November Newsletter

​Mayor Scott Fadness visits Alhuda Mosque:

Out of the organization’s commitment to building bridges between Indiana Muslims and elected officials, IMAN Associates arranged for Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Fishers City Council President Richard Block to visit Alhuda mosque on October 25, 2019.  
In his brief address, Mayor Fadness expressed his gratitude for the invitation and underscored his dedication to growing Fishers as a diverse, welcoming city to all. Alhuda community members took this opportunity to meet and greet the Mayor and City Council President and engage in conversations with them about the bright future of their thriving city. 

Alhuda Foundation President, Dr. Arman Siddiqui, presents Mayor Fadness with a token of appreciation for his leadership. 

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Your vote, your voice!

You still have time to vote early for the 2019 Indiana Municipal election. Here are the locations and times of the early voting sites in the counties where our members reside in: 
Allen County 
Boone County 
Hamilton County 
Hendricks County 
Johnson County 
Lake County 
Marion County 
Tippecanoe County 
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2019. You can find your polling location and voting times here.  
IMAN Associates strongly urges Muslim Hoosiers to go out and vote for two reasons
1) Historically, municipal elections witness a low voter turnout, and 2019 election is no exception. Hence, your vote counts and can move the needle and make a difference.  
2) When elected, candidates on the ballots will shape our cities and touch our lives with the policies they create. When you vote, you choose who represents you and creates these policies. 

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A Muslim running for Indiana State Senate:

Dr. Fady Qaddoura

Given that electing a Muslim candidate aligns with the strategic goals of the organization, IMAN Associates formed a Political Action Committee (PAC) for the purpose of raising money to elect Dr. Fady Qaddoura. To learn about his campaign priorities, visit the PAC webpage.
Vying to represent State Senate District 30 (SD30), Dr. Qaddoura is the first American Muslim to run for a state senate seat in Indiana. When elected, he will sponsor and vote on bills that will impact not only his constituents in SD30, but also Hoosiers statewide. Thus, it is imperative for Indiana Muslims to support him. Here are some ways for you to get involved:

• If you are 18 year or older and a legal resident of the United States, you can financially support the campaign by donating below.
• If you live in SD30, you can organize listening sessions.
• If you are an Indiana resident, you can host a fundraiser. Email us for more information.

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It is time to end gerrymandering..

Gerrymandering (the process of drawing electoral districts for partisan advantage) takes away people’s right to choose their representatives. Instead, legislators choose their constituents! Since it threatens our democracy by diluting the voting power of ethnic or minority groups, advocates in different states have been urgently calling for a reform... But why the urgency?
2020 census will pave the way for redistricting in 2021. Maps will be redrawn based on the size of constituents in each district. In the Hoosier state, the Indiana General Assembly has the power to draw the maps, and the majority party will draw them in their own favor. That’s why redistricting reform is desperately needed!
IMAN Associates and the All IN 4 Democracy coalition have been steadfast in their fight to bring a redistricting reform to Indiana, requesting that an independent commission of citizens takes on the responsibility of drawing electoral districts for nonpartisan advantage.   Given that 2020 legislative session is a short one, the coalition wants to hit the ground running from day one! The following two events are opportunities for you to help the coalition lay the groundwork for this reform: 

1. Legislative Organization Day: join us in our rally at the Indiana Statehouse on Nov. 19. We will convene at noon on the Capitol Ave steps to hear from several leaders in the fight for reform.  At 12:30 we will enter the State House and assemble outside the House and Senate chambers with signs calling for reform. Please follow this link to let us know you are coming! 

1. Training for advocates: Do you need talking points that will help you in your advocacy efforts in the 2020 legislative session? Join us on Sunday, Nov. 17th from 3 - 5 p.m. at First Friends Church, 3030 Kessler Blvd. East Drive in Indianapolis for an engaging training.