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Dear John,
Thank you to everyone who joined us on November 9th for MPAC’s 2025 Benefit Gala in Los Angeles. Your presence helped make this one of our most powerful gatherings yet—bringing together community members, advocates, and public servants committed to strengthening the future of American Muslims. And for those who couldn’t be with us, we wanted to give you a glimpse of just how special the evening was.
** Over 650 Attendees for our 2025 MPAC Benefit Gala in Los Angeles
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** Photograph: Sania Sumar
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After gathering again for the first time in a few years, we were able to reconnect with our incredible community and re-energize the room with our shared purpose, our collective strength, and our renewed commitment to building a more just and inclusive future.
We were able to share our work as the home of American Muslim advocacy and to demonstrate how we use policy, narrative change, and strategic partnerships to drive meaningful change across government and society.
We were honored to award
Humza Yousaf, former First Minister of Scotland, with the Empowering Voices Award. His reminder that “we are at one of the most critical times for Muslims living in the West” underscored the urgency of our mission and the importance of collective action.
** Our 2025 Honorees: Ibrahim Bharmal, Anthony Aguilar, Humza Yousaf, and Elom Tettey-Tamaklo
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** Photograph: Michael Bannister (The Chapel Farm Group)
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We also heard a moving recorded message ([link removed]) from Joy Reid, host of the Joy Reid Show, and the President of Film Independent, Brenda Robinson, who both spoke to the importance of elevating principled voices and affirmed the role the MPAC Hollywood Bureau plays in ensuring our stories and perspectives reach national platforms.
We heard inspiring remarks from
Anthony Aguilar and awarded him with the Empowering Voices Awards, whose lived experience and dedication to international human rights resonated deeply with the room. We were also fortunate to feature Elom Tettey-Tamaklo and Ibrahim Bharmal from Harvard, whose story and obvious moral clarity amidst attacks on their free speech offered a hopeful vision for those who continue to advocate and speak up for Palestine.
** Our Staff: Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Teams
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** Photograph: Michael Bannister (The Chapel Farm Group)
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We also took a moment to honor the life and legacy ([link removed]) of Umar Hakim-Dey, whose recent passing has left a void in our community. His decades of service, community organizing, and unwavering commitment to justice continue to inspire the MPAC staff and community.
This moment is just the beginning. With your continued support, we can do so much more to advance justice, amplify our community’s voice, and meet the challenges ahead with clarity and courage.
With gratitude,
The MPAC Team
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