for many around the world.
