The Project & Ask

As a suburban Muslim K-8 school, we recognize the importance of having meaningful, and sometimes uncomfortable, conversations regarding race and the privileges afforded to much of our student body. We seek to leverage our resources to continue to provide our student body with the ongoing critical conversations that impact us on individual, communal, and national levels to create the informed and activated world citizens we need. In that vein, we ask you to contribute towards our Beyond Heroes & Holidays program.

​Beyond Heroes & Holidays

Inspired by the famous practical guide for K-12 educators (published by Teaching for Change), we are committed to expanding our program offerings at AFA to tackle issues of racism, social justice, and cultural sensitivity head on. Over the years, we have focused on key programmatic improvements including:

• targeted programming centering upon the Black Lives Matters, Indigenous Peoples and Civil Rights movements throughout the world with guest speakers and scholars on related topics
• development of character integrated education centered upon core tenets of faith including: empathy, fairness, responsibility, and stewardship.
• created curriculum centered upon deconstructing the impact of colonization on Muslim societies
• weekly highlights during "Musalla time" of important historical figures from a variety of backgrounds

A History of Developing UPstanders

Since 1998, we educators at Al Fatih Academy (AFA) have worked to cultivate and nurture students with an American Muslim identity that balances religious, academic, and cultural knowledge through an interdisciplinary and integrated programming approach. We challenge students to be UPstanders, someone who chooses to make a difference in the world by speaking out against injustice and creating positive change.

Panel of scholars and activists at AFA's Annual Banquet, 2019 including:  Asma Uddin, Malika Bilal, Namira Islam, Hena Khan, and Afeefa Syeed.

Partners

We are proud to work with a variety of partners, locally and globally, who have helped us expand our competency in offering these programs, including:

• ​The American Islamic Heritage Museum
• The William and Mary Greve Foundation
• Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC)
• Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA)

Excerpt from Middle School newsletter, December 2019.

The Funds

Your generous donation will support our ability to dedicate resources to:

• ​inviting more guest speakers and experts to engage with students
• purchase books and materials for classrooms and school library
• support teacher trainings centered around areas of anti-racism and social justice curriculum

All materials featured in this campaign are examples of school-created resources for staff, students, and community.

How You Can Help: Make an Impact​

1. Act Now! Donate on LaunchGood.

2. Share this campaign on social media using the tools listed above!

3. Follow AFA on various platforms:

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