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Salaam, and welcome to our October 2018 newsletter! Here's what we have been up to last month:
Pittsburgh Vigil at the White House Members of Poligon's executive board came together with fellow community members to pay their respects and rally for victims of Pittsburgh at the White House. 11 Jewish worshippers were killed last week in what was charged as a hate crime at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over $200,000 has been raised by Muslims and allies for the victims in an online campaign. ISPU American Muslim Poll Poligon is joining with American Indivisible in funding two new questions on civic engagement to be added to ISPU's American Muslim Poll in 2019. The questions are to measure Muslim American political engagement. Other organizations that are also partnering include the Council on American Islamic Relations, Emgage, Islamic Society of North America, MPower Change, and Muslim Public Affairs Council. To learn more check out: https://www.ispu.org/public-policy/american-muslim-poll/ Movement Voter Project + Pillars GOTV Grant Poligon is honored to be one of the recipients of the Pillars and the Movement Voter Project Grant. The two organizations partnered to distribute $25,000 in mini-grants to 11 community organizations mobilizing American Muslim voters. See their full list of grantees and learn more about the Movement Voter Project Muslim Voter Fund. Past Events Poligon's own President, Wardah Khalid, had the opportunity to attend MPAC's Empowering Voices Award. The evening was in support of fellow American Muslim leaders and government partners who have grown to better work together to reinforce the necessity of civic and political engagement and representation. Khalid also had the opportunity to attend Emgage Action's Virginia Fall Gala. The Gala featured Mehdi Hassan as one of the speakers and Michael Avenatti as their keynote speaker. Poligon's Afif Rahman had the pleasure of being one of the panelists for the Muppies' Let's Talk Midterms event in Washington D.C. Fellow panelist included Yasmine Taeb, Zaki Barzinji, and Marcus Goodwin as they addressed issues and answered questions regarding the upcoming election. Hill Happenings We've been keeping you up-to-date of the latest on Capitol Hill with our Hill Happenings going straight to your inboxes every Friday. October 19, 2018: Midterm Election Voter Turnout Could Hit 50-Year High, Bill to fight the opioid crisis, Congress refuses to fund border wall between US and Mexico, Congress fails to pass a new Farm Bill. October 28, 2018: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Points Finger at Congress for Polarizing Judicial Confirmations, the Water Infrastructure bill passes, improvements to Medicare payment system for genetic counseling. Interesting in having a Training Session? Poligon's interactive workshops cover how policy is made in Congress, navigating a Congressman's office, and best practices for conducting an in-person office visit and attending a town hall meeting. Our calendar is filling up fast so submit your requests soon! To request a training in your area, email us at [email protected]. Stay active,Wardah, Afif, Nadia, Aksa, and the Poligon team Salaam, and welcome to our September 2018 newsletter! See below for what we were up to last month: Strategy Retreat Poligon's executive board met to discuss organization operations and exciting programs so stay tuned for details! Poligon's executive board met to discuss organization operations and exciting programs through mid-2019. Stay tuned for details! Advocacy Organization Exchange The Poligon team met with other Muslim advocacy organizations in Washington D.C to discussed pre and post-midterm strategies on engaging the community with their respective elected officials. We are excited to host more of these types of dialogues to encourage further collaboration and exchange of ideas. Introducing Our New Board Member Welcome our new Media Director, Aksa Asgher! Aksa has recently completed her MBA from La Salle University specializing in Marketing and has previous work experience in the field. We excited to have her on board! Upcoming Event Join us, in partnership with MPower Change, for a conversation on best practices for running and participating in a town hall and listening sessions tomorrow October 2 2pm PDT/5PM EDT via Facebook Live. Refer to MPower Change Facebook page for the webinar link, or click the image below. Interesting in having a Training Session? Poligon's interactive workshops cover how policy is made in Congress, navigating a Congressman's office, and best practices for conducting an in-person office visit and attending a town hall meeting. Our calendar is filling up fast so submit your requests soon! To request a training in your area, email us at [email protected]. Stay active,Wardah, Afif, Nadia, Aksa, and the Poligon team Salaam, and welcome to our June 2018 newsletter! See below for what we were up to last month, as well as our upcoming events:
Poligon Reacts to SCOTUS Ruling Upholding Muslim Ban 3.0 Poligon rallied outside the Supreme Court after its decision to uphold President Trump's Muslim Ban 3.0. The fight continues. Watch Poligon's livestream of the protest here. You can also see Poligon's President, Wardah Khalid, and Development Director, Ayesha Syed Ali, break down what the decision means from their live recorded reaction video in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Poligon Co-Sponsors #FamiliesBelongTogetherMarch Poligon team members marched alongside thousands in Washington D.C. in solidarity to end family separations and detention. Poligon is proud to have co-sponsored the event alongside other allies and faith-based organizations. See what Poligon's Development Director, Ayesha Syed Ali, had to say while attending the protest Poligon Resumes Trainings Around the Country Now that Ramadan has passed, Poligon will be resuming our Congressional Advocacy 101 Trainings in communities across the country. To schedule a training in your community in this critical election year, please email: [email protected] Upcoming Events: Poligon President, Wardah Khalid, will be a keynote speaker at thePlatform Convention on July 14-16. You can purchase tickets here. Stop by our booth at ISNA! More details coming soon. Poligon will be presenting at the following sessions, Aug. 2-4: From Protest to Policy Change: Congressional Advocacy 101 The Trump Threat Level: Resisting Dangerous National Security and Foreign Policy Interfaith 2.0: Harnessing the Power of Interfaith Advocacy for Progress In The News: Press Release: Poligon Condemns Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Muslim Ban Faith Leaders and Faith Groups Support Bipartisan Senate Farm Bill. Check out the statement by Poligon's Acting Executive Director, Afif Rahman, in support of the Senate Farm Bill. Wardah Khalid in Vox: Trump White House under fire after lack of Muslim-American representation at Ramadan celebration Wardah Khalid in ABC7 WJLA: Hundreds gather at Supreme Court to protest decision to uphold travel ban Wisconsin Public Radio: SCOTUS Upholds Trump's Travel Ban (Wardah Khalid begins speaking at 30:41) Weekly Hill Happenings: We've been keeping you up-to-date of the latest on Capitol Hill with our Hill Happenings going straight to your inboxes every Friday. June 08, 2018: Families Facing Rent Increases, President's Authority on Tariffs, Bipartisan Prison Reform Bill, White House Signs Law to Expand Veteran Healthcare June 22, 2018: House Republicans Delay "Comprehensive" Immigration Vote Again, Democrats Introduce Bills to End Family Separation at Border, House Budget Committee, Senate Passes Resolution Recognizing Muslim American Contributions June 29, 2018: Farm Bill, GOP "Compromise" Immigration Bill Fails, Bill to Increase State Control over Federal Education Funding, Bill to Curb Workplace Harassment Action Alert: Help Immigrant Children Separated from Parents at the Border! Stay active,Wardah, Ayesha, Afif, Nadia, Farah, and the Poligon team Salaam, and welcome to our May newsletter! See below for what we were up to this month, as well as our upcoming events:
#MuslimsAgainstHunger Day Poligon helped coordinate #MuslimsAgainstHunger Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, joined by interfaith coalition partner orgs: Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Bread for the World, MAZON, FCNL, Islamic Relief USA, Network Lobby. A Ramadan of action to protect the SNAP program (previously known as food stamps) from cuts in the Farm Bill. This photo was taken after a productive meeting with Senate Ag Democrats. Watch here as Poligon and Islamic Society of North America talk about why #MuslimsAgainstHunger Day is crucial at this time. Rooftop Iftar in DC Poligon hosted our first iftar in Washington DC and it was a huge success. Community members came out to support the work we've been doing at Poligon and hear how they can get involved with our upcoming plans for the year. You can watch the live video of the event here. Houston Iftar Poligon President Wardah Khalid traveled to Houston and met with community members for iftar to discuss the incredible progress Poligon has made over the last year. Emgage Action Hill Day Training Poligon's Wardah Khalid and Afif Rahman put on a training for Emgage Action for their Hill Day on May 7th. This training focused on how to execute an office visit when meeting with representatives in Congress. Poligon Speaks at #HandsOffSNAP Rally Poligon's Afif Rahman spoke in front of Capitol Hill alongside various faith leaders to tell Congress that SNAP works and restricting access for families to have food goes against our values. Interfaith Vigil to Oppose HR2 and Protect SNAP Poligon acting Executive Director, Afif Rahman, with Representative James E. Clyburn (SC-06), who organized the interfaith vigil on Capitol Hill where members of Congress and various faith leaders spoke out to protect SNAP and say NO to HR2. Poligon Visits with Students from Al Hamra Academy Poligon's Afif Rahman spoke with the awesome 8th graders at Al Hamra Academy in Massachusetts about Poligon's work and the importance of Muslim Americans in politics and advocacy. We're guessing some of these kids might become members of Congress some day! Moms Summit Poligon attended a Moms Summit hosted by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Representative Robin Kelly, and Representative Pramila Jayapal addressing the needs and struggles of moms and families. The summit mainly focused on health of working families, especially in today's economy with tax cuts and gun violence. Meet Our New Legislative Fellow Welcome Poligon's new Legislative Fellow, Niha Razi! Niha previously interned at the American Civil Liberties Union, focusing on international and domestic policies concerning economic justice, education, housing, voting rights, and environmental justice. She also worked as project lead at the International Human Rights Clinic at her law school and predominantly addressed immigration reforms and drafting amicus curiae briefs. Upcoming Events: Poligon will be attending these upcoming events- 55th Annual ISNA Convention - http://www.isna.net/convention/ Netroots Nation Conference - https://www.netrootsnation.org/ In The News: Press Releaser: Poligon Celebrates Defeat of the House Farm Bill! "SNAP is a tremendously effective program against hunger and poverty, serving nearly 42 million Americans and lifting up 8 million people out of poverty on an annual basis. In this holy month of Ramadan, we are reminded that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'He who fills his stomach while his neighbor next door goes hungry, is not a believer.'" - Afif Rahman, Poligon Acting Executive Director. KGET-TV NBC: National Faith Leaders Call On Congress to Reject SNAP Cuts Press Release: Muslim and Christian Leaders Mark the Start of Ramadan by Denouncing SNAP Cuts Press Release: Prominent National Clergy Urge Lawmakers to Reject Cuts to SNAP and Prioritize Families Weekly Hill Happenings: We've been keeping you up-to-date of the latest on Capitol Hill with our Hill Happenings going straight to your inboxes every Friday. May 11, 2018: Poligon Joins Faith Leaders Urging Congress to Protect SNAP, Resolution to Recognize American Muslim History and Contributions Introduced, Gina Haspel, CIA Director Nominee, Testifies before Congress, Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, Workplace Democracy Act May 18, 2018: Senate confirms Gina Haspel as the first female CIA director, The US Senate votes to restore the FCC's net-neutrality rules, The Senate rejects "Penny Plan.", House votes to weaken Consumer Protections, Protect and Serve Act of 2018 May 25, 2018: Poligon Leads #MuslimsAgainstHunger Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, House Farm Bill Fails, Rollback of Banking Regulations becomes Law, Senate Passes Bill Making Lawmakers Personally Liable for Sexual Harassment Settlements, FAITH in Congress Act Support Poligon this Ramadan: Poligon Education Fund is holding a Ramadan fundraising campaign to raise the funds required to carry out important congressional advocacy 101 trainings during this critical election year for Muslim Americans to be able to amplify their voices in Congress. Make a zakat eligible donation to support our work today! Click here to visit our Launchgood Fundraising Campaign Stay active,Wardah, Ayesha, Afif, Nadia, and Farah Salaam, and welcome to our April newsletter! See below for what we were up to this month, as well as our upcoming events:
#NoMuslimBanEver Rally at Supreme Court Poligon's co-founders, Wardah Khalid and Afif Rahman, rallied outside the Supreme Court as it considered the third iteration of President Trump's Muslim travel ban. A decision is expected in late June. Until then, Poligon stands against the discriminatory and unconstitutional practices of banning people from Muslim majority countries. Watch the full live stream here. DMV Exchange Poligon board member Ayesha Ali joined community leaders for an annual strategy and sharing session to benefit the local Muslim community in Washington D.C. Poligon Participates in Hill Day Poligon joined advocates on Capitol Hill to meet with members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry including Sen. John Boozman (R-LA), Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) to express concern about provisions governing food assistance in the Farm Bill ahead of the bill markup in the House. Check out statements made by Poligon and faith leaders on the Farm Bill. Launch of Video Jumbotron Proclaiming #NoMuslimBanEver Poligon President, Wardah Khalid, spoke out against Trump's unconsitutional and un-American Muslim travel ban at the launch of a video jumbotron outside Union Station in D.C. Watch a video of the press conference here. New Poligon Member Welcome Poligon's new Marketing & Social Media Intern, Akram Sirafi! Akram just graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Economics and Sociology. He has experience in marketing and has a passion for storytelling through digital media. Here's what he had to say when joining Poligon, "Growing up, I didn't see Muslim representation in Congress. All I saw were policies put in place post-9/11 that discriminated against and furthered a negative stereotype of Muslim Americans. I'm glad to join Poligon and be a part of the change I wish I had growing up." ------------------------------------------- In The News: Poligon Co-Founder, Wardah Khalid spoke out at the Muslim Ban Rally and was quoted in this Talking Points Memo's article " 'They Bomb Us, Then Ban Us:' The Scene Outside the SCOTUS Before The Travel Ban Case " Washington D.C.'s local ABC7 WJLA station video recorded Poligon President, Wardah Khalid, alongside other community leaders speaking out against the Muslim Ban before the Supreme Court Decision. See full article here. ------------------------------------------- Upcoming Events: Poligon Iftar in DC The most blessed month of the year is here! Whether this is your first Ramadan in DC or 10th, join Poligon on May 23rd for an evening of fellowship, delicious food, and some of the best views in the District. Purchase your ticket here. Can't attend in person? Make a zakat eligible and tax deductible donation here. Send Poligon a clip to be featured in our video! Poligon is creating video to address the needs of the community! We want to hear your voices and the issues you are most passionate about so together we can solve real problems. Submit a clip by May 11th for a chance to be featured and have your voice heard! Action Alerts: April 11th, 2018: Say No to Mike Pompeo Weekly Hill Happenings: We've been keeping you up-to-date of the latest on Capitol Hill with our Hill Happenings going straight to your inboxes every Friday. April 27, 2018: Muslim Ban Goes to Supreme Court, Farm Bill Advances Out of House Committee, Senate Confirms Mike Pompeo as US Secretary of State, EAGLES Act of 2018, Social Media Privacy Protection and Consumer Rights Act Stay active,Ayesha, Afif, Nadia, Wardah, and Farah Salaam, and welcome to our March newsletter! See below for what we were up to this month, as well as our upcoming events DHN Hill Advocacy Day  Poligon participated in a Hill advocacy day with other faith-based organizations in the Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs (DHN). We met with the offices of Rep. Davis (R-IL-13), Sen. Blunt (R-MO), and others to advocate for protecting programs like SNAP (food stamps) that provide vital aid to Americans in poverty. March for Dreamers  Poligon joined the march in support of Dreamers on March 5th, the deadline President Trump ordered for Congress to pass a legislative solution for Dreamers after announcing he would terminate the DACA program. Imams, other faith leaders, and immigrant rights activists spoke about the importance of protecting immigrants and called on Congress to pass the Dream Act. House Committee Hearing on Work Requirement  We attended a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on extending work-based time limits for federal programs like Medicaid, a priority for some Congressional Republicans this term. Congressional Advocacy 101 Training in Boston  We traveled to Boston for a Congressional advocacy training with the Islamic Society of Northeastern University. Participants gained a better understanding of how Congress works and the power of advocacy, and left prepared to engage in advocacy for the first time. Congressional Briefing: Communities on Fire  .We attended a panel discussion hosted by SAALT on its annual report on hate crimes against Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans, with additional remarks by Sen. Cardin (D-MD) and Rep. Meng (D-NY-6). Panelists discussed the need for better hate crimes data from law enforcement and different ways local communities are mobilizing against hate. Muslim Voter Engagement Convening  Poligon president, Wardah Khalid, gave a presentation on the importance of sustained advocacy with one's representatives after election day at the Muslim Voter Engagement Convening in Atlanta, a gathering of Muslim American leaders across the country working to get out the Muslim vote. March for Our Live  Poligon team members attended the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC, joining hundreds of thousands around the world in standing up to gun violence and the government inaction that enables it. Upcoming Events: Send Poligon to Netroots Nation in New Orleans!  Click here to help us bring a panel discussion on the power of interfaith advocacy and our signature Congressional Advocacy 101 training to Netroots Nation, an annual confererence of over 3000 activists from around the country!
Keep an eye out for more of our Congressional Advocacy 101 trainings this spring! To bring a training to your community, e-mail us at [email protected]. Action Alerts: March 22, 2018: Spring Recess March 26 - April 6 Weekly Hill Happenings: We've been keeping you up-to-date on the latest on Capitol Hill with our Hill Happenings going straight to your inboxes every Friday. March 2, 2018: Meeting on Gun Violence, Age 21 Act, Assault Weapons Ban, Terrorist Firearm Prevention Act, Banking Deregulation, Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act. March 9, 2018: DACA Deadline Passes, Restraining Orders for Gun Purchases, Single Payer Health Care, Higher Rates for Payday Lending, School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act, Strengthening Pregnancy Discrimination Protections March 16, 2018: Mike Pompeo Nominated New Secretary of State, Senate Approves Dodd-Frank Rollback, First Amendment Defense Act, STOP School Violence Act, CLOUD Act March 23, 2018: Congress Passes Omnibus, Safe Schools Improvement Act, Student Non-Discrimination Act, Tip Income Protection Act, Lowering Handgun Purchase Age We're Hiring! Poligon is looking for some dynamic individuals passionate about Muslim Congressional advocacy to join our team! Please visit bit.ly/PoligonNational to learn more about these positions and how to apply:
Stay active,Ayesha, Afif, Nadia, Wardah, and Farah Salaam, and welcome to our February newsletter! See below for what we were up to this month and our upcoming events: Congressional Advocacy Training with NYU MSA  Poligon gave a training on Congressional advocacy at New York University, covering how Congress works and best practices for attending Congressional office visits and town halls. Congressional Briefing: ICE's Virtual Dragnet  We attended a panel discussion on the Department of Homeland Security's plans to use automated scans for social media vetting of people seeking to travel to the United States. Civil liberties advocates raised concerns about the program's likely negative impacts on freedom of speech and potential for profiling of communities of color (including U.S. citizens), calling on Congress to use its oversight powers to block the program. Op-ed Writing Workshop with Wajahat Ali  Poligon team members attended a workshop on op-ed writing hosted by the American Muslim Institution, featuring New York Times contributing op-ed writer Wajahat Ali. Ali discussed the importance of shaping your own narrative in a challenging time for Muslim communities. In the News Muslims are the most diverse faith group in America, and 1 in 5 Muslim Americans identify as Black. To commemorate Black History Month, we published a Buzzfeed article celebrating the achievements of 12 Black Muslim American leaders who have broken barriers to represent their communities. Upcoming EventsKeep an eye out for more of our Congressional Advocacy 101 trainings this spring, including in Boston on March 19th (more details coming soon!) To bring a training to your community, e-mail us at [email protected] Action AlertsPress ReleasesFebruary 15, 2018: Poligon Commends Federal Appeals Court Decision Against Muslim Ban 3.0 Weekly Hill HappeningsWe've been keeping you up-to-date on the latest on Capitol Hill with our Hill Happenings going straight to your inboxes every Friday. February 2, 2018: GOP Policy Retreat, State of the Union, Government Surveillance Controversy, Studying Auto Insurance Discrimination, Permanent Tax Cuts for Americans Act, STOP School Violence Act, Immigration Innovation Act, Ensuring Full Participation in the Census Act. February 9, 2018: Government Shuts Down Again, BUILDS Act, Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, McCain-Coons Immigration Plan, Uniting Families Act, STRIVE Act. February 16, 2018: Appeals Court Rules Against Muslim Ban 3.0, Trump Budget Released, Immigration Debate, Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, ADA Education and Reform Act, Election Security Act. We're Hiring!Poligon is looking for some dynamic individuals passionate about Muslim Congressional advocacy to join our team! Please visit bit.ly/PoligonNational to learn more about these positions and how to apply:
Stay active, Ayesha, Afif, Nadia, Wardah, and Farah |
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Poligon Education Fund
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A 501c3 non-partisan, national, non-profit organization providing education on the policy making process and issues of concern to American Muslims.
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