WHAT IS MAS PACE?
MAS-PACE is a division of the Muslim American Society (MAS) organized as a civic and educational organization. Its primary purpose is to conduct public relations, educate and mobilize the American Muslim community to participate in public affairs and civic activities on a non-partisan basis, and to activate a new generation of community activists.
MAS-PACE is a national grassroots Muslim American advocacy organization involved in the public affairs of the American society. MAS-PACE objective is to connect the American Muslim community with the society at large through a comprehensive empowerment process which includes public relations, civic engagement, political involvement, interfaith collaboration, coalition building, and media outreach with the ultimate objective of institutionalizing the civic engagement activities throughout the American Muslim community and within MAS local chapters.
MAS-PACE, through its organizational activities, contributes to the promotion of peace and social justice. It seeks to build an American Muslim community that is politically empowered, civically engaged, and able to contribute to the advancement of society, both in the United States and the world, as impacted by our nation and guided by Islamic values and beliefs.
MAS-PACE is a national grassroots Muslim American advocacy organization involved in the public affairs of the American society. MAS-PACE objective is to connect the American Muslim community with the society at large through a comprehensive empowerment process which includes public relations, civic engagement, political involvement, interfaith collaboration, coalition building, and media outreach with the ultimate objective of institutionalizing the civic engagement activities throughout the American Muslim community and within MAS local chapters.
MAS-PACE, through its organizational activities, contributes to the promotion of peace and social justice. It seeks to build an American Muslim community that is politically empowered, civically engaged, and able to contribute to the advancement of society, both in the United States and the world, as impacted by our nation and guided by Islamic values and beliefs.
Mission
To empower the American Muslim community and advance it to the forefront of involved citizenry through civic engagement, political participation, and interfaith collaboration.
Vision
To become a professional organization that actively leads the Muslim American community in public affairs and civic engagement. MAS-PACE provides a platform for American Muslims to become engaged as vital and valid elements of the American fabric.
To empower the American Muslim community and advance it to the forefront of involved citizenry through civic engagement, political participation, and interfaith collaboration.
Vision
To become a professional organization that actively leads the Muslim American community in public affairs and civic engagement. MAS-PACE provides a platform for American Muslims to become engaged as vital and valid elements of the American fabric.
MAS PACE ACTIVITIES
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ABOUT MAS
Established in 1993 as a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization, the Muslim American Society (MAS) is a charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational organization. Over the past two decades, MAS has expanded to more than 50 chapters across the United States. MAS offers unique programs and services that seek to better the individual and in turn, the greater society by imparting Islamic knowledge, promoting community service, engaging in political activism, and much more.
The organization is empowered by a unique chapter structure that is linked through a common mission and vision. By cooperating and collaborating with other organizations, MAS has expanded its reach into thousands of communities across the United States.
MAS various chapters and divisions had been active in civic engagement, interfaith collaboration and political affairs through different initiatives and programs across the nation.
These initiatives and programs empowered and organized Muslim American to be politically and civically engaged for positive change in their communities. Initiatives include: Mosque-based organizing networks, Civic education and activism workshops, Voter empowerment through registration and candidate forums, Advocacy training, Diversity training for social and government agencies, Muslim community leaders’ seminars.
It’s Training and Community Development programs provide extensive skill building through contracted or member-led workshops and courses in areas such as leadership, youth service delivery, civic engagement, public speaking, parenting, marital harmony, community service programming.
Some MAS is a recipient of a U.S. Federal Grant as part of the President’s Faith Based Initiative Program.
The organization is empowered by a unique chapter structure that is linked through a common mission and vision. By cooperating and collaborating with other organizations, MAS has expanded its reach into thousands of communities across the United States.
MAS various chapters and divisions had been active in civic engagement, interfaith collaboration and political affairs through different initiatives and programs across the nation.
These initiatives and programs empowered and organized Muslim American to be politically and civically engaged for positive change in their communities. Initiatives include: Mosque-based organizing networks, Civic education and activism workshops, Voter empowerment through registration and candidate forums, Advocacy training, Diversity training for social and government agencies, Muslim community leaders’ seminars.
It’s Training and Community Development programs provide extensive skill building through contracted or member-led workshops and courses in areas such as leadership, youth service delivery, civic engagement, public speaking, parenting, marital harmony, community service programming.
Some MAS is a recipient of a U.S. Federal Grant as part of the President’s Faith Based Initiative Program.
- MAS has trained more than 1,500 federal, state and local law enforcement officers in an outreach effort to build healthy relations between law enforcement and the American Muslim community. The Justice Department awarded the MAS Outreach Director for the quality of the trainings.
- Along with other national organizations, MAS participated in meetings with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to discuss joint efforts against domestic violent extremists, and to work with the government to address community concerns about DHS policies such as racial profiling.
- MAS was the first American Muslim organization to hold a Citizen Civil Rights Hearing on Capitol Hill. The Citizens Hearing was co-chaired by the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman John Conyers.
- MAS has trained more than 7,000 civic and community activists.
- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee recognized the outstanding services of “MAS Boots On The Ground,” a project that provided assistance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
- The MAS Service Corps Meat Project provides food for shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and other social service groups serving the poor.
- MAS was recognized by the Congressional Research Service in its September 2010 report to Congress for its positive programs dealing with youth on the key issues of extremism, and violence. It was also cited by CNN and other media resources for this key role with youth.
- MAS presented at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia in December 2009 and as a plenary speaker at an international conference on nuclear abolition, peace, and sustainable development in New York City in April 2010.
- MAS developed and distributed the first American Muslim “Four Year Legislative Agenda” for congressional staff members and representatives.
- MAS hosted a Muslim Community Action Forum with the Governor of Massachusetts, which more than 1,000 people attended.
- MAS leaders serve on numerous major nonprofit organizational boards and councils, including:
1. Steering Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations
2. Board of Advisors for the Harvard University Islam in the West Project 3. The Interfaith Alliance, Board of Interreligious Council for Public Life 4. Board of Center for Jewish Muslim Relations 5. Interfaith Workers Justice 6. Washington DC Mayor’s Office on Metropolitan Ministries 7. The Temple of Understanding (hosted by the United Nations). |