[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]MCN is excited to present a recap of all of out accomplishments in 2014. We couldn’t do it without you! Thanks to your tireless effort and support, we’ve been able to reach new bounds and do wonderful things for the NYC Muslim community and its allies.

Please consider making a special year end donation to enable us to continue the crucial work that we do in securing the rights of the marginalized in NYC and empowering the community to advocate for change.

The All New MCN

In August, 2014 MCN welcomed Christina Tasca as Executive Director to help the board advance the organization’s mission, growth and development. Learn more about Ms. Tasca here.

MCN relaunched on September 30th, including a name change from Muslim Consultative Network to Muslim Community Network and refined and metamorphosed the content areas into four core program areas:
Community Education
Youth Leadership Development
Civic Engagement
Cross Cultural Education
The change demonstrates our dedication to serving and empowering the community through connecting individuals and organizations throughout NYC.

Community Education

MCN hosted a workshop in partnership with the Open Internet Tools Project (OpenITP) titled Muslims & Surveillance in NYC: The Next Steps. The event showcased the continued problem of surveillance in New York City, highlighted the various surveillance practices of the Muslim Community and discussed the current steps being taken to combat this issue.

MCN facilitated a roundtable discussion at PARCEO‘s 1st Community Symposium on the topic of ‘Empowering Communities Across Generations”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9954″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]In October, MCN launched the first of its monthly Community Education Workshops. The first, The Non-Profits’ A-Z Guide to Applying for Discretionary Funding, was presented by former NYC Council Member Robert Jackson and Sebastian Maguire from Council Member Daniel Dromm’s office. Among the participants were ICNA, Women in Islam, Inc., and others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Youth Leadership Development

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9955″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]MCN graduated the 3rd cohort of our MY NYC which took place at two schools – The Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice in Brooklyn and Claremont International High School in the Bronx. We launched the 4th cohort in November, 2014.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9956″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Muslims in the Mirror dialogues were held with Muslim Student Associations at Borough of Manhattan Community College and Kingsborough Community College. 80 people attended the discussion on the ‘isms’ that are divisive to our community, particularly racism and sexism, as well as ethnocentrism and sectarianism as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Civic Engagement

MCN and Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC) members Met with Philip Eure, the new NYPD IG, to launch a thorough investigation of the NYPD’s intelligence and counterterrorism policies and practices to evaluate their legality and effectiveness.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9956″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]MCN partnered with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes for victims of Hurricane Sandy as part of our MCN Servescommunity service program in Spring 2014.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In June, MCN met with Commissioner Bratton with other Muslim leaders where MCN brought the community’s unwavering concern about surveillance of Muslims to Commissioner Bratton’s attention.

MCN and other Muslim organizations met with Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson to request a council hearing on the NYPD surveillance program in September.

Over the summer, during and after the violence outbreak in Gaza and Israel, MCN spearheaded a letter campaign to elected officials stressing the importance of taking a neutral position to avoid the incitement of hate crimes against Muslim and Jewish New Yorkers. MCN invited Muslim, Arab, and interfaith groups to cosign letters, as a result, MCN and other Muslim organization leaders met with a number of elected officials on this matter.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9957″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]In the wake of the Anti Muslim subway ads this past September, MCN organized a press conference with other Muslims groups where interfaith clergy, elected officials spoke, vehemently against the ads. Photo Credit: CAIR- NY.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9958″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]On September 10th, Executive Director Christina Tasca joined multi faith leaders on the steps of Judson Memorial Church to condemn the violence perpetrate by ISIS and denounce the rise in hate crimes committed against Muslims and other New Yorkers. Watch the video here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9959″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Board President Debbie Almontaser was honored as Grand Marshall of the Muslim Day Parade, which was co-presented by Executive Director, Christina Tasca. Ms. Almontaser spoke about our community’s need for greater civic participation in NYC and the nation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9960″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]MCN joined many Muslim and other faith-based organizations to participate in the Peoples’ Climate March that drew millions of people from all over the country and the globe to advocate for climate change.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9961″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]At the Muslim Ummah of North America Civic Engagement Dinner, Christina Tasca gave a brief speech on the importance of civic engagement and partnerships with diverse communities. Photo credit: MUNA[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We fed over 1800 low income and homeless individuals in our Monthly Soup Kitchen and rebuilt homes for Hurricane Sandy victims with Habitat for Humanity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Cross Cultural Education

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9962″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]MCN engaged in two events on #BringBackOurGirls with several interfaith partner such as a Marble Collegiate and Intersections International. Board President Debbie Almontaser spoke of the significance of women’s education in Islam followed by a recitation from the Quran by a female reciter.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Board President Debbie Almontaser spoke on the post-screening panel of Muslim Voices at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”9963″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Executive Director Christina Tasca was a featured panelist on the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative‘s (MuslimARC) live stream Youtube discussion #BeingAWhiteMuslim Part 1 on November 4th.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Program Coordinator Maryam Said spoke on the “Whose Justice is it Anyway? Spirituality, Religion, & Civic Engagement” panel as part of the new Multifaith and Spiritual Leadership Minor at NYU on November 10.

Christina spoke on a World Faiths panel at Williamsburg Prep High School with leaders of diverse faith communities about the importance of pluralism and interfaith dialogue in a secular society on December 11th.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”9953″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/mcnny/donation.jsp”][/vc_column][/vc_row]