2024 Midyear Highlights and Accomplishments

PetraPresentingFeb-1

ISPU Senior Outreach and Partnerships Manager Petra Alsoofy

Our research tackles both emerging and enduring pressing questions about American Muslim communities.

ISPU continues to be at the forefront of discovering trends and opportunities that impact American Muslims through our rigorous and relevant research. This year alone, ISPU is advancing 10 major research projects that focus on a range of important issues. 

Notably, in response to the crisis in Gaza, ISPU successfully executed its first quick turnaround survey. In this instance, we were able to expedite the development, planning, fielding, and analysis, disseminating the findings in approximately a quarter of the time typically required. This successful experience has paved the way for us to contemplate the ongoing role ISPU can play in delivering timely research on pressing issues affecting American Muslim communities. 

Below, we share some research highlights from this year so far.

Our Ceasefire Survey Series Examined Religious Groups’ Views on a Ceasefire in Gaza.

The crisis in Gaza remains at the forefront of American Muslim consciousness and has had far-reaching consequences for Muslims in the U.S. and globally: anti-Muslim bias has skyrocketed; our communities–whether directly or indirectly impacted–are carrying compounding grief; and so many are unsure how current events will impact the upcoming election. Since October 7, several surveys have captured American public opinion on the situation, but the missing voice was that of religious groups, particularly Muslim and Jewish Americans, who are often perceived as on opposing sides of this crisis. 

As such, we at ISPU recognized the imperative to respond to our communities' emerging needs by doing what we do best: provide much-needed insight into issues impacting American Muslims. In addition to advancing ongoing research projects, we spent the first half of this year pursuing a new and much needed survey assessing the views of religious groups’ views on ceasefire. This survey resulted in a three-part analysis aimed at assessing views on issues related to a ceasefire, including support for politicians, experiences of discrimination, views on presidential job performance, support for aid for Israel, and more. The publication included the voices of Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, including white Evangelicals, and those not affiliated with a religious group, alongside the general public. All three analyses can be found here. 

 In late April, ISPU’s Director of Research, Saher Selod, and Senior Research Project Manager, Erum Ikramullah, hosted a webinar to share these findings with the public, which can be viewed here. Our efforts to disseminate the findings have continued; in June, Erum presented and discussed the findings in a webinar organized by ReThink Media.

We partnered with Islamic Schools League of America (ISLA) to understand the needs of educators in US Islamic Schools. 

In June, ISPU and the Islamic Schools League of America (ISLA) co-published a report that explores the landscape of teacher compensation, position vacancies, and teacher retention in full-time Islamic schools in the United States. This report aims to understand the factors that contribute to attracting and retaining qualified teachers in these schools, which play a crucial role in providing Muslim students with an educational alternative to U.S. public schools. The report also offers recommendations informed by the research to school administrators, teachers, and others working to ensure the success and development of full-time Islamic schools. We hosted a webinar to share the findings on July 17, attracting more than 240 registrants and 150 attendees.  

 

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ISPU Director of Development Farah Ali

Our research (and more!) continues to inspire thousands of leaders in communities and institutions.

So far this year, we have equipped more than 1,379 leaders from more than 963 institutions with new research and evidence based resources to help them do their work smarter and more effectively. Below, we share a few of the many wonderful testimonies we’ve received from leaders who are engaging with ISPU’s work as a means to drive meaningful change in their communities and institutions. 

Legislators reference our research to drive changes in public policy… 

California legislators recently approved Senate Bill 1080 (SB 1080), or the Halal and Kosher School Meals Act, which ensures that California schools with a significant population of students who require halal or kosher diets will provide these meal options. A press release published by Senator Josh Newman cites ISPU’s analysis on halal food preferences and food insufficiency among American Muslims.

Our research provides the basis of facts needed to move toward shared understanding and common purpose…

"I am a professor at the University of Michigan. We are using your research to advocate for DEI efforts to combat Islamophobia. Yours is one of those critical, unglamorous work that needs broader support to effect real change on the ground." - Syed Zahid, University of Michigan

"ISPU does invaluable research and work that has a direct impact on the lives of people. Our school is so grateful for their work because it fostered dialogue, deepened understanding, and strengthened bonds to move forward. Without accurate information, it is very difficult for people to distinguish fact from fiction, and ISPU's research is dependable.” - Coy Dailey, Director of Equity and Community Engagement at the Brearley School

Our research not only provides answers but also inspires deeper questions to be explored…

“I have had an excellent experience working with the ISPU on several research projects. It has given the interns in my lab, the Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology Lab at Stanford University, an opportunity to conduct, analyze and report on some very important topics touching Muslim communities such as COVID-19 and Muslim frontline health workers, suicide and substance abuse. Together, our work is making a difference and has very direct impact on the types of resources we are now able to produce for Muslim communities"  - Dr. Rania Awaad, Stanford University 

 

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Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories: Visions and Voices on display at Indiana University

We continue to reach thousands with our education efforts.

We use what we learn from our research to educate the general public and raise awareness, reaching thousands of people every year through in-person and digital education events, exhibits, and convenings, and millions more through media coverage citing ISPU’s research. And, to ensure we’re meeting our mission and growing while we do it, we meticulously track our impact. So far this year, we have educated more than 5,019 members of the general public directly through nearly 119 learning opportunities and educational presentations. More than 65,000 others have accessed research and evidence-based resources on our website. 

Notably, given the recent surge in Islamophobic rhetoric over the past several months, numerous institutions have approached ISPU as a trusted, go-to partner seeking workshops and trainings to educate individuals on and counteract Islamophobia. We’ve partnered with several schools, philanthropic organizations, and other community organizations working with impacted communities.

Here are just a few examples of various education efforts from this year so far:

  • On March 7, Asad Dandia delivered a workshop titled "Islamophobia: Causes, Cures & Community Building" to over 400 global employees at the Manhattan office of international law firm Dechert LLP. Asad shared insights from the perspective of American Muslims and was joined by Nahid Roshanali, Campaign Engagement Officer at Islamophobia Awareness Month, who provided the UK perspective on Islamophobia. Clinical Psychotherapist Jacquesline Walker concluded the session with a discussion on the mental health impacts of Islamophobia and strategies for becoming an upstander.

  • On March 19, Indiana University hosted the ISPU Photo Exhibition, "Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories." Saher Selod, ISPU’s Director of Research, and Alyssa Crain, one of our NAIMS participants, presented on the project during the grand opening iftar dinner.

  • On May 23rd, ISPU hosted a webinar titled "Crackdown Déjà Vu: New and Ongoing Threats to Muslim Nonprofits and NGOs." The panel featured Robert McCaw from CAIR, Gerald Fitzgerald from George Mason University, and Kia Hamadanchy from the ACLU. The event was attended by over 115 participants and has been the subject of multiple follow up discussions about the impact of this proposed legislation. 

  • In June, Erum shared ISPU’s research findings from the Ceasefire Survey on a panel titled “Exploring New Research on Americans’ perceptions of the war on Gaza” hosted and moderated by ReThink Media. The panel also featured Ella Wind, Director of Research at Public Wise, Margaret Zaknoen DeReus, Executive Director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), and Adrienne Lynett, Research Manager at ReThink Media. The discussion was moderated by Randa Wahbe, Director of the Rights & Inclusion Collaborative at ReThink Media.

  • On June 5, ISPU co-hosted the 2024 National American Muslim Policy Conference (NAMPC) in Washington, D.C., alongside MPAC, Emgage Action, American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), and the Muslim Civic Coalition. Powered by the Community Collaborative Initiative—a community-based action research project led by Indiana University's Lilly School of Philanthropy—the five organizations united to bring together policymakers, community leaders, and subject matter experts to address the pressing policy priorities and challenges confronting American Muslim communities and explore effective solutions. ISPU has been a coalition member since 2020, working through various partnership phases leading to the second National American Muslim Policy Conference. In addition to ISPU’s planning role, Tuqa Nusairat participated as a panelist on the "US Foreign Policy and Human Rights: A Call For Consistency" panel, and Petra Alsoofy moderated the "Islamophobia and Protecting Our Communities During a Time of Polarization" panel. The full conference panels can be accessed here.

  • On June 6-7, Saher gave two talks on Islamophobia to staff and faculty at Columbia University. The purpose of the talks were to educate those who interact with students on the history of Islamophobia and how it has been institutionalized in our society, highlighting the connections between this history and the spike in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism today.  

  • On June 27, Saher and Petra attended the Transnational Repression virtual briefing organized by the Coalition of South Asian Organizations. The briefing focused on issues related to transnational repression and hate crimes.
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ISPU's research is regularly cited in the media.

The media's role in shaping narratives that influence policy decisions, beliefs, and how we relate to one another has been a large part of the public discourse as we grapple with the ongoing crisis in Gaza and brace for election season. As such, now more than ever, it is evident that our commitment to equip journalists and media professionals with our deep well of scholarship enhances their reporting with research-backed data that amplifies Muslim voices and promotes understanding of American Muslim communities. So far in 2024 ISPU has been cited in more than 140 news articles. Below are a few examples of ISPU’s research weighing into critical issues our country and communities are grappling with. 

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ISPU Executive Director Tuqa Nusairat

We welcomed new leadership.

After nearly 10 years of service, our Executive Director Meira Neggaz, transitioned out of her role at the end of 2023. Nadia Ahmed, ISPU’s long standing Director of Finance and Operations, graciously assumed the role of Interim Executive Director as we continued the recruitment process. We are pleased to share that Tuqa Nusairat joined ISPU as our new Executive Director on May 6. Tuqa is an expert on U.S. policy in the Middle East and previously served as Director for Strategy, Operations, and Finance at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs. Read Tuqa’s full bio here. 

In addition to Meira’s transition, Dalia Mogahed also departed ISPU after almost a decade as Director of Research. She has remained on as a scholar and will author our upcoming research on elections. We are pleased to report that Dr. Saher Selod joined ISPU as the new Director of Research in January. Saher is an Associate Professor and former Chair of the Department of Sociology at Simmons University in Boston, MA. Her research expertise centers on the experiences of Muslims with surveillance. Since January, Saher has hit the ground running. In addition to authoring the two op-eds, she led the dissemination efforts for the Ceasefire Survey and hosted a webinar exploring the new and ongoing threats to Muslim nonprofits. Read Saher’s full bio here.

 

Arab American Heritage Month

We're looking ahead.

We have a number of exciting publications and initiatives on the horizon that you don’t want to miss. Take a sneak peek below at some of them!

  • 2024 American Muslim Voter Intentions and Policy Priorities: There are looming questions about how the current crisis in Gaza and the U.S. response to it will affect the 2024 U.S. elections, with political rhetoric alienating a wide swathe of Muslim and Arab voters as well as voters of other backgrounds. The repercussions are suspected to be significant, but there is as of yet no data on implications for American Muslim voters. This report will shed light on Muslim voter preferences and opinions compared to the general public in three swing states (Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan), including intention to vote in the 2024 presidential election, candidate preferences, policy priorities, how candidate policy positions impact electability, and political/civic engagement over the past year. Over the month of June, our team drafted and finalized the survey questions and our research partner has just finished fielding the poll. We’re excited to publish the findings in September in partnership with Emgage Foundation. 
  • A Landscape Analysis on American Muslim Civic Engagement and Policy Priorities: Later this summer, ISPU will release a landscape analysis on American Muslim civic engagement and policy priorities. Scheduled for publication in early September 2024, the paper includes research on American Muslim policy priorities and civic engagement. ISPU contributed to discussions on these issues at the National American Muslim Policy Conference (NAMPC) on June 5, 2024. 
  • Muslim Narratives in Popular Media: Muslim portrayals in popular media have evolved and diversified in the past 10 years, especially with the growth of streaming platforms, like Netflix, which allow for more varied content. However, even among streaming series, Islamophobic tropes continue to define Muslim characters, especially in storylines like Homeland, involving national security or law enforcement intersections with Muslim communities. ISPU’s Muslim Narratives in Popular Media project examines and quantifies the responses of American audiences of varying religious and cultural backgrounds to both the anti-Muslim tropes previous studies have documented, as well as more positive depictions, and the impact of these audience responses on viewers’ willingness to lend public support to anti-Muslim and undemocratic state policies. Over the coming year, we will finalize the data collection and analysis for this project, with a report on our findings slated for publication in early 2025.
  • Access to Healthcare Among Minoritized Muslims in Southeast Michigan: Michigan is home to one of America’s largest Muslim populations, at 2.75% of the state’s total population, with many making Southeast Michigan home. This project explores the unique challenges that Muslims in Southeast Michigan face in accessing health care and within the healthcare system, while also examining potential solutions that lead to equitable, less biased healthcare. The purpose of this community-engaged research study is to empower Muslims in Southeast Michigan with the knowledge and tools to advocate for accessible, equitable, unbiased, and quality health care in their communities. We have partnered with organizations serving some of the most vulnerable and minoritized Muslim communities living in Southeast Michigan, and expect to release the report in November.  

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