A new report published by the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings explores the role of Muslim faith-based organizations in American civic life.
Authors Brie Loskota and Nadia Roumani, co-founders of CRCC’s American Muslim Leadership Institute, examine the formation of faith-based organizations and their role in the public arena and discuss the current state of Muslim FBOs in the United States. The paper concludes by providing some recommendations on ways to help these organizations become more effective public actors.
Loskota and Roumani argue, for example, that the very definition of Muslim leadership, which usually includes only religious or political figures, should be expanded to include those working in the nonprofit sector because of their broad community ties. To more fully participate in the American public square, a new generation of leaders, who often have the ability to navigate both religious and secular environments, must be equipped and given proper training and capacity building.
The report, “Enhancing Impact in the Public Square: Building Capacity and Developing Leadership among American Muslims and Their Organizations,” is one of five papers written by working group conveners at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in April 2011.
Download a PDF of the report
Brie Loskota is the former executive director (2016-2021) of the USC Center for Religion and Civil Culture.
Nadia Roumani cofounded the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.
