“Every action a son of Adam does shall be multiplied-a good action by ten times its value, up to 700 times.” (Bukhari)
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Dear John,
Assalamu alaikum and Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family!
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The past year has been challenging for all of us. From a global pandemic to the struggles of isolation to ongoing battles for justice and equity, we have been navigating these challenges alongside you, finding and forging new ways forward. We need your support to keep serving our communities. Please invest in our future today with a zakat eligible gift! ([link removed])
While the changes in all of our lives have been profound, the Qur’an teaches us:
Support MPAC this Ramadan! ([link removed])
Patience in uncertainty is not easy, but as we enter our second Ramadan under COVID, I am reminded that our co-founder, the late Dr. Maher Hathout, encouraged us to continually serve the community—because serving gives us the capacity to rise above our circumstances.
When the pandemic first began, MPAC immediately found ways to serve under lockdown. We launched a webinar series to inform, encourage, and provide resources to replenish you and your families with expert speakers on mental health, spirituality, healthcare, and politics. And as we found our pandemic footing, we shifted existing programs and created new ones to meet both increasing needs and emerging challenges.
Dr. Hathout also often reminded me to view our progress as a marathon that needs community institutions for American Muslims to succeed, institutions like MPAC whose work goes on from generation to generation. We are committed to this marathon toward a more compassionate, just and equitable America, and I am proud of the impact we have made this past year:
2020 Elections and Public Policy
* Increased American Muslim voter turnout at the polls through our Every Vote Counts Campaign, which utilized compelling video distributed through cutting-edge technology to reach American Muslim voters in key 2020 electoral contests and the special election in Georgia.
* Activated AMEAON, now a 144 member strong, national network of American Muslim elected and appointed officials, to proactively address civic and political engagement and support each other in the work toward equitable representation.
* Doubled the cohort of our Congressional Leadership Development Program (CLDP) to train more American Muslim leaders for careers in public policy and public service.
Standing up for Justice and Human Dignity
* Participated and supported a press conference in response to the heinous murders of eight Asian Americans in Atlanta, standing shoulder to shoulder with Asian Americans who stood by us when Muslims were the targets of hate.
* Actively engaged in the Hate Violence Prevention Partnership of Los Angeles (HVPPLA), a member of the LA vs. Hate campaign, both of which raise awareness, train for preparedness, and provide resources for victims of hate crimes.
* Hosted a panel discussion with Mohamedou Ould Slahi, Jodie Foster, and Tahar Rahim, the cast and subject of The Mauritanian, to amplify his story and the need to close the Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp once and for all.
Amplifying Muslim Voices
* Convened our African American Muslim Insight Council to advise MPAC on community engagement work that is relevant in today’s context for social justice.
* Established ‘The Muslim House’, the first-ever annual venue, home base, and platform for the Muslim creative community at the Sundance Film Festival, and co-hosted three panels around nuanced portrayals of Muslims in TV and film.
* Honored inclusion and authentic representations of Muslims on screen at our 29th Media Awards, demonstrating MPAC’s growing influence in Hollywood. The inspiring evening can be watched in its entirety on MPAC’s YouTube Channel.
You made this progress possible. These efforts to affect policy, strive toward justice and human dignity, and shape America’s cultural narratives move us all forward together. And in the marathon of progress, we all win.
** This Ramadan, please invest your annual zakat in MPAC.
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Support MPAC this Ramadan! ([link removed])
Thank you for your support and vote of confidence in this vital work, and Ramadan Mubarak to you and yours!
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In service and peace,
Salam Al-Marayati
MPAC President
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