As Thomas Jefferson teaches, an educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.
Today, issues surrounding American Muslims are central in our political discourse, policy debates and popular culture. Yet most Americans say they don’t know a Muslim and, according to media content analysis, more than 80% of media coverage of Islam and Muslims in the United States is negative. This opens the door for a narrow media image to distort public perceptions of this diverse community.
If “an educated citizenry” is vital to the health of our democracy, then providing accurate information on Muslim Americans is a civic duty. Our Muslims for American Progress (MAP) project aims to do just that.
The Muslims for American Progress (MAP) Project educates the public by providing a much-needed, evidence-based portrait of a deeply misunderstood community. The MAP project quantifies the contributions of American Muslims in eight areas:
To quantify these areas of contribution, the MAP project “counts and profiles”: Our researchers quantify American Muslim contributions with hard facts, while profiling individuals of distinction to showcase the community’s diversity while giving it a human face.
Our MAP research began by capturing the contributions of Muslims in the state of Michigan and New York City. To learn more about the impact Muslims are making, please visit the MAP website, where you can also find more details on our project methodology.
To fill the widespread gaps in knowledge about Ame
This is a summary of the key findings of An Impact
This is a summary of the key findings of An Impact
To fill the widespread gaps in knowledge about Mus
What would an America without Muslims look like? Watch this video to learn more. Click here for the methodology and references used to determine the figures in this video.
Rebecca Karam, Principal Investigator of ISPU’s Muslims for American Progress (MAP) project, discusses the contributions of Muslims to the state of Michigan, highlighting the stories of some truly inspiring individuals.
Created for the Muslims for American Progress NYC project, these video narratives feature the stories of five Muslim New Yorkers.
Community activist, advocate, entrepreneur, and educator who works across sectors in NYC
Founding Principal, Khalil Gibran International Academy; CEO, Building Cultures Group Inc; Founding Board Member, Muslim Community Network; Founding Board Member, Yemeni American Merchants Association Board Member, Micah Institute; Member, NYC Department of Education Diversity Advisory Board
Advisor on cultural and religious diversity issues for Public Advocate Tish James, Borough President Eric Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the NYC Commission for Human Rights, and New York City Council members
Poet, writer, model, mental health chaplain, and community activist serving NYC through Lenox Hill Hospital and the nonprofit Muslims Giving Back
Photographer, film producer, and digital media consultant
Founder of Mustafa Davis Studios™
A growth strategy research and advisory firm covering OIC markets, Halal, Ethical, Social entrepreneurship, Islamic finance, and the Muslim market
Marketing consultant and digital strategist for businesses and nonprofits
Associate Professor of History, Director, Center for Arab American Studies at the University of Michigan – Dearborn
Award-winning documentary producer and director of character-based social issue feature films
Assistant Professor, Social Documentation at UC Santa Cruz