MCN Accomplishments - 2015
t has been another successful year at Muslim Community Network and we are excited to share with you our 2015 accomplishments! Thank you to our supporters who have given their time, resources, and talents to make the work we do for the community possible!
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Organizational Capacity and Accomplishments
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer recognized MCN for its dedication to the community at our 5th Annual Gala on April 26th themed “Shaping Our Future: Nurturing Compassionate Communities for a Stronger New York”.
On July 26 we hosted a Volunteer Appreciation lunch for the 120 volunteers that participated and supported MCN programs and services this year.
Adopted a Strategic Vision and Plan which we are excited to share with you in the coming days!
Youth Leadership Development
In July we graduated the 4th cohort of students from our Muslim Youth NYC (MY NYC) Leadership Development program. This year the program was offered at Claremont International High School and Al-Noor School.
In April, the MY NYC program was featured on Voices of NY.
We offered an internship and volunteer program for High School students to build upon skills such as graphic design, administration and communication.
MY NYC Students led a school march and participated in the#BringBackOurGirls interfaith vigil on the first anniversary of the abduction of Nigerian school girls.
Community Education
MCN co-sponsored the 2nd Annual Sister’s Conference “BElieve in YOUrself” with Muslims Giving Back on April 12th. The conference theme was women’s empowerment. MCN’s Executive Director Christina Tasca and Board President Debbie Almontaser held a speaking session at the event.
We organized a Muslim Women’s Leadership workshop on November 21st which addressed challenges Muslim women face and shared prophetic model as well as strategies for affecting positive change. Full video of the workshop is here
On September 9 MCN co-sponsored the event “Faithfully Feminist” with JCC Manhattan. Editors of the newly released book, Faithfully Feminist: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Feminists on Why We Stay, discussed their own experience with identity, feminism and faith.
Civic Engagement
As one of the founding members of the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays, MCN successfully advocated for the passing of Eid Holidays in NYC Public School system. On March 4th Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the addition of the two Eids in public school calendar.
As part of our monthly soup kitchen program, we served over 1800 meals and engaged volunteers from all faiths.
On February 27th MCN and Muslim Writers Collective hosted a town hall “A Parking Space Called America” to commemorate the victims of Chapel Hill and discuss implications for Muslim Americans.
MCN co-sponsored the panel discussion “Litigating RLUIPA Claims: Al Falah Center v. Bridgewater Township”. The event focused on raising critical questions on the meaning of religious freedom today, the protection of minority religions, and the role of the courts in that dialogue.
Debbie Almontaser presented at the ISNA Conference on the “Importance of Getting Muslim Holidays Recognized” and shared the history of the community’s advocacy for their inclusion and the development of the Muslim School Holidays Coalition.
Debbie Almontaser also presented at the World Parliament of Religions in October.
We partnered with Habitat for Humanity for a Brush with Kindness project to rejuvenate a NYCHA Senior Center on November 21st.
Cross-Cultural Education
On March 4th MCN co-sponsored the kick-off event for “The Tragedy of Karbala” Book Tour. The event included a conversation with the author Syed Mohsin Naquvi and MCN Board President Debbie Almontaser.
On March 8th we partnered with Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, B’nai Jeshurun and the Cordoba Initiative to host the Annual Interfaith Peace Fest.
November 14th, MCN and Weaving the Fabric of Diversity of the First Unitarian Congregational Society hosted the 15th Annual Children of Abraham Dinner.