The Release of the Community Needs Assessment Report

By: Alaa Essafi 

Drumroll, please! The Muslim Network is thrilled to announce the release of the Community Needs Assessment Report which has been in the works since 2017. Its main aim is to convey research about community issues based on the concerns of several key subgroups within the community. The report incorporates several facets of  New Jersey Muslim communities including mosques, Islamic schools, Muslim non-profits, etc. by using data from focus groups, surveys, and speaking to key figures in the NJ Muslim community. 

Amal Abukwaik, Director of Strategy, shared her insights about the development of the report, its significance, and potential solutions to bolster unity among different Muslim communities across the state. 

Why is it important that a study like this was conducted? 

I think this study could be a valuable resource in understanding NJ Muslim needs for different stakeholders in the NJ Muslim community and local public officials. My team and I were surprised a community as established as ours does not have a report detailing their challenges in their work and daily activities. This data can provide more insight to take practical action steps to strengthen the community further in different areas. 

What do you hope community members, mosques, organizations, etc. gain from the findings of this report? 

I hope that this report shows that there is a large group of Muslims who are dedicated and ready to collaborate with different members of the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. This finding is especially interesting, considering that the most significant perceived challenge faced by NJ Muslims all fall under the umbrella of disunity. Through this report, the community will better see the role The Muslim Network can play in connecting different organizations and members throughout the state. 

“there is a large group of Muslims who are dedicated and ready to collaborate with different members of the Muslim and non-Muslim communities”

What was the most surprising issue facing the New Jersey Muslim community that you otherwise didn’t think too much about? 

It was not so much the community's weaknesses that I found surprising, it was more so a perceived community strength that I did not expect to see. According to survey respondents (60% of whom are female), 46% believe gender diversity is not a challenge. This was especially shocking to me considering the different Muslim-based executive boards and platforms being densely populated by men- at least from what I have seen.

What got you and kept you interested in this report despite the amount of time and effort that went into it? 

I was really interested and excited because there wasn’t a report about New Jersey Muslims. We were inspired by a study done in San Francisco about Muslims in the Bay Area. We really felt that New Jersey Muslims, organizations, mosques, Islamic schools, etc. really needed a report that would give them insight on who New Jersey Muslims are. What do they want from within the community? What do they need to be more unified in? 

What different voices or spaces did you incorporate in the report to make sure it was comprehensive and everyone was represented? How did you include those different voices in the report? 

We wanted this report to benefit everyone and we wanted it to be relatable to as many organizations and groups within the community. So, whether it be youth, converts, women, Muslim business owners, non-profit organizers, general community members, Muslims from different regions in New Jersey, etc. We tried to include everyone through the focus groups, we split the focus groups according to different identities, each demographic has their own space to talk about their unique experiences within the Muslim community and others who have similar experiences. In regards to the survey responses, we attended Friday prayers, community events, and met with Muslim Student Associations, so we tried to hit all the spots.