The Reimagining Muslim Spaces (RMS) study aims to stimulate and support mosques and community centers to meet the diverse social, civic, and economic needs of their congregants with special attention to often marginalized groups, including women, youth, and converts. Utilizing case study analysis produced by the RMS study, mosques and community centers can reduce barriers to participation, improve services they offer and increase constituent engagement. With implementable recommendations, the RMS study will contribute to improved community building, reduced marginalization, and increased community cohesiveness.
ISPU began this study by assembling a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders—from mosque leaders to disillusioned young people, women, converts, and members of ethnic and racial minority groups—to advise on the project and test recommendations. ISPU then analyzed existing national data and conducted primary qualitative research in three hubs: Metro-Detroit, the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, and the Bay Area, California.
ISPU also identified exemplary models of mosques and community centers that have high participation rates for young people, with a special focus on women and converts, and exceptional programs that meet the needs of their constituents. Using this data-driven research approach and actionable recommendations, the RMS study aims to move the concept of being “unmosqued” from a buzzword to a solvable social challenge.
ISPU developed a community education toolkit, including case studies and community briefs, that mosques and community centers can use to practically implement the RMS study’s recommendations. Case studies focus on engagement and inclusivity, social service programming, civic engagement models, and governance issues. This is a roadmap to help communities transform their current spaces into ones that are inclusive to all community members and responsive to their collective needs. To bring the research directly to communities, ISPU created an Inclusivity Workshop Toolkit, including videos, participant surveys, and exercises centers can use to address issues and create an action plan for incorporating study recommendations.
