American Society for Muslim Advancement

MISSION:

The American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) is a New-York based nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to elevate the discourse on Islam and foster environments in which Muslims thrive. We are dedicated to strengthening an authentic expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony through interfaith collaboration, youth and women’s empowerment, and arts and cultural exchange.

VALUES:

We believe all human beings are created equal. We are guided by compassion and mercy to work in collaboration with others for the common good to create just and peaceful societies.

STRATEGY:

We pursue our mission through five strategies: we educate, incubate, advocate, organize, and mobilize, as follows:

1. Educate. We provide accessible and reliable information about Islamic theology, law, and societies, as well as media and leadership training.
2. Incubate. We pilot new approaches to solving enduring challenges facing the global Muslim community.
3. Advocate. We promote collaboration in pursuit of an ethical and equitable Islam.
4. Organize. We showcase Muslim arts as an important vehicle for cross-cultural understanding and sponsor interfaith events that foster harmony.
5. Mobilize. We convene leaders and support their efforts in addressing pressing issues.

HISTORY:

ASMA has enjoyed a distinguished and respected ten-year track record as a highly effective catalytic organization. We experience tremendous responsiveness to our work, which resonates with Muslims and non-Muslims.

We have continually adapted our programs and strategies, while remaining faithful to our core mission. In order to achieve the greatest possible global impact, we are scaling up each of our existing programs. We build our capacity with rigorous adherence to strategic organizational development and dedicated commitment to systematic and transparent planning, implementation, and evaluation.

ASMA’s approach is wholly inclusive, and we collaborate with leaders and activists from every faith in creating holistic programs, products, and services. Our program participants, partners, and employees represent a wide spectrum of religions, ethnicities, professions, ages, and genders.

ASMA is shaping and inspiring a truly transformative movement. We are proud to play one of the most critical roles for the 21st Century.

PROGRAMS:

Driven by its mission and core values, ASMA has created five inter- and intra-faith programs.

Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow: We cultivate and empower a global network of young Muslim leaders, creating a platform that can maximize their collective impacts as social change agents.

Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equity: We build a cohesive, global movement of Muslim women that will reclaim women’s rights in Islam, enabling them to make dignified choices and fully participate in creating just and flourishing societies.

ASMA Media: We promote an accurate, contextual, and balanced portrayal of Islam and Muslims, providing responsive and reliable information to media outlets and the general public.

Arts and Culture: We highlight the artistic contributions of Muslims to contemporary American culture and world civilizations, evoking the universal language of beauty and inspiring rich cultural exchanges.

Interfaith: We collaborate with other faith-based organizations to build relationships of trust through dialogue and education, honoring the diversity of faiths, sharing commonalities, and celebrating differences.