MCN's ongoing work is to build a stronger NY Muslim community by increasing sharing of information and resources, and promoting collaboration between and across communities. MCN has supported inclusion, diversity and community development through community dialogue and training. The group first came together to respond to the sense of crisis in the New York Muslim community in early 2003.

Our past activities have included:

Promoting dialogue between diverse Muslim groups and building bridges between Muslims. MCN itself has participants from ethnically diverse Muslim communities of New York. Members also met with the Progressive Muslim Union in 2004 to discuss common concerns.

Advocating for and supporting Sunni-Shia dialogue. In 2005, members of MCN helped draft and signed onto a statement denouncing sectarian violence. See 2005 Sunni Shia Statement . Following this statement and in 2006, MCN co-sponsored Independent Viewpoints’ program,” Dialogue on Shias, Sunnis & Politics in Iraq .

Encouraging Muslim awareness of and collaboration regarding the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. In the summer of 2004, MCN members met to discuss the crisis in Darfur and possible responses. Members wrote articles for Muslim news venues.  Women In Islam, Inc. independently organized an educational forum on human rights and humanitarian needs in Darfur and an interfaith fundraiser. MCN continues to encourage and facilitate collaboration on Darfur, through outreach to national and local groups. Members of our network recently established a listserv for Muslims becoming more informed and active on Darfur, and some of these NY Muslim activists organized a panel in April to help raise awareness.

Supporting Muslim giving through fundraising for tsunami relief at a time when charitable giving has been affected by government closures of charities. MCN co-sponsored an interfaith fundraiser held on February 13, 2005, for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, held at the Riverside Church in Manhattan. Funds raised were shared by ICNA Relief, Islamic Relief, Muslim Foundation of America and UNICEF (see Muslims New Yorkers for Tsunami Relief and Remembrance ).

Challenging portrayals of Muslims in media, such as through writing letters and meeting with media. In January 2005, MCN members met with Dan Okrent, the Public Editor of the New York Times to discuss limitations of terminology, the inclusion of diverse Muslim communities in reporting, and better representation of Muslims among journalists. We advocated that the NYT stop using “Islamic” as a modifying adjective for terms such as “fundamentalist,” “militant,” “Jihadist,” etc., and were encouraged to hear that there would be a shift in the coverage. Some of this discussion, particularly the discussion of the limits of terms such as pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli was captured in a Public Editor column. Recently, New Yorker Magazine also published Br. Adem Carroll’s letter to the editor.

Drawing community attention to disaster preparedness. To enhance communication within and between diverse and at risk communities MCN participates in the NY Disaster Interfaith Services. It helps design disaster preparedness plans, related trainings and other initiatives.

Responding to backlash through educational advocacy as well as supporting appropriate legislation, such as the NYC Backlash Mitigation Bill and Uniform Anti-Discrimination Act; see a summary of the bills and a letter to the City Council. The Backlash Mitigation Bill offers protection to vulnerable communities such as Sikhs and Muslims; the Uniform Anti-Discrimination Act supports the fair-treatment of public employees who wear religious gear at work. MCN members participated in press conferences and the November 2005 City Council hearing. MCN is also on of 85 organizational co-signatories to the Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Reform the Patriot Act.

Providing information to promote civic engagment and help community members access city services. We also seek to educate city services about our communities' needs and interests in order that they better serve our communities. Together with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, members of MCN recently co-sponsored a series of town hall meetings focusing on access to city services, held in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. These events reached approximately 350 persons in total. In 2006, MCN co-sponsored Turning Point’s forum for ACS providers to help develop culturally sensitive services for Muslim New Yorkers. Members also continue to participate in dialogues and roundtable discussions with the NYC Courts (through the Interfaith Center of NY), the FBI and the NYPD.