Pillars Fund

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the screening of American Muslims: A History Revealed at Chicago’s historic DuSable Museum of African American History. Following the screening, I moderated a discussion with the Executive Producers, Zaheer Ali and Maytha Alhassen, as well as Malika Bilal , the host of two of the six episodes. I encourage you to watch the series, take notes, share it with others, and compare your reflections with theirs. Thank you Kalia Abiade & Hadeel Hamoud of Pillars Fund for making the night possible and for your continued support of muslim creatives. https://lnkd.in/gs95nUdB

???? I’m still reflecting on a great first experience at the Islamic Finance Conference at Harvard University. What’s clear is that there are so many resources today for Muslims in the U.S. looking to center our religious values as we navigate the socioeconomic landscape, from investing to community building to philanthropy and beyond. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share some of our work at Pillars Fund and to learn from my co-panelists Dr. Aamir A. Rehman, Zeshan G. and Erinn Corbett-Wright, MS, CPC, and the incredible lineup of experts, scholars, and practitioners in this growing field. Thank you Jenna Albezreh, Ayesha Zahrah, Taha, Sakina, Adam, Sapna and the entire IFC planning team for the invitation and your efforts.

International conflicts and America’s foreign policies are top issues for many American voters, especially Muslims. Yasmeen Kadouh is unapologetically from Dearborn, Michigan where she says the city’s Arab community is in collective grief because of the attacks in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. She wants to vote for candidates who listen to the voices of her community and recognize the urgency of advocating for global human rights. “There's so many parts of this election that we will be deciding. And ultimately I think it comes down to the community to say who is actually meeting our needs,” she told us. This is the second in a weekly series, leading up to November 5, that amplifies the voices of Muslim voters and provides resources and guidance from our Pillars’ community. We hope civic engagement like this will foster a more just and equitable society.

Community-led collaborative fund are transforming philanthropy! Philanthropy Together is joining Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and three other amazing organizations tomorrow Tuesday, October 8th to learn more. Virtual gathering ?? Register Here: https://lnkd.in/e4vTS3MK CC: Emergent Fund, New Breath Foundation, Pillars Fund

Election Day 2024 is just five weeks away. Muslims communities have a wide range of approaches to civic engagement. As we think about how we’ll be engaging with this election, we’re turning to our Pillars’ community for their insight. “I definitely feel that my vote counts and that the work that I do around mobilizing voter participation in the community is important as well.” As a lifelong voter,?Salima Suswell is stressing the importance of this election cycle and the need to fulfill your civic duty. She emphasizes that every vote matters and to utilize organizations, like Black Muslim Leadership Council to stay informed and receive support in your election journey. This is the first in a weekly series, leading up to November 5, that amplifies the voices of Muslim voters and provides resources and guidance from Catalyze grantee partners for navigating election-related conversations. We hope it will foster a more just and equitable society.

"Lawfare" is seriously hurting the ability of Muslims and many others to protest wrongs and stand up for justice and equity. “It’s not fair how much grassroots groups are forced to handle, but we remain on the frontline to combat the dehumanization and criminalization of our communities," says Darakshan Raja, founder and executive director of Muslims for Just Futures. "We are building an alternative world, and our safety lies in our relationships, solidarity, and care for one another.” What exactly is lawfare? Catalyze Fund grantee partner Muslims for Just Futures spoke to NonProfit Quarterly about it and how they are leading people to fight against the unfair restrictions. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gHiQXbJc This week Muslims for Just Futures is hosting "Convergence for Just Futures,"?bringing together organizers, advocates, movement lawyers, and changemakers from all over the country to build frameworks, strategies, and solidarity. Follow?MJF on Instagram for updates on this historic gathering.

Update on 9/24/2024: Due to an overwhelming response of incredible applications, all the Rapid Response funds have been granted to a number of organizations. ?? Calling all young leaders, community advocates, and frontline changemakers: Applications are now open for Catalyze Fund's Rapid Response Fund! As the election season unfolds, we’re all experiencing growing division and impacts of systemic problems. Young leaders and community advocates, from college campuses to Congress, are addressing immediate crises and working to resolve systemic problems. Supporting these community-led solutions that advance economic and social well-being and protect civil liberties is more critical than ever. That’s why Catalyze Fund is launching the Rapid Response Fund—to accelerate and amplify the work of frontline changemakers in this critical moment. This fund will give grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to organizations working on: ? Civic Engagement? ? Racial Justice Solidarity ? Youth and Campus Organizing Grants will be distributed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. For details on funding priorities, eligibility, and the application process, check out the link below. If you have any questions, email [email protected].

Congratulations to Catalyze Fund grantee partner Sapelo Square and Executive Director Latasha Rouseau on completing Solutions Journalism Network's latest training program! We're excited to see how the solutions journalism framework supercharges the incredible work they're doing. ICYMI: Below is a look into how Sapelo Square is giving the experiences of Black Muslims the coverage and attention they deserve.

Update: We've had an overwhelming response to this job opening, so we will be closing applications this Friday evening. ---------------- ?? We're hiring! This role is Pillars’ central storyteller who collaborates with the entire team to enhance the awareness and impact of the Muslim leaders, creatives and organizations that Pillars supports. The ideal candidate will grow our ability to lead and shape public conversations with the perspective of Muslims in America and their experiences. This includes creating meaningful digital content for various platforms, supporting the organization’s thought leadership through essays and op-eds and highlighting the relevance of Pillars' work to current events and movements. This role is part in-house journalist and part creative marketer. Applications for this role close on August 30, 2024. For the full description and more information on how to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/g_YGmQJf

Pillars is proud to amplify and support Muslim narratives and journalists by being a sponsor at this year's Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) convention. Congratulations to Sanya Mansoor, Jennifer Chowdhury, Hannan Adely, Tahera Rahman and Saeed Ahmed on a great panel and to Aliya Karim and Jasmine Amjad on their award-winning work.