Muslim Community Network (MCN) is an advocacy organization based in New York City. It primarily acts as an educational group that aims to promote tolerance toward Islam and Muslims, but also advocates left-of-center legislation concerning hate speech, affordable housing, and immigration.

Background

Muslim Community Network was founded in 2003 to promote interfaith and civic education. It was founded in response to the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and what it perceived as a subsequent warped perception of Islam in the eyes of the American public. ¹

Activities

Muslim Community Network hosts “hate crime prevention workshops” at mosques, schools, hospitals, and community centers. The workshops teach participants about what constitutes a hate crime, where and how to report them, and resources available to victims. MCN collects data through hate crime surveys and compiles them into annual reports to inform the city government and other policymakers. ^{2 3}

MCN advocates to city, state, and national government officials about the importance of speaking out against hate crimes and pushes for additional laws that should be passed to prevent hate crimes. MCN has called on the New York City Department of Education to adopt religious diversity courses that will teach students about Islam to prevent hate. It also wants the Department of Education to collect data on hate incidents in schools that can be shared with parents. ⁴

MCN calls on Congress to pass a bill that would launch nationwide anti-bullying and anti-harassment initiatives informed by constant data collection by public schools. It also wants Congress to eliminate the alleged existence of racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels through forcing federal law enforcement agencies to implement training sessions, data collection, and opportunities to submit complains about hate crimes. ⁵

Muslim Community Network aims to advance left-of-center policies in the areas of immigration reform, affordable housing, and surveillance. It also demands that Muslim communities receive access to educational materials in their languages, that their children receive halal meals in public schools, and that adult English-literacy programs become more widely available. ^{6 7}

Financials

In 2021, Muslim Community Network had a total revenue of $890,926, total expenses of $927,992, and net assets of $475,465. ⁸

Funding

Muslim Community Network reports that it has received financial support from the American Legacy Foundation, Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Brooklyn Smoke Free Partnership, Collegiate Church Corporation, Doris Duke Foundation for the Islamic Arts, El Hibri Charitable Foundation, Institute for Leadership, Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund, New York Community Trust, New York Council of Non-Profits, New York Women’s Foundation, Resist Inc., North Star Fund, Revson Foundation, Riverside Church’s Sharing Fund, Samuel Rubin Foundation, and Sterling National Bank. ⁹

1. “Who We Are.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/who-we-are/.
2. “Hate Crimes Prevention.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/hate-crimes-prevention/.
3. “Our Impact.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/stories/.
4. “Hate Crimes Prevention.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/hate-crimes-prevention/.
5. “Hate Crimes Prevention.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/hate-crimes-prevention/.
6. “Policy.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/policy/.
7. “Advocacy.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/advocacy/.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Muslim Community Network. 2021. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
9. “Who We Are.” Muslim Community Network. Accessed August 27, 2023. https://mcnny.org/who-we-are/.