Introduction: Eid Mubarak to all our incredible supporters! We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donations, which have brought joy and smiles to over 10,000 Rohingya refugee families, Bangladeshi widows, orphans, and those facing financial hardships this Eid ul Adha.

Together, we have made a significant difference in the lives of these vulnerable individuals, and we cannot thank you enough. Let us take a moment to reflect on the impact of our collective efforts and the hope we have kindled in the hearts of those in need. Uniting for a

Cause: In a world grappling with numerous challenges, it is inspiring to witness the power of unity and compassion. Our organization, alongside our dedicated supporters, came together to make a difference in the lives of Rohingya refugees who have endured unimaginable hardships. By standing together, we have reaffirmed the importance of empathy, love, and support for those who need it most. Bringing

Smiles: The joy of Eid ul Adha was brought to thousands of families through your contributions. We prioritized providing aid to the Rohingya refugee families, recognizing their dire circumstances and the need for immediate assistance. Additionally, we reached out to Bangladeshi widows, orphans, and families facing financial hardships, ensuring that the spirit of Eid was shared with as many people as possible. Qurbani: A Symbol of Sacrifice and Generosity: Alhamdulillah, with your support, we successfully completed 100% of our Qurbani, the act of sacrificing an animal during Eid ul Adha. \

This sacred tradition not only symbolizes the obedience and devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) but also serves as a means of sharing blessings and abundance with those less fortunate. Through the distribution of Qurbani meat, we were able to provide nourishment and sustenance to countless individuals and families, bringing them hope and relief during this special occasion. Impact on Lives: The impact of your support cannot be overstated. Your donations have touched the lives of individuals who have faced immense hardship, displacement, and loss. With your help, we were able to provide essential food supplies, clothing, hygiene kits, and medical assistance to those in need. By addressing their immediate needs, we have given them the strength and resilience to face the future with renewed hope and determination. Building a Brighter

Future: While we celebrate the success of our endeavors this Eid, we acknowledge that the journey towards a better future for the Rohingya refugees is far from over. Our commitment to their well-being extends beyond the festive season. By providing ongoing support, access to education, vocational training, and sustainable livelihood opportunities, we aim to empower these resilient individuals and enable them to rebuild their lives. Thank You for Making a Difference: On behalf of the Rohingya refugee families, Bangladeshi widows, orphans, and those facing financial hardships, we express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Your generosity has demonstrated the true spirit of Eid-ul-Adha and has had a profound impact on the lives of countless

individuals. Together, we have brought joy, hope, and a sense of belonging to those who needed it most. Conclusion: As we bid farewell to this blessed Eid, let us carry the spirit of giving, compassion, and unity in our hearts. The impact we have made on the lives of Rohingya refugees and others in need is a testament to the incredible strength of humanity when we come together for a common cause. With your continued support, we can work towards a future where all individuals, regardless of their circumstances, can experience joy, dignity, and hope. Eid Mubarak and may our collective efforts continue to bring smiles to those in need!

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A Vision Realized: The journey towards this grand opening began with a vision to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya refugees and the impoverished local community. BASMAH, a non-profit organization committed to humanitarian causes, recognized the urgent need for medical assistance and embarked on a mission to establish a cutting-edge medical facility.

A Haven of Care: Situated near camps 13 and 14 in Cox’s Bazar, the clinic stands as a testament to BASMAH’s unwavering dedication and commitment. Equipped with the latest medical technologies and staffed by a team of skilled healthcare professionals, the clinic promises to deliver top-notch medical treatments to those who have often gone without.

Comprehensive Services: The clinic’s services extend far beyond the mere provision of medical care. Recognizing the multifaceted needs of the Rohingya and local community, BASMAH has developed a holistic approach to healthcare. Patients will have access to a wide range of medical treatments, including primary healthcare, emergency services, maternal and child health services, mental health support, and more.

Cultivating Empathy and Understanding: Beyond the physical treatments, the clinic seeks to foster empathy and understanding between cultures. The Rohingya refugees, having fled unimaginable horrors, will find solace and support within the walls of this medical sanctuary. The local community, burdened by poverty and limited access to healthcare, will also be embraced by the warmth and compassion offered by BASMAH’s dedicated team.

Collaborative Efforts: The establishment of this groundbreaking medical clinic would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of numerous stakeholders. BASMAH extends its gratitude to the local authorities, partner organizations, and generous donors whose contributions made this vision a reality.

A Call to Action: While the grand opening of the clinic is undoubtedly cause for celebration, our work is far from over. The needs of the Rohingya and local community continue to evolve, and BASMAH remains committed to adapting and expanding its services accordingly. The clinic stands as a testament to the power of compassion, reminding us that we all have a role to play in building a better world

The post A Beacon of Hope: BASMAH’s Grand Opening of a New Medical Clinic for the Rohingya and Needy Host Community in Bangladesh appeared first on BASMAH.

Introduction: The devastating floods in Sylhet left countless families displaced and in desperate need of assistance. In the face of this adversity, BASMAH (Building and Assisting in Sheltering the Marginalized and Homeless) stepped forward to provide shelter, essential supplies, and outreach to the flood-affected families. Through the incredible support of compassionate individuals like you,

BASMAH has made significant progress in bringing hope and stability to the lives of these vulnerable communities. Today, we are delighted to share the heartwarming update of the shelter handover to the flood victims in Sylhet. A Milestone in Recovery: The handover ceremony was a momentous occasion, symbolizing a crucial step towards rebuilding the lives of the flood-affected families. With the unwavering support of our donors,

BASMAH constructed sturdy shelters that would serve as safe havens for those who had lost their homes to the devastating floods. The joy and gratitude radiated from the families as they received the keys to their new homes, a tangible symbol of hope and a fresh start. The Power of Compassion: The success of this endeavor would not have been possible without the compassion and generosity of individuals who rallied behind the cause.

It is through their contributions that the flood victims now have a place to call their own, providing them with the much-needed security and stability during these challenging times. The smiles on their faces were a testament to the power of collective action and the positive impact it can have on rebuilding communities. Continued Support and Ongoing Efforts: While the shelter handover marks a significant achievement, the work of BASMAH is far from over. The floods have left many families still in need of assistance.

BASMAH remains committed to providing ongoing support, including access to clean water, healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities. By empowering these families, we aim to help them regain their self-sufficiency and resilience in the face of future challenges. Join the Movement: If you have not yet contributed, we invite you to join us in making a difference in the lives of these flood-affected families.

Your continued support will help us extend our reach and bring hope to more individuals in need. Visit www.basmah.org/donate to make a donation and be a part of this life-changing mission. Conclusion: The shelter handover in Sylhet represents a significant milestone in the recovery of flood-affected communities. BASMAH’s efforts, fueled by the unwavering support of individuals like you, have provided these families with a renewed sense of hope and stability.

However, there is still much work to be done. By standing together and continuing to support organizations like BASMAH, we can help rebuild lives, empower communities, and create a brighter future for all. Let us be the catalysts of change and bring light to those who have endured the darkness of the floods in Sylhet. #SylhetFloodRelief #BASMARHcares #ShelterHandover

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The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most virtuous days of the year, in which Allah (swt) has blessed his Ummah with opportunities to multiply their rewards through His infinite mercy. These days are so sacred that Allah swears an oath by them:‘By the dawn; by the ten nights’ [The Noble Qur’an, 89:1-2].

And Allah also reminds us: ‘Remember Allah during the appointed days’. [The Noble Qur’an, 2:203]

Therefore, we should increase our acts of worship during this sacred time. The Prophet (saw) said, ‘There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than in these (ten) days’. [Abu Dawud]

Here are nine Sunnah actions you should follow to seek Allah’s forgiveness and maximise your reward during the best ten days of the year:

1. Dhikr

Let’s begin with a simple yet effective action – increasing your dhikr. In Makkah, the Talbiyah will be on every pilgrim’s tongue throughout the day and night; those at home have also been commanded to praise Allah constantly in these ten days.

The Eid takbeer is an example of dhikr that ticks all three of these boxes – tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed.

You can also make dhikr after your five daily prayers – SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times. 

Reciting SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and praise Him) one hundred times a day will wipe away sins – no matter how burdensome they are.

These simple measures will ensure you are remembering Allah throughout the day and benefitting from the blessings of Dhul-Hijjah.

2. Fast the first nine days

It is Sunnah to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, because fasting is one of the best of deeds. In a hadith Qudsi, Allah says, ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it’. [Bukhari]

If you are unable to fast for the whole nine days, try to fast on just the Day of ’Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. Just as Laylat al-Qadr is the most blessed night of the year, ’Arafah is the most blessed day of the year. The Prophet (saw) said, ’There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than on the day of ‘Arafah’. (Muslim)

Like Laylat al-Qadr, we should spend this day seeking forgiveness and availing ourselves of Allah’s incredible mercy. On this day, non-pilgrims have the opportunity to extinguish the sins of two years by fasting! The Prophet (saw) said, ′It (fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah) expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year’. [Muslim]

3. Recite Qur’an

Reciting the Qur’an is one of the best acts of worship we can perform to draw closer to Allah and seek his pleasure. The Prophet (saw) said, ’Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter’. [Tirmidhi]

SubhanAllah, imagine the rewards you will earn from reading each letter during these blessed days when Allah has promised to multiply your reward!

4. Remember loved ones

Many of us will try to perform a Hajj specifically for a loved one that has passed away or make du’a for loved ones during our own Hajj so that Allah will forgive them and have mercy on them on the Day of Judgement.

If you are unable to perform a Hajj for a loved one you can still honour them by giving Sadaqah Jariyah in their name on these blessed days. Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, ‘When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah, knowledge from which benefit is gained, or a righteous child who prays for him’. [Muslim]

Our beloved Prophet (saw) told us that giving water is the best form of Sadaqah. By building a well in the name of your loved one you will be gifting a source of life to a whole community and increasing your loved one’s record of good deeds for the Day of Judgement.

5. Pray Tahajjud

It’s been one month since the last ten nights of Ramadan, and many of us are missing the ‘spiritual high’ of seeking out Laylat al-Qadr through our nightly worship. But did you know that praying at night for the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah is equivalent to praying on Laylat al-Qadr?

6. Give Sadaqah

Many of us maximise our Sadaqah during the last ten nights of Ramadan, but the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are just as valuable and present the perfect opportunity to earn extra rewards for simple good deeds!

Hasan al-Basri (rh) said, ‘Going to fulfil the need of your brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj’.

Helping our brothers and sisters in need is one of the acts most beloved to Allah and we have the perfect tool to help you maximise your rewards over the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah. The Best 10 Days allows you to automate your donations to five emergency locations, including Yemen and Syria, providing food, clean water and medical supplies to suffering families.

7. Repent

Hajj is the ultimate act of worship we can perform as Muslims to seek forgiveness from Allah and expiate our sins, but most of us are lucky if we can go even once in our lifetime. That is why Dhul-Hijjah is the perfect gift from Allah, allowing us to repent and seek forgiveness for our sins even if we are not on pilgrimage.

Repentance brings us closer to Allah and cleanses our souls. Allah says:

‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favour his favour’. [The Noble Qur’an, 11:3]

8. Pray Eid Salah

Eid Salah is one of the ways we show our Islamic identity as a community and is therefore a very important act of worship for all Muslims to partake in. The Prophet (saw) always attended Eid Salah, as did his companions after he had passed away. He encouraged everyone to attend, even menstruating women – who are unable to perform the prayer itself but can still share in the blessings of this gathering. 

9. Give a Prophetic Qurbani

Abu Talhah (ra) reported, ‘The Prophet (saw) sacrificed for the one who could not sacrifice from his Ummah, one who bore witness to the Oneness of Allah and [his] Prophethood’. [Tabarani and Ahmad]

During Eid, the Prophet (saw) would offer an additional sacrifice on behalf of someone in his Ummah that could not afford to. Allah says, ‘There has come to you a Messenger of Allah from among yourselves, who is distressed by the losses you sustain, who is ardently desirous of your welfare and is tender and merciful to those that believe’. [The Noble Qur’an, 9:128]

SubhanAllah, this generous act of our beloved Messenger of Allah is an incredible example of His mercy to His Ummah that Allah refers to in the above ayah, to sacrifice for his Ummah and cover them till the Day of Judgement.

You too can follow this beautiful Sunnah and give an extra Qurbani to maximise your reward during Dhul-Hijjah. Not only will you be reviving a forgotten Sunnah, but you will be also doubling your impact by feeding even more families a rare meal with meat during the days of Eid-al-Adha. 

In sha Allah, these nine tips will help you make the most of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. From everyone at Muslim Hands, we’d like to wish you a blessed month full of good deeds, forgiveness and closeness to Allah.

While you’re here, check out our comprehensive guide to the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah! Its packed with essential tips and hadith to help you maximise your rewards. 

Qurbani: A Sacred Act of Sacrifice and Generosity

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Hasan Minhaj is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host of Indian descent. His Netflix show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj won two Peabody Awards and two Webby Awards. Wikipedia

Born: September 23, 1985 (age 37 years), Davis, California, United States

Spouse: Beena Patel (m. 2015)

Parents: Seema Usmani, Najme Minhaj

Height: 1.83 m

Siblings: Ayesha Minhaj

Alma mater: University of California, Davis (BA)

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Linda Sarsour is an American political activist. She was co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, the 2017 Day Without a Woman, and the 2019 Women’s March. She is also a former executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. 

Born: 1980 (age 43 years), Brooklyn, New York, United States

Spouse: Maher Judeh

Education: Brooklyn College, Kingsborough Community College, Secondary School for Journalism

Siblings: Diya Sarsour, Mohammed Sarsour

Known for: Co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March

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Muna AbuSulayman, is an American-born Saudi businesswoman and activist. She is also the former founding Secretary General of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding Company and co-host of the Kalam Nawaem television show. Wikipedia

Born: May 16, 1973 (age 49 years), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Parents: Abdulhamid AbuSulayman

Children: 2 daughters

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Dalia Mogahed, is an American researcher and consultant of Egyptian origin. She is the director of research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding in Washington, D.C. Wikipedia

Born: 1974 (age 49 years), Cairo, Egypt

Parents: Elsayed Mogahed

Books: Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think

Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Pittsburgh, West High School

Movies: Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think

Nationality: American, Egyptian

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Imam Omar Suleiman is an American Muslim scholar, civil rights leader, writer, and public speaker. He is the Founder and President of Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, and an adjunct professor of Islamic Studies and member of the Ethics Center Advisory Board at Southern Methodist University. Wikipedia

Born: 1986 (age 37 years), New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Influenced by: Malcolm X, Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Hassan al-Banna

Nationality: American

Channel: Yaqeen Institute

Denomination: Sunni

Known for: Islamic Studies, social justice

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Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed is an American educator and motivational speaker. She is a specialist in spirituality, psychology, and personal development. Mogahed is the first female instructor at the AlMaghrib Institute. Wikipedia

Born: March 11, 1980 (age 43 years), Egypt

Nationality: American, Egyptian

Family: Dalia Mogahed (sister)

Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Associated acts: MASICNA Convention; MSA National

Known for: Muslim spirituality

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Inclusion is not such an easy process. But nothing worthwhile ever is.

Hanan Challouki Inclusive communication is not the odd thing out anymore, nowadays. As the world is getting more and more diverse, broad ways of reaching different target audiences are dying to get explored. And to be brutally honest: the road is not an easy one. But then again, neither was building Rome, right? For years, I’ve been delving spiritedly into this topic, discovering fascinating, interesting, revealing insights. And I’m happy to share what I know.

Workshop Inclusive Communication. To do or not to do: essential insights.

Finally! No need to wait for a specific date or register and hope you’ll be available: the training on Inclusive Communication is online now and ready for you to attend. What can you expect from this training? Let me give you a clear idea of the content:

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Na’ima B Robert is an author of multicultural literature and founding editor of the UK-based Muslim women’s publication, SISTERS Magazine. Born in Leeds to a Scottish father and Zulu mother, both from South Africa, Robert grew up in Zimbabwe and attended university in England. She converted to Islam in 1998. Wikipedia

Born: September 19, 1977 (age 45 years), Leeds, United Kingdom

Spouse: Henry Amankwah (m. ?–2015)

Education: University of London

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Hi, my name is Hodan Ibrahim and I am a serial entrepreneur, publisher, author marketing consultant and blogger. This is where I share lessons I’m learning.

I have a passion for living life to the fullest, fulfilling my potential as a human being and supporting the socio-economic empowerment of poor, marginalized and underresourced people, in North America and abroad. I am the Founder and CEO of Think Disrupt a new media publishing company serving the creative maladjustment of the non conforming minority launching early 2015. I’m Managing Director at FWD MVMNT, a digital marketing and design agency I set up with my awesome business partner Melissa Athina. I’, head of  Marketing and Product Development at UmmahHub, a platform dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and changemakers within the Muslim community by providing actionable knowledge to our next generation of entrepreneurs, change-makers and doers. The purpose of Journey of a Muslim entrepreneur is to be a source of inspiration and change for those who refuse to settle for anything less than an extraordinary life and want to contribute to systemic-level impact. This blog is especially aimed at economically empowering people of color and those individuals from historically marginalized and underresourced backgrounds.

  On this website, I will openly and passionately share all of the tools, resources, and strategies that I continue to discover that have made a measurable difference to my quality of life, and will for you as well.

This blog is all about empowering innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople to think disruptively- about themselves and the world around them. I share tips, advice and highlight stories and research entrepreneurship, digital marketing, lifestyle design, publishing, social change and economic development. I hope this blog makes a difference in your quality of life.

One Last Thing

If there’s any questions, comments or feedback you have for me – feel free to contact me anytime.

You can also stay up-to-date with what’s going on here by subscribing for free updates on the right side of my blog, or following me on Twitter.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to seeing you on the blog sometime soon!

Cheers,

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Umar Munshi is a social entrepreneur. I go out on a limb to get the fish beyond reach. I push myself to be bigger than I am. With God’s will, I aim to make a difference!

I am leading the global expansion of the World’s first Real Estate Islamic (Investment) Crowdfunding Platform. Our community of Ethical and Islamic Investors come together to Crowdfund Social Housing Development projects. We’ve successfully crowdfunded projects to build 5,000 homes in Indonesia.

Check out our stats on https://EthisCrowd.com/

‘Money Money. Create Social Impact. Circulate Good’

Indonesia is a hotspot for international investments. Our associated Real Estate development company PT Ethis partners with proven local developers to build housing estates for corporate and government off-takers. We have already funded projects to build close to 5,000 homes for the needy, with realised profits at above 10% per annum.

We serve High Networth Individuals as Lead Investors, with the crowd coming in for short-term bridging finance. Islamic Banks or the Government then purchase these properties,

and the Developer profits are shared with EthisCrowd investors.

I am also the Chairman, Islamic Fintech Alliance (IFT Alliance), where we champion the adoption of Fintech for Islamic Finance – Islamic Fintech.

I’d love to connect with thought leaders and entrepreneurial movers in the areas of:

– Ethical/Impact Investments
– Islamic Fintech
– Crowdfunding/P2P
– Real Estate Development
– Real Estate Crowdfunding
– Social Entrepreneurship
– Socially-disruptive technology & applications
– Waqf

Feel free to email support@ethiscrowd.com to get in touch!

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Ustadha Dunia Shuaib is a passionate and ongoing student of sacred knowledge and Islāmic psychology, the founder and executive director of Guided Hearts Institute, an educator, internationally renowned lecturer, and author.

Through a holistic and integrative approach she combines the Qurān and Sunnah, rich Islāmic tradition, Islāmic psychology and modern psychology to help educate and inspire Muslims to reach their greatest potential. She continually strives to provide high quality psycho-spiritual education in a way that is easily accessible.

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FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 0F THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL MUSLIM LIFE

Mustafa Dustin Craun is a creative strategist, filmmaker, writer, digital media producer, ethnic studies scholar, and community organizer. His work in digital media has been featured in over 200 global publications, and his writings on race, philosophy, and Islamic studies have been published in academic journals and popular publications.

He has a bachelor’s in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a Masters in Ethnic Studies from the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University. He studied Latin American philosophy and the Decoloniality school of thought in the graduate school of Ethnic Studies at the University of California-Berkeley, and traditional Islamic Studies at Zaytuna College. 

Cultural Change Strategist

Mustafa Dustin Craun has worked for eighteen years as a public relations and digital media strategist, and over the last six years as a filmmaker. Focused on faith based and social impact storytelling he has built organizations and brands like MPower Change, Ummah Wide, and most recently the Center for Global Muslim Life and the Border Mosque.

He is the founder of Beyond Borders Studios a digital production studio focused on digital strategy, and film production. With Beyond Borders Studios he has worked with clients startups, nonprofits, universities, and corporations of many different sizes including the University of California at Berkeley, The Othering and Belonging Institute, Port of Mokha Coffee, the Walt Disney Studios, The California Endowment, 500 Startups, Faith in Action National Network, MoveON, The University of Colorado at Boulder, and CAIR California. 

As an executive producer, producer, and director he has produced 10 short films to date including – A Prayer Beyond Borders, Hacking for Peace, The All Seeing Eyes of San Diego Surveillance, We Are California – Vote For Our Future, Transforming California from Red to Blue – How Community Organizing Changed the Political Landscape, and From Palestine to Mexico – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib Visits the Border Mosque. He is currently working on his first feature-length documentary, A Prayer Beyond Borders.

Raised in Denver, Colorado, Dustin has spent his adult life building with communities around the world, having lived in Mexico, Ghana, Morocco, California, the Middle East and Malaysia. Dustin brings a uniquely transnational lens to the interconnected world we inhabit. 

Social Movement Strategist

Over the last eighteen years I’ve worked with dozens of organizations from non-profits to startups on communication, and digital content strategies. I’ve worked intentionally in the Muslim community in the Untied States and around the world over these years. Working with a broad diversity of organizations as a co-founder of MPower Change, I understand deeply the need for experienced communications strategists like myself playing a broader movement role.

As a digital strategist who worked with the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC-Berkeley to build their strategic narrative website, BluePrint for Belonging, I was able to work within a broader movement strategy space at a very high level. From web design, to film production, and training design, these types of projects have always been the best fit for me as a content and communications strategist. 

Over the last nine years I have worked in management positions as a communications director within the Faith in Action network, as a founder of my own production studio Beyond Borders Studios, and as a co-founder of MPower Change. As a consultant managing the team at the Othering & Belonging Institute is one of my proudest accomplishments within the field.

When we started on that project they gave me a file of PDF’s and asked me to lead them in producing films, a website, and trainings around strategic narrative. Working not only with the team at the Othering & Belonging Institute but also with 50 partner organizations across the state this was a massive project. In creating project management work flows using Slack, Trello, and Google docs I was able to work with the team through the process while also leading on the hiring of designers and film makers on the project.

Over the years I have worked on very difficult issues that never garner enough press coverage. From working across Muslim organizations, to working with formerly incarcerated communities, the American Indian Movement of Colorado, to undocumented youth, and separated families at the US / Mexico border. I’ve also worked on successful anti- surveillance campaigns in Oakland and San Diego that have proven to be some of the most difficult communications work I’ve ever done in explaining complex issues like surveillance in soundbites.

Throughout this work I’ve always worn my organizing hat with my media production lens to build relationships and to learn journalists views on issues. A great recent example of this was with the work I’ve been organizing around with as I built the Border Mosque to work with the Border Church at the US / Mexico border. We intentionally did not reach out to media as this work began, instead deciding to capture the true essence of this Christian / Muslim relationship in my film, “A Prayer Beyond Borders.”

When we launched the film with MoveON we reached out to media with the help of ReThink Media and offered the film for distribution to news outlets. Within this process Imam Omar Suleiman introduced me to a group of journalists from NowThis. As we began building a relationship with the NowThis producers I was able to related to them as a filmmaker with the ideas I had to expand our film work at the Border Mosque further.

One of the most important stories for me to tell was about the Muslim Ban communities of Yemeni and Somali men we had began to meet there. As we talked more NowThis pitched the story to their executive producers and they were approved to make the film. They came to Tijuana for one of our Border Mosque/ Border Church gatherings in December where we brought Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to the Border. With Congresswoman Tlaib’s powerful words comparing the wall at the US / Mexico border to the Wall in Palestine, Melissa was able to produce a beautiful piece for NowThis.

They then came back to shoot a feature doc for NowThis with the stories of the Muslim Ban communities in Tijuana. Unfortunately with COVID the documentary has been put on hold like so much else. This is an example of not only working with a journalist but to get a major news organization to tell our movements stories and to invest resources that we as a movement didn’t have into important stories we could not tell ourselves.

At a movement level Muslim, and broader AMEMSA (Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian) organizations are deeply fragmented from a communications strategy perspective. Our organizations and our movements have to understand the need for narrative infrastructure within our movements. Many organizations in these movements are stuck in a 1990s theory of change that made sense when our communities were smaller, less well connected and had less power. Today we can use broad communications strategies tied to digital organizing as we have built at MPower Change. These models need to be more broadly scaled within the movement.

I’ve outlined my thinking on this question in several articles online about digital publishing and branding. Generally speaking the work needs to be done at a very high level today from design to production, with clear social justice language. Our movements must invest in narrative infrastructure and have budgets and creative producers to bring attention to our movements through building narrative power. One of my favorite mottos is from Pixar, “Our brand is quality.” I also think some of the training from the Center for Story Based Strategy is very useful for leaders who may not understand the importance of comms work in their framing around the “Battle of the story.” I’ve created many different trainings for organizations based on this model.

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Amany Killawy is the Co-Founder and COO (a.k.a Team Swiss Army Knife) of LaunchGood.com, a niche based global crowdfunding platform supporting Muslims launching good all over the world by helping them raise funds for their projects, campaigns, and creative ideas. She is a graduate of the School of Social work at Wayne State University,

And founding member of the Detroit Minds and Hearts Fellowship, a social incubator where she works with inner city Muslim youth to help them develop and launch their own community initiatives for social justice. As social worker turned social entrepreneur, she brings an interesting mix of experience to her work and community.

LaunchGood is a global crowdfunding platform to support Muslims Launching good all across the world by helping them raise funds for their campaigns. Tapping into the creative power of Muslims worldwide, Launch Good was started as a community and ecosystem to revive that spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship that elevated Muslims globally for centuries.

Since it’s inception, Launch Good has raised over 15 million for over 1500 projects impacting 70+ countries. Launch Good has been featured on major news channels including CNN, Al Jazeera, NPR, NBC and others. It has won the Ethical Finance Innovation Challenge award, received the Islamic Economy Award from the ruler of Dubai and invited by President Obama to the White House.

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Maruf Yusupov is a serial entrepreneur focusing on Muslim Market. He studied in business and IT in Denmark as well as abroad including Cambridge and Stanford.

Education

General Equivalency Diploma

School name

Stanford University

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Abdallah Absi is creating a community movement that supports innovation across all fields of the Arab region and regardless of problem areas. He is doing this through democratizing access to seed capital…

Introduction

Abdallah is creating a community movement that supports innovation across all fields of the Arab region and regardless of problem areas. He is doing this through democratizing access to seed capital for early stage Arab innovators. In doing so, Abdallah is building a bridge between Arab innovators… Read More

The New Idea

Abdallah is creating an enabling environment for innovation across sectors and countries of the Arab region. He is transforming the region from one plagued with conflict and strife to one that contributes to the global innovation and knowledge production arena. Abdallah strengthens and expands the… Read More

The Problem

The lack of the ecosystem of creativity and innovation in the Arab region is the primary root problem that Abdallah is trying to solve. The lag in technological innovation as the ecosystem that can foster entrepreneurship and promote economic development in nascent, emerging markets in the Arab… Read More

The Strategy

Abdallah is systematically and comprehensively tipping a wide range of sectors in the Arab region. He is relying on crowd-sourced investments targeted to innovative ideas across three categories, namely, technological innovation, cultural/social/environmental, and creative arts as well as… Read More

The Person

Abdalla is born in 1992 in Kuwait for a Lebanese entrepreneurial family. His father is an entrepreneur himself; he started his business in technology at Kuwait after being educated in the US and was a source of inspiration to Abdallah as he has always been his own boss as well as had a good… Read More

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