CAIR-Washington State

Let’s look at some facts:

• Fact 1: Your lawmakers and local media outlets consistently receive misinformation about Islam and Muslims from anti-Muslim groups and so-called “experts”.
• Fact 2: Lawmakers receive at least five times more calls, e-mails, and meeting requests in opposition than in support of issues favorably associated with Islam and Muslims.
• Fact 3: Most lawmakers and media outlets rarely hear from their local Muslim constituents.

Don’t you think it’s time for a change?

Attend a Community Action Training at a location near you! (See schedule below.) You will learn exactly how politics works at all levels, including the school board, city, state and federal levels, and how you can work strategically to influence media and politics.

We provide valuable information and have practice sessions on how to find lawmakers’ contact information, how to conduct effective meetings, how to build strong, beneficial, strategic relationships and how to leverage those relationships to have lawmakers really work for our communities' interests! You will also learn how to respond to both accurate and inaccurate media coverage in order to empower journalists to project an accurate image of Islam and Muslims.

Each training session will include lunch, an action-packed 4-hour agenda with workshops, mock-exercises, and meaningful discussions focused on real outcomes. We will end each training session with interested attendees forming a CAIR-WA “Community Action Group” for your area and develop concrete plans to build strong relationships with lawmakers and local media to influence local laws and media coverage of Islam and Muslims. We will plan dates for follow-up activities - including advanced trainings and regular meetings with various lawmakers and media outlets.

Forming 'Community Action Groups'

CAIR-WA Community Action Group members will participate in regular meetings with local lawmakers and local media outlets, as well as development trainings focusing on community organizing and sharing their stories with legislators. Group members will receive continued training and guidance as they build relations with all of their local lawmakers and media outlets through the course of a few months.

Through consistent follow-up sessions over the course of many months, we will help develop new leaders across the state that can advocate as well as mobilize others to respond to key priorities for our communities, including rampant Islamophobia, local issues, and teaching lawmakers to work with their local Muslim constituents as strong potential partners and allies.  Ordinary people can learn to take on leadership roles in their local areas.

Want to see what’s possible? Check out the recent documentary “9500 Liberty,” which tells the true story of a community in Virginia that used grassroots organizing to get the state to repeal an immigration law that they felt supported racial profiling. Click here to watch the trailer and read more about the film.

BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND THE TRAINING CLOSEST TO YOU.

(Please note: Because the focus of our trainings will be local community action and working with lawmakers in your local area, it is important that you attend trainings at the location closest to your home, even if it is not your regular place of worship. Otherwise, you may be given the incorrect legislative information and begin working on an issue that is not within your district.)

 

Current CAIR-WA Community Action Groups

The following groups have formed to work on particular issues within their local communities.  Meetings and activities are open to their local community and new faces! Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or just come to the next meeting in your area.

CAIR-WA Eastside Community Action Group
Next group meeting/event time: TBD
Location: TBD
Current issues: TBD
Pictures from last Eastside Training here

CAIR-WA Tukwila Area Community Action Group
Next group meeting/event time: Sunday, April 15, 5pm-6pm
Location: Multi-purpose room at AbuBakr Islamic Center of Tukwila, Tukwila, WA
Current issues: Implementing safety measures for pedestrians crossing International Blvd.
Pictures from last Tukwila Training here

CAIR-WA Whatcom County Community Action Group
Next group meeting/event time: Thursday, May 10, 6pm-7pm
Location: Islamic Society of Whatcom County. 1244 Nevada Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
Current issues: Tracking anti-Muslim hate incidents in Whatcom County
Pictures from last Bellingham Training here

   Amana Mutual Funds Trust
 

UFCW Local 21

Rams Copy Center

Training FAQs

Training Dates and Locations

All trainings are open to families, and both women and men are invited to attend.

Saturday, March 17 from 11am-3:30pm at Masjid Ar-Rahmah (MAPS), 17550 NE 67th Court, Redmond, WA 98052 in the Multi-Purpose Room

Sunday, April 1 from 1pm-5:30pm at Abu Bakr Masjid, 14101 Tukwila International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98168 in the Multi-Purpose Room

Saturday, April 7 from 11am-3:30pm at Umar al Farooq Masjid, 5507 238th St SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Sunday, April 8 from 1:30pm-6pm at the Kent branch of the King County Library, 212 2nd Ave N, Kent, WA 98032

Saturday, April 14 from 11am-2:30pm at Western Washington University, 516 High St, Bellingham, WA 98225 in the Viking Union Building, Room 565. Co-sponsored by the Muslim Student Association of WWU.

Wednesday, April 18 from 8pm-9:30pm (immediately after Maghrib and until Isha prayers) at Islamic Center of Kent (main building, top floor), 20857, 108th Avenue Southeast, Kent, WA 98031.

Saturday, April 21 from 3:30pm-5:30pm at the Everett Muslim Community Center, 500 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite B110, Everett, WA 98208

Saturday, April 28 from 11am-1pm at Zainab Center, 5723 198th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036

Saturday, May 5 from 11am-1pm at University of Washington - Tacoma, 1922 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 in the Cherry Parkes Building, Room 106. Co-sponsored by the Muslim Student Association of UW-Tacoma.

Saturday, May 12 from 11am-1pm at Islamic House, 4625 22nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Saturday, May 19 from 1:30pm-3:30pm at the Spokane Islamic Center, 6411 East 2nd Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99212

Saturday, May 26 from 3pm-5pm in West Seattle, Location TBD

Saturday, June 2 from 11am-1pm at the Islamic Center of Yakima, 301 South 10th Ave, Yakima, WA 98902

Saturday, June 23 from 11am-1pm at the Islamic Society of SW WA, 1000 NE 66th St, Vancouver, WA 98665

Pullman, WA Location, Date and Time TBD soon. Co-sponsored by the Muslim Student Association of Washington State University

Please see the following videos and documents before attending your local Community Action Training: