INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK 2008 ANNUAL REPORT 2008 ANNUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Letter from the Executive Director 2. Mission & Vision 3. Principles of Change 5. Staff & Board TABLE OF CONTENTS 9 . Community Organizing & Advocacy 17. Direct Services 23 Arts & Culture 27. Media Sightings 28. Outreach 29. Your IMAN Growing 31 Financials 33. Acknowledgements 35. Donor Recognition Dear IMAN Friends, THE INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK Assalamu Alaikum and Peace Be Upon You. We live in paradoxical times where great opportunity and extraordinary challenges confront many of 2744 West 63rd Street • Chicago, Illinois 60629 ABOUT us organizing and working for positive change in the community. With the TEL 773.434.4626 • FAX 773.434.0260 blessings of the Most High and the leadership and support of so many of iman@imancentral.org • www.imancentral.org you, IMAN has done all it can to seize as much of this opportunity as we could over these last two years. In 2008 and 2009, we initiated new and strengthened existing programs. In 2009, with funding from the City of Chicago, we began a Green Reentry Project that is converting foreclosed and vandalized homes in Chicago Lawn into “green” housing. IMAN will use the renovations of these homes to provide on-the-job training for the formerly incarcerated, and to provide transitional housing for our brothers reentering the community. Also in 2009, through the generosity of an individual donor, we purchased a new building at 2747 W. 63rd St.; now we are exploring ideas on the use of this 15,000 square foot property for our operations and the benefit of communities we serve. We obtained a Presidential Discretionary Grant from the Marguerite Casey Foundation to conduct a study of the feasibility and potential for local IMAN initiatives in large urban centers such as New York City and Washington D.C. Our leadership role within many social justice coalitions and the evolution of Takin’ it to the Streets into a week-long Urban International Festival expected to draw 20,000 people to Chicago this year are further illustrations of large-impact programs in which LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR we have invested our energy and innovative spirit. MISSION IMAN is a community-based nonprofit that works for social justice, The Fruits of Your IMAN luncheon in December of 2009, which many delivers a range of direct services, and cultivates the arts in urban of you attended, was a befitting way for us to cap these last two years communities. of growth. This event marked the successful completion of The Grow Your IMAN Campaign, a three-year $1.75 million comprehensive campaign to enable us to purchase our main center and expand our programs as described throughout this two-year report. BACKGROUND IMAN grew from the efforts of a group of concerned Muslim Success, growth and the recognition they attract, however, bring their own challenges. Staying true to the principles and the people that drive us and community members who came together to respond to the our vision is only the most obvious of these mandates. We intend to meet pervasive symptoms of poverty and marginalization on Chicago’s this and similar challenges by holding ourselves accountable to the Most Southwest Side. They created IMAN and incorporated it as a High and to you, our friends and donors. 501 c (3) organization in 1997. Finally, as we look forward to sustaining and building on our efforts to inspire, serve and forge a vision of justice and dignity for the most marginalized and neglected among us, we pray to the Most High that He VISION always bless our endeavors and strengthen our convictions and resolve. IMAN will be, God willing, a national Muslim nonprofit leader in We also hope and pray that our efforts remain worthy of your continued prayers and support. social change, service delivery and artistic excellence. Muslims in other urban centers will draw on IMAN’s model for dynamic civic Salaams and Peace, engagement in their communities and the larger society. Rami Nashashibi Executive Director P. 2 IMAN PRINCIPLES OF CHANGE Spiritually Grounded & Broadly Informed Alliance Building IMAN’s work and vision is driven by Islam’s emphasis on mercy, IMAN believes strongly in the need to create long-term alliances compassion, service and justice as transformative forces for positive that bridge cultural, racial, ethnic and religious divides. We seek social change. IMAN also looks to the rich and diverse organizing to develop and work in alliances that are deeply grounded in a traditions in the U.S. and across sense of mutual trust and commitment to a common vision for the world for inspiration. IMAN change using a grassroots human rights framework. seeks to infuse the best of those models with an understanding of Change through Service the Muslim spiritual tradition as IMAN believes that providing health care, youth programming a way of effectively reaching and and career development services changes not only those who PRINCIPLES OF CHANGE mobilizing its own base of leaders receive our services but also those who provide them, thus across Chicagoland, the state of creating a holistic approach to social change. IMAN’s organizing Illinois and the country. efforts are led by community members, including those who access our key services such as free health care, economic and Led by the Most Affected professional development courses, and transitional housing for IMAN passionately believes that work toward social change should ex-offenders. be led by those of us directly and broadly affected by the issues, our families, and those who live with the consequences of poverty and Inspire: Art and Culture as Vehicles of Social Change social disparities in the inner-city. IMAN believes in the power of the arts to inspire and influence social change. For IMAN, leadership by artists plays a critical Across Socioeconomic Divides role in educating, galvanizing and inspiring our base. Art infuses IMAN believes in leveraging resources, relationships, skills organizing efforts with a type of cultural relevance that can and expertise across socioeconomic divides in addressing make the work more dynamic and cutting-edge. IMAN seeks the the challenges and struggles confronting marginalized urban synergy between art and culture to reach audiences and remain communities. Furthermore, IMAN aspires to leverage these grounded in grassroots community efforts and working for change. relationships to stimulate socially-conscious business development and to generate jobs, revenue and social capital in service of its larger vision. Intergenerational IMAN believes in advocacy and organizing work that is intergenerational. The dynamism and drive of young adults combined with the wisdom and experience of elders allows for efforts that take into consideration larger social context and historical continuity. Within the larger Muslim community, intergeneration-driven efforts that provide space for youth leadership, while showing deference to cultural elders, speak to a sense of holistic community. P. 4 STAFF BOARD Executive Director Education Reform Organizer Rami Nashashibi Manal Farhan (Until 2009) OFFICERS Chairman Associate Director Communications Coordinator Amir Al–Islam Ph.D Kyle J. Ismail (Until 2009) Ahlam Said Secretary Human Resources and Outreach Coordinator David Kelly J.D. Administrative Director Mark Crain (From 2009) Ayat Elnoory Treasurer Grants Administrator Ali Saqib (Until 2009) Operations Manager Naadhera Rodriguez Muhammad Umar Carter (From 2009) Angela Rosario IMAN Career Development Office Coordinator Manager DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF Madeehah Muhammad Veronica Zapata Ameenah Muhammad Rafi Peterson Finance Manager Database Coordinator Omari Kamal Amina Waheed (Until 2009) Clyde K. El-Amin Seemi Choudry Hazel Gomez (From 2009) Health Clinic Administrator Feroz Patel Sherene Fakhran M.D., M.P.H. Mariam Azam (Until 2009) IMAN Executive Fellows Adiba Khan, M.D. (From 2009) Alia Bilal Laila Muhammad Tariq Iftikhar M.D. Aquil Charlton Youth Organizer Ndidi Okakpu Maaria Mozaffar J.D. Tariq Simpkins Shamar Hemphill Security Officer Maha Jarad Yasmine Abou-El-Kheir Director of Arts and Culture Yahyaa Gatlin Asad Jafri Nia Odeoti-Hassan Lead Community Organizer Sultan Muhammad P. 6 AWARDS EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World In 2009, IMAN launched the Executive Fellowship Program to help The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre and Georgetown University us transition to our next level of organizational development. The Amir Al-Islam first three Executive Fellows started their one-year positions in the Rami Nashashibi summer and fall of 2009. Courageous Voices Award Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Rami Nashashibi Norman Bobins Leadership Award Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards Rami Nashashibi Excellence in Community Leadership Award Holy Cross Hospital Rafi Peterson Community Hero Local Initiatives Support Corporation Clyde El Amin Rafi Peterson Inspiring Muslim Woman Award Muslim Women’s Alliance Nia Odeoti-Hassan Outstanding Community Service Award Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago YOUTH BOARD MEMBERS Nia Odeoti-Hassan Rami Nashashibi In 2008, three members of the IMAN Youth Council (IYC) joined the IMAN Board. The presence of these young Board Members will Service to the IHRC Recognition Award allow the Board and staff to better evaluate whether or not IMAN’s International Human Relations Council and Chicago Commission on programming meets the needs of young people. Human Relations Veronica Zapata Community Organizing Award Chicago Community Trust IMAN and the Developing Justice Coalition Young People For (YP4) One-year fellowships Ameenah Muhammad Sadia Nawab P. 8 COMMUNITY ORGANIZING & ADVOCACY PROJECT RESTORE Project Restore, launched in 2005, is based on IMAN’s deeply held idea that many within the formerly incarcerated community can, with resources and the right opportunity, restore a sense of self, family, community and justice. Green Reentry IMAN’s Green Reentry Project was one of the eight recipients of the “Community Green Jobs” funding from the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment.