The Muslim Wellness Foundation (MWF) is an organization that promotes emotional well-being among Muslims through training, education, and dialogue. MWF asserts that Muslims are uniquely impacted by anti-Black and anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States and that minorities are under constant threat due to white supremacy. ^{1 2 3}

Activities

Muslim Wellness Foundation argues that “anti-Black racism and anti-Muslim bigotry stress the minds, bodies and souls of American Muslim communities.” In response, MWF attempts to unite psychology and spirituality to help Muslims have “honest conversations and experiences wherein radical healing, belonging, and growth can flourish.” MWF desires Muslims to engage in mental health advocacy, “healing justice,” and to nurture a culture of compassion. ⁴

MWF hosts an annual Black Muslim Psychology Conference. ⁵ As of June 2024, the 2024 Black Muslim Psychology Conference was set to take place at the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago from July 20 to July 21, 2024. ^{6 7} The 2024 Conference focused on the issues of belonging, migration, and identity. The organization argued that “Black Muslims… are under constant threat of white supremacy, violence and systemic discrimination.” The event promoted appreciation for the migration of African-descended people to Europe and North America, which it called “countries of former colonizers,” and noted that African people feel “grief and nostalgia” due to being dispossessed by a “climate crisis, gentrification, and political instability.” ⁸ The 2024 conference requested proposals for performances, workshops, presentations, and panel discussions on issues of youth and emerging adulthood, religious leadership and development, health and healing, and activism. ⁹

Previous Black Muslim Psychology Conference featured discussions on “Black Muslim Joy”; ¹⁰ “Black Muslim Freedom Dreams” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and health-related disparities blamed on “white supremacy”; ¹¹ love, intimacy, marriage, and the family; ¹² a “Black Panther-inspired, Afro-Futuristic Gala” called the “Love & Liberation Ball,” ¹³ and “Reflections on Black Muslim Activism.” ¹⁴

The first Black Muslim Psychology Conference was held in Philadelphia in 2015 when the African-American commemoration of emancipation from slavery known as Juneteenth and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincided. ¹⁵

People

Kameelah Mu’Min Oseguera is the founder and president of Muslim Wellness Foundation. Oseguera is a visiting assistant professor of psychology and Muslim studies at Chicago Theological Seminary who teaches courses on self-care, the “Psychology of Christian Hegemony & Religious Oppression in the United States,” and Black Muslim psychology, healing, and activism. ¹⁶ Oseguera was previously an instructor and post-doctoral psychology resident at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and an interfaith fellow for spirituality, wellness, and social justice at University of Pennsylvania. ¹⁷

After the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Oseguera posted pro-Palestinian content on her Instagram page, including a “Palestinian Digital Action Toolkit” produced by the Palestinian Feminist Collective with content about the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, recommendations about how to talk about Palestine in the workplace, and information about how “Palestine Is a Feminist Issue.” ^{18 19} In April 2024, the Twitter account for MWF stated that MWF faced “backlash” due to Oseguera’s “public and vocal pro-Palestinian solidarity.” ²⁰

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2022 Muslim Wellness Foundation reported $287,291 in revenue, $230,076 in expenses, and held $6,453 in assets. That year, MWF received the entirety of its revenue from gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees. The organization also spent that year $24,702 on advertising and promotion, $22,218 on office supplies, and $29,528 on travel. ²¹

1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Muslim Wellness Foundation. 2022.
2. “Muslim Wellness Foundation.” Muslim Wellness Foundation. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://muslimwellness.com/.
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4. “Muslim Wellness Foundation.” Muslim Wellness Foundation. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://muslimwellness.com/.
5. Kameelah Mu’Min Oseguera.” Muslim Wellness Foundation. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.ctschicago.edu/people/kameelah-mumin-oseguera/.
6. “Conference Venue.” Black Muslim Psychology Conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/venue.
7. “Hotel accommodations.” Black Muslic Psychology Conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/hotel.
8. “BMPC2024.” Black Muslim Psychology conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/.
9. “BMPC2024: Call for Proposals.” Black Muslim Psychology Conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/cfp
10. “Program Overview.” Black Muslim Psychology Conference. Accessed Jun 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/programoverview.
11. “A Journey Beyond: Black Muslim Freedom.” Black Muslim Psychology Conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/bmpc2021.
12. “4^th Annual Black Muslim Psychology Conference.” Black Muslim Psychology Conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/bmpc2018.
13. “Love & Liberation Ball.” Black Muslim Psychology Conferences. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/ball.
14. “2^nd Annual Black Muslim Psychology Conference.” Black Muslim Psychology Conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/bmpc2016.
15. “BMPC2024.” Black Muslim Psychology conference. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.blackmuslimpsychology.org/.
16. Kameelah Mu’Min Oseguera.” Muslim Wellness Foundation. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.ctschicago.edu/people/kameelah-mumin-oseguera/.
17. “Kameelah Mu’Min Oseguera, PsyD.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kameelahoseguera/.
18. “drmamakam.” Instagram. October 15, 2023. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/drmamakam/reel/CybfT3ggw6H/
19. “All Out for Palestine.” Drmamakam. Instagram. October 27. 2024. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy6pwEUg9x_/.
20. @MWF National Tweet on April 1, 2024. Twitter. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://twitter.com/MWFNational/status/1774840043191885948/photo/1.
21.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Muslim Wellness Foundation. 2022.