About
The Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs, VMCPA, is a local, non-profit and tax exempt organization committed to participate in the religious, social and civic aspects of our community.
Our Slogan: Translating Faith Into Action
Our Mission: VMCPA is a coalition of Muslim individuals and organizations in the Central Virginia area concerned with communicating the truth about Islam. We are not merely interested in educating the public but also concerned with voicing solutions to challenges facing our society. Our mission is carried out through mosque-based grassroots education, local leadership training, youth training, coalition building and networking and special events and programs that work towards positively impacting mainstream America. Our Goals: VMCPA promotes the interests and viewpoints of American Muslims In The Greater Richmond Area and fosters a better understanding of Islam and Muslims through involvement in civic life, media and community service.
Reasons We Were Formed: Muslims should communicate the truth about the mercy, peace, and justice of Islam. For us to communicate these concepts, we felt that we needed to be more involved in both our community and the society at large. We are striving to unite and better coordinate our efforts to be able to produce more.
Our Methodology: We believe that Muslims in America have to abandon the isolation mentality and resolve to become an integral part of the society, and proactively interact with its components. For that we need to become outward, and acquire social skills of interacting with people and cultivate relationships. It is both an individual and a collective effort. It can be done by initiating programs or joining and participating in existing ones. The objective should be to let the society at-large know through action what Islam is and who are the American Muslims. Our aim should be to serve the society and work for its betterment. We need to work hard and honestly for a better America: for America that is morally sound, more tolerant, more just in its domestic and foreign policies, free of poverty. We do establish programs and participate in any program that serves any good purpose (feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, helping the elderly and the handicapped, etc.) Let us not forget that this is the society where we are living and where our children and grand children are raised.
FOCUS
- Muslim representation in active organizations in the area
- Building bridges of understanding between Muslims and Non-Muslims
- Serving the society and working for it’s betterment
PRIORITIES
Civic
- Voter registration, education & organization.
- Candidates Forums
- Engage with local civic groups
- Meet with municipal & state officials
- Advocate at the Virginia General Assembly issues of poverty, education, religious freedom, immigration and social justice.
- Partner with civil rights and progressive political groups: NAACP, ACLU, etc…
- Bring attention to social injustice issues
- Participate in affordable housing and feeding programs, public policy, shelters, etc…
Education
Mission: To participate in the elimination of stereotypes of Muslims and stereotypes about Islam through education. Surveys indicate that nearly half of all Americans believe that Islam condones terrorism, is anti-American, poses a security threat and oppresses women. The Institute’s bureaus of Islamic speakers are dedicated to the advancement of humanity through consciousness raising and educational awareness.
Goals:
- Correct misinformation about Islam Teach Islamic fundamentals, including Islamic beliefs and practices
- Provide tailored information about Muslims as it relates to the needs of the public institutions.
- Foster a sustainable relationship between public institutions and the Central Virginia Muslim community.
- Foster a sustainable dialogue with different faith-based educational and spiritual institutions and place and worship.
- Reach out to College campuses
- Reach out to Immigrant groups, African-American, Latino groups, Asian-Americans & other non-Muslim religious institutions
- Educate the community on dealing with the local media
- Engage with the local and regional media establishments
- other material…