Deep Dives with ISPU

In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, American Muslim voters in swing states received unprecedented attention from mainstream media and policymakers. With concerns about the U.S. role in Gaza at the forefront, American Muslims significantly increased their civic engagement—mobilizing politically, forming coalitions, and shifting their support in ways that had the potential to reshape the electoral landscape.In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Imam Mika'il Stewart Saadiq (Imam, Muslim Center of Detroit), Linda Sarsour (Executive Director, Mpower Change), Dr. Yousseff Chouhoud (ISPU Scholar & Associate Professor, Christopher Newport University), and Salman Khan (PhD Candidate, Harvard University & Co-Founder, Muslim Campus Life) explore key questions: What lessons can be drawn from both coalition-building and the fragmentation of the Muslim vote? How can Muslims and other minority communities prepare for an incoming Trump administration? And can the student protest movement help mobilize a new generation of Muslim voters?

According to demographic data from ISPU's American Muslim Poll, 9% of Muslims in the United States are Latino, a steadily growing percentage. In previous research, ISPU found that Latinos have lower levels of Islamophobia than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States and the general public. These demographic trends, coupled with the lower levels of Islamophobia found among this population, motivated ISPU to conduct research to uncover the "whys" of these findings. The result, Latino Attitudes Toward American Muslims and Islam, was published in October 23 in partnership with IslamInSpanish.  In this episode, former ISPU Director of Research, Dalia Mogahed, interviews Jaime "Mujahid" Fletcher, CEO and Co-founder of IslamInSpanish, about the report findings and what we can glean from the report's dynamic focus groups.This episode of Deep Dives with ISPU is sponsored by Talem Consulting. Embark on a transformative journey with Talem Consulting through their intersectional and equity-based framework. Talem's mission is to build capacity, fundraise, and dismantle systems of inequity in the nonprofit sphere. Since 2011, Talem has empowered nonprofits with personalized solutions through organizational management, interim leadership, fundraising expertise, leadership coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. Discover how you can elevate your nonprofit to new heights and create a legacy of positive change by visiting www.TalemConsulting.com.Additional Resources:LANDING PAGE: Latino Attitudes Toward American Muslims and IslamREPORT: Latino Attitudes Toward American Muslims and IslamREPORT: Actitudes de los latinos hacia los musulmanes estadounidenses y el IslamIslamInSpanishDeep Dives with ISPU (2022 episode): Latino Muslims: A swiftly growing and adapting community (ENGLISH)Deep Dives with ISPU (2022 episode): Musulmanes latinos: una comunidad en rápido crecimiento y adaptación (ESPAÑOL)

In today's episode of Deep Dives with ISPU,  Executive Director, Meira Neggaz, sits down with SpearIt, former ISPU Scholar and current professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, to discuss a unique aspect of American Muslim life: Muslims in the U.S. prison system.Released in August of 2023, SpearIt's new book, Muslim Prisoner Litigation: An Unsung American Tradition, explores how incarcerated Muslims have historically and currently used legal action to exercise their rights to religious freedom and improve the conditions of their incarceration. Meira and SpearIt discuss the intricacies of prisoner litigation, as well as the demographics of Muslims in prison, how Muslims in prison have contributed to culture and social progress, and much more. Note:  Early in this episode, the number '1 million' is used to reference the number of adult American Muslims in the United States. The correct statistic is there are an estimated 2.15 million Muslim adults in the United States. In ISPU's research, when referencing the number of Muslims in the United States, we reference a 2017 demographic portrait from Pew Research Center. This portrait cites that there are an estimated 3.45 million Muslims in the United States, including 2.15 million Muslim adults. The link to the Pew survey can be found in the show notes of this episode. The link to this Pew survey can be found here:  https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/07/26/demographic-portrait-of-muslim-americans/Resources related to this episode:Get SpearIt's book, Muslim Prisoner Litigation: An Unsung American TraditionUniversity of California PressAmazonLearn more about SpearIt: https://www.law.pitt.edu/people/SpearItPew Research Center: Demographic portrait of Muslim Americans (2017)

Native Americans are often invisible in our public discussion of America, and even more so in any discussion of Muslims in the United States. There is an absence of awareness and lack of representation of Native American and Indigenous Muslims both in the broader US public and within the US Muslim community. Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories: Reclaiming the Narrative project (NAIMS), the first comprehensive study of its kind, is centered around spreading awareness of the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States.On this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, ISPU Director of Communications, Katherine Coplen, sits down with NAIMS Principal Investigator, Brennan McDaniel, to discuss the findings of the two-part NAIMS report. Brennan and Katherine last spoke in February 2022 on Deep Dives with ISPU to give a preview of what this research could look like. A year and a half later, this episode is part two of that conversation, and we're thrilled to have them back to discuss the findings now that the report is complete.Brennan is a PhD student in the American Studies department at Yale University. He received an MA from Columbia University in 2019 and a BA from Vassar College in 2017. Brennan's work is nested primarily between Islamic Studies and Native American/Indigenous Studies, and his research interests revolve around histories of ideas, emotions, and political economies among Muslim communities and tribal nations in North America.NAIMS: Visions and Voices is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. ISPU researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams.NAIMS: Trends and Treasures is a thematic report of the strengths and struggles of Native American and Indigenous Muslims. It draws on the narratives of participants in the Visions and Voices portion, as well as on a series of focus groups with Native American and Indigenous people of other faiths and no faith.For more content like this, follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to access a vast repository of research. Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a 5-star review to ensure we can produce more conversations like this one.

In recent years, Muslim individuals, businesses, and nonprofits have reported facing potentially discriminatory practices at some of the nation's largest banks. As part of our American Muslim Poll 2022, we published an analysis on the experiences of Banking While Muslim. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, ISPU Executive Director Meira Neggaz interviews Banking While Muslim author Dr. Youssef Chouhoud and Chris Blauvelt, CEO and founder of LaunchGood, to discuss these experiences and findings.Youssef Chouhoud is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Christopher Newport University, where he is affiliated with the Reiff Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. Prior to joining CNU, Dr. Chouhoud was a Provost's Fellow at the University of Southern California, where he received his Ph.D. Youssef's work has been published in the journal Politics and Religion, the Oxford Handbook of Polling and Survey Methods, and, most recently, the British Journal of Political Science.Chris Blauvelt is a passionate Muslim American entrepreneur committed to building up the global Muslim community to reach its full potential. Chris is the CEO & founder of LaunchGood.com, the world's largest faith-inspired crowdfunding platform and in 10 years LaunchGood has raised over $370 million across 153 countries from 1+ million donors. LaunchGood has captured global attention through its bridge-building crowdfunding campaigns that spurred Muslims to rebuild Black churches, repair desecrated Jewish cemeteries, and support families of the New Zealand mosque attacks. Resources related to this episode:Full analysis: Banking While MuslimAmerican Muslim Poll 2022LaunchGood

In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, ISPU Executive Director Meira Neggaz, in conversation with Imam Saffet Catovic, a long-time US Muslim community organizer/activist and environmental leader, discuss the hotly debated topic of climate change. Opinions about causes of and solutions to climate change were one of several hot button topics covered in our American Muslim Poll 2022, and this conversation sought to expand upon these findings, as well as dig into how faith communities and leaders may choose to think about and approach solutions to climate change. Additional resources related to this topics:ISPU Climate Change analysisISPU American Muslim Poll 2022

Fielded between mid-February and mid-March, American Muslim Poll 2022: A Politics and Pandemic Status Report provides a snapshot of American Muslims and Americans of other faiths as well as no faith two years into the COVID-19 pandemic as we enter a new phase of living with the virus. In its sixth installment, this poll presents an updated demographic profile of American Muslims, measured the Islamophobia Index, and expands on areas of study of institutional and individual Islamophobia and bullying to cover not only “brick and mortar” engagements but online spaces.On this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Director of Communications, Katherine Coplen, interviews Dalia Mogahed, ISPU's Director of Research and the poll's co-author, on the poll's research processes and findings.Related resources to this episode:American Muslim Poll 2022

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Ashley Wolford's (Choctaw) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Mahasin Salim's (Nipmuc) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Ed Sanders's (Occaneechi Band) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Siddeeqah Sharif's (Chickasaw and Blackfoot Cherokee) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Xade Wharton-Ali's (Mescalero Apache) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Amor Crey's (Nahua, Otomi, Huichol, Wixaritari, Tarahumara, Purépecha) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Kayla Cyrus's (Tuscarora and Waccamaw Siouan) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Diana Itawi's (Monacan Indian Nation) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Hussein Itawi's (Monacan Indian Nation) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Sabrina Itawi's (Monacan Indian Nation) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Sommer Itawi's (Monacan Indian Nation) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Megan Kalk's (Ojibwe) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Alethea Redclay's (Mescalero Apache) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from LaTanya Barlow's (Dineh and Chiricahua-Apache) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Dr. Maryam Blackeagle's (Miami Tribe and Wea Tribe of Indiana) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams. Listen to an audio clip from Alyssa Crain's (Oglala Lakota) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Visions and Voices, the first publication from ISPU's Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS): Reclaiming the Narrative project, is the first-ever photo narrative project to center the lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Muslims in the United States. This research amplifies Indigenous Muslim voices to highlight the challenges, strengths, and needs of this small but incredibly diverse community.ISPU Researchers conducted 17 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Native American Muslims over a period of six months. Interviews explored identity, ways to navigate multiple marginalized communities, and insights into participants' struggles, hopes, and dreams.Here, listen to an audio clip from David Ball's (Oklahoma Chockataw) story, excerpted from the interview. Explore the full project: ispu.org/naims-visions-and-voices.The research team for NAIMS: Reclaiming the Narrative includes: Brennan McDaniel, Principal Investigator, Ph.D. student, Yale University.Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and UnderstandingDr. Nida Ahmad, Research Associate, independent researcher and consultantHuda Rahman, Research Associate, undergraduate student, Vassar CollegeNura Maznavi, writer and editorAyesha Mattu, writer and editorMaha Elsinbawi, Research Project Manager, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Since the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems, and the burden of care for the nearly unprecedented volume of patients has fallen on the shoulders of healthcare workers (HCWs). To understand how American Muslim HCWs working in the United States have been impacted by this stress, and how they have been coping with it, the Mental Health of Muslim Healthcare Workers (MHMHW) study surveyed nearly 700 American Muslim HCWs about one year into the pandemic. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU,  Dr. Rania Awaad joins ISPU's Petra Alsoofy to dive into the findings and recommendations of the MHMHW study. Dr. Awaad is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab and served as MHMHW's primary investigator and co-author.Additional resources related to this episode:Report: Mental Health of Muslim Healthcare WorkersISPU Mental Health ToolkitStanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology LabISPU scholar profile: Dr. Rania Awaad

2022 marks 20 years of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU)—20 years of research making an impact, of working towards an America where Muslims are thriving and equal. One thing that has remained consistent over the past two decades is the various groups of committed and visionary people who help shepherd ISPU's community into the future.Today on Deep Dives with ISPU, you'll hear from one of the people most instrumental in ISPU's past and ongoing success, Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi, ISPU's Board Chair Emeritus. In this episode, Dr. Hamzavi shares about the  conversations that were happening 20 years ago that led to the formation of ISPU, what changes he has observed along the way, and what he hopes to see in the future. This interview is conducted by ISPU's Executive Director, Meira Neggaz.Resources related to this episode:ISPU Board of Directors leadership resources20 years of ISPUTickets to ISPU's 20th Anniversary Picnic on September 17ISPU American Muslim Poll 2022

Illinois is one of the most diverse and representative states in the nation, encompassing communities of every race, class, and background. It is also home to the largest per capita Muslim population in the nation. A snapshot of Illinois' Muslims is a snapshot of America's Muslims, so understanding the needs and assets of this population is key to ensuring Illinois becomes an even more equitable, inclusive state. Launched July 2022, the Illinois Muslims: Needs, Assets, and Opportunities report presents an empirical assessment of the strengths and struggles of the Illinois Muslim community, with a comparison to the Illinois general public. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, you'll hear about this groundbreaking research from ISPU's Director of Research, Dalia Mogahed, in conversation with Dr. Dilara Sayeed, President of Strategy and Partnerships at the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition, and Dr. Joseph Hoereth, report co-author and Director at the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement. The report was convened by the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition, with research conducted by the Institute for Social Policy, and the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Additional resources:Illinois Muslims: Needs, Assets, and Opportunities - access the reportIllinoisMuslims.orgIllinois Muslim Civic CoalitionInstitute for Policy and Civic Engagement at the University of Illinois, Chicago (IPCE UIC)

In August 2022, ISPU will release our 6th American Muslim Poll. After moving from an annual to biennial poll between 2020 and 2022, our research team has honed on the pressing topics related to American Muslim communities today. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Executive Director Meira Neggaz is in conversation with our Research Project Manager, Erum Ikramullah, for a one-of-a-kind early look into the upcoming poll, including what goes into creating such a robust publication, to early findings on topics like vaccine uptake and abortion legality.You can review early findings from the upcoming poll at: ispu.org/public-policy/american-muslim-poll-2022/

On this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Director of Research Dalia Mogahed interviews ISPU Scholar Dr. Hadia Mubarak about her new book, Rebellious Wives, Neglectful Husbands: Controversies in Modern Qur'anic Commentaries. They discuss findings from the book, tying in assumptions and ISPU research about Muslim women and divorce in the Muslim community. Dr. Mubarak is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Queens University of Charlotte. She previously served as Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Guilford College and as a Research Fellow at New York University-Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Rebellious Wives, Neglectful Husbands: Controversies in Modern Qurʾanic Commentaries  explores significant shifts in modern Qurʾanic commentaries on the subject of women against the backdrop of broader historical, intellectual and political developments in twentieth-century North Africa.Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU today, and leave us a review so we can continue to produce important conversations like this. Follow ISPU on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with our work and subscribe to our email newsletter where we release information about our reports and resources.Purchase Dr. Mubarak's book:Oxford University PressAmazonAdditional resources: ISPU research on divorceDr. Hadia Mubarak's ISPU Scholar page, including publications on domestic violence and American Muslim youth 

In the spring of 2021, ISPU Executive Director Meira Neggaz appeared on Nonprofit Nuggets, a podcast by former ISPU board member M. Gasby Brown, to discuss leadership qualities in nonprofit spaces.On today's episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, we're adding to this conversation. Meira and Gasby discuss insights on board fundraising using ISPU as a case study. This is pulled from the newly published Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, 5th Edition, which Gasby contributed to. With these insights, ISPU hopes to equip other organizations and boards with strategies to shape their own board fundraising efforts.Additional resources:Purchase Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, 5th EditionISPU Board Leadership resources

In our 2020 American Muslim Poll, we found that one in three American Muslims has an immediate family member with a disability, which is roughly the same of every other faith community we studied.  In March 2022, ISPU went through a staff inclusivity and sensitivity training, an assessment of our materials, and more, with help from MUHSEN—an organization that provides programs and services to improve the experience within mosques, and engender positive communities, for those with disabilities. We are honored to now be a MUHSEN-certified nonprofit organization able to provide services and accommodations for those with special needs.On today's episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, ISPU's Outreach and Partnerships Manager, Petra Alsoofy, is joined by Joohi Tahir, Co-founder and Executive Director of MUHSEN, for a discussion on accessibility and disability in American Muslim communities. There is a transcription available for this episode.Additional Resources:MUHSENAccessibility requests and feedback for ISPUAmerican Muslim Poll 2020 analysis: One in Three Muslims Has An Immediate Family Member with a Disability

Cuando Jaime "Mujahid" Fletcher abrazó el Islam, le llamó la atención la falta de materiales en español sobre su fe. Junto con su padre y otros, dirigió la producción de más de 300 audiolibros en español sobre el Islam, incluido el Corán, para educar a los latinos de todo el mundo sobre el Islam. De este esfuerzo nació IslamInSpanish, una organización en la que Jaime se desempeña como director ejecutivo y cofundador.En este episodio de Deep Dives con ISPU, Jaime "Mujahid" Fletcher está en conversacion con la directora ejecutiva de ISPU, Meira Neggaz, sobre los aspectos únicos de los musulmanes latinos, cómo la historia informa las identidades interseccionales de los musulmanes latinos y la importancia de la comunicación accesible en espanol para informar la communidad sobre el Islam.Próximamente, ISPU, junto con IslaminSpanish, realizará una investigación que profundice en un punto de datos que descubrimos en nuestra Encuesta musulmana estadounidense de 2019 hecho por ISPU. Esta encuesta descubrió que los latinos en los estados unidos demuestran menos islamofobia como medido en nuestra índice de islamofobia en comparación a otros grupos raciales y étnicos estudiados. También encontró que como grupo los latinos son más probables de tener amigos que sean musulmanes. Recursos Adicionales:2019 Encuesta de Musulmanes en los Estados UnidosIslamInSpanishA NOTAR: Este episodio también está disponible en inglés y se puede encontrar aquí.PLEASE NOTE: This episode is also available in English, and can be found here.

*A NOTAR: Este episodio también está disponible en español y se puede encontrar aquí.---------When Jaime "Mujahid" Fletcher embraced Islam, he was struck by the lack of materials in the Spanish language about his faith.  Together with his father and others, he steered the production of over 300 audiobooks in Spanish about Islam, including the Qur'an, to educate Latinos worldwide about Islam. Out of this effort, IslamInSpanish was born, an organization where Mujahid serves as CEO and Co-Founder.In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Jaime "Mujahid" Fletcher is in conversation with ISPU Executive Director Meira Neggaz about the unique aspects of Latino Muslims, how the convergence of history informs Latino Muslims' identities, and the importance of language-driven accessibility in educating others about Islam.ISPU's upcoming partnership with IslamInSpanish will dive into a data point discovered in our 2019 American Muslim Poll, which showed that Hispanic Americans score significantly lower on the Islamophobia Index than other racial and ethnic groups studied. In fact, our poll found Hispanic Americans are 5x as likely to hold favorable opinions of Muslims as they are to have negative attitudes.Additional Resources:2019 American Muslim PollIslamInSpanishPLEASE NOTE: This episode is also available in Spanish and can be found here.

In 2021, ISPU welcomed Brennan McDaniel to the ISPU team as the primary investigator for a new study, Exploring Native American and Indigenous Muslim Stories (NAIMS). In today's episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Brennan shares the importance of exploring the vital and too little-known stories of Native American and Indigenous Muslims, and where this project is heading. He is interviewed by ISPU's Director of Communications, Katherine Coplen.Brennan is a PhD student in the American Studies department at Yale University. He received an MA from Columbia University in 2019 and a BA from Vassar College in 2017. Brennan's work is nested primarily between Islamic Studies and Native American/Indigenous Studies, and his research interests revolve around histories of ideas, emotions, and political economies among Muslim communities and tribal nations in North America. We are currently recruiting participants for NAIMS. Please contact naims@ispu.org for more information or explore our recruitment form: ispu.org/naimsparticipants.For more content like this, follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to access a vast repository of research. Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a 5-star review to ensure we can produce more conversations like this one.

This week on Deep Dives with ISPU, Director of Research Dalia Mogahed interviews ISPU Scholar Dr. Sahar Aziz about her new book The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes Religious Freedom. Their conversation dives into how the past informs the present: modern anti-Muslim discrimination compared to historical prejudicial treatment, the complications of the United States's aspirations for religious freedom, and the country's transformation into a multiracial and multireligious societyWhere you can find The Racial Muslim by Dr. Sahar Aziz:Purchase on University of California PressPurchase on Barnes & NoblePurchase on AmazonREAD: The Racial Muslim Q&A on Time with Dr. Aziz, interviewed by Sanya MansoorYou can learn more about Dr. Aziz's work at on her ISPU Scholar page, on her Rutgers University faculty page, and on her Twitter.For more content like this, follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to access a vast repository of research. Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a 5-star review to ensure we can produce more conversations like this one.

The years following the 2016 US presidential elections witnessed an unprecedented increase in Muslim American political candidacies. In her research, Masooma Haider, our 2021 Young Scholar Awards second-place winner, examines the rise in Muslim American civic participation and the possibility of a crucial shift in political identities between first and second generation Muslim Americans. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Haider delves into the findings of her research project: “The New Muslim Representatives: Analyzing the Unprecedented Rise in Muslim American Civic Participation after 2016” with ISPU Outreach and Partnerships Manager, Petra Alsoofy. ISPU resources on American Muslim civic engagement and participation:ISPU American Muslim PollElections Toolkit: Resources for Political Engagement OrganizersReport: American Muslim Civic Engagement in the 2016 Election and BeyondInfographicsBuilding Political CoalitionsUnderstanding the American Muslim VoterYou can learn more about Masooma Haider's work at ispu.org/young-scholar-awards. For more content like this, follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to access a vast repository of research. Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a 5-star review to ensure we can produce more conversations like this one.

Individual experiences of anti-Muslim discrimination in the United States lead to significant impacts on health and well-being. Dr. Naheed Ahmed, our 2021 Young Scholar Awards third-place winner, developed scales to better understand and measure the health impacts of perceived anti-Muslim discrimination in the United States. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Dr. Ahmed delves into the findings of her research project: “Measurement of Perceived Interpersonal and Societal Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the United States” with ISPU Director of Communications Katherine Coplen. This vital conversation will provide understanding on why it is important to measure Islamophobia and the implications of associated negative health impacts across diverse American Muslim communities.ISPU resources on anti-Muslim discrimination:ISPU American Muslim PollCountering and Dismantling Islamophobia Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide for Individuals and OrganizationsMental Health Toolkit: Resources for Muslim Mental Healthcare AdvocatesResearch mentioned in this episode:Suicide Attempts of Muslims Compared With Other Religious Groups in the US (JAMA Psychiatry)You can learn more about Dr. Ahmed's work at ispu.org/young-scholar-awards. For more content like this, follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to access a vast repository of research. Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a 5-star review to ensure we can produce more conversations like this one.

When the US Mosque Survey was launched more than 20 years ago, mosques and Muslims in America were heavily discussed in the public square—but there were few sources of data to draw from. In the ensuing two decades, these surveys have filled a critical gap, answering questions like: how many mosques are there in the United States compared to previous decades, and where are they? Why has there been a substantive decrease in the number of African American mosques and attendees? What is the role of women in mosque attendance and leadership? These, and more, are topics and key findings from the US Mosque Survey 2020, a two-part survey written by Dr. Ihsan Bagby and published in collaboration with ISPU, the Center on Muslim Philanthropy, and the Islamic Society of North America. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, ISPU Director of Research Dalia Mogahed and Dr. Bagby discuss the state of American mosques in 2020. Released in the summer of 2021, the US Mosque Survey 2020 was covered in outlets such as the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Religion News Service, Al Jazeera, and more. Read and learn more about this important  survey at: ispu.org/mosque-survey.Follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to sign up for our mailing list and for more of our research and educational opportunities. Don't forget to subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU and leave us a 5-star review if you support the dissemination of crucial research like the US Mosque Survey 2020.

When it comes to inclusive storytelling, writers, directors, and film industry executives are well-served by using research to guide the authentic crafting of diverse characters and worlds—including Muslim characters and storylines. Today on Deep Dives with ISPU, we're presenting a conversation between filmmaker Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter, Flora & Ulysses) and actor Rizwan Manji (Schitt's Creek, The Tiger Hunter, Outsourced). During our 2021 annual banquet, the pair, who worked together on Lena's 2018 film The Tiger Hunter, discussed Lena's experiences as a storyteller in Hollywood, the difficulty of separating “Muslim” and “filmmaker” as an identity, and why Hollywood would greatly benefit from using research about American Muslims when making decisions about the characters and stories in film and television today.You can help ensure ISPU can continue producing research that transforms industries like the film industry by subscribing to, rating, and sharing Deep Dives with ISPU. Stay in touch with our latest research at ispu.org, on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, and Instagram @the_ISPUPlease note: this episode's audio was taken from a large, recorded Zoom meeting. Therefore, the quality may not be as strong as our other episodes, which are recorded with the primary intention of being produced into a podcast format. Thank you for understanding!

Stand-up comedy is a performance art often associated with personal expressions of culture and identity. When examining the content of comedians like Aziz Ansari, Kumail Nanjiani, and Hasan Minhaj, Dr. Samah Choudhury argues that these men step into their Muslim identities through the language and (hostile implications) of racialization. In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Dr. Samah Choudhury and ISPU Director of Research Dalia Mogahed discuss Dr. Choudhury's research: “What make humor Muslim?” for which she was awarded first place in ISPU's 2021 Young Scholar Awards competition.You can learn more about Dr. Choudhury's work at samahchoudhury.com. For more content like this, follow ISPU on Twitter and Facebook @theISPU, on Instagram @the_ISPU, and visit our website to access a vast repository of research. Subscribe to Deep Dives with ISPU wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a 5-star review to ensure we can release more conversations like this one.

Welcome to Deep Dives with ISPU—a podcast by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization that provides objective research and education about American Muslims to support well-informed dialogue and decision-making.This podcast will provide deep dives into the most recent and pressing research about the topics and issues affecting American Muslim communities today. We interview scholars and community leaders on topics ranging from the current state of American mosques, to what makes humor "Muslim," and much more. Subscribe today, and you'll be notified of our first batch of episodes when we launch early next month, December 2021.Learn more about our work: ispu.org