Empowering Muslim Women Through Transformative Mentorship

Adult literacy

San Fernando Valley West LA San Gabriel Valley South LA East LA Central LA Long Beach South Bay

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

We have a deep understanding of the issues impacting the Muslim women in professional environments that we are working to address. Each year, we conduct research to understand our audience and their needs. Recently, we surveyed hundreds of Muslim women and explicitly asked them what resources would be beneficial for their professional growth. An overwhelming majority stated that mentorship was what they needed. In the past year islamophobia reached a record high in the United States. We are also witnessing a spike in discrimination for Muslim women in the workplace. It is already difficult to be a woman navigating the workplace, but to be the only Muslim woman is even harder. This makes mentorship that more essential. It provides them with a community of women like them who want to support their personal and professional growth so that they can continue to embrace their identity while making a positive impact in their respective industries.

The initiative we are launching is the MWP Mentorship Program. The MWP Mentorship Program is a curated program that involves three key components: professional development, networking, and mentorship. Based on survey feedback from hundreds of Muslim women, these were the most requested areas of need for professional growth. The professional development component will include sessions like: Leadership & Confidence Building, Career Planning & Advancement, Negotiation & Decision-Making, Inclusive Leadership, Rights in the Workplace, and Purpose-Driven Performance to name a few. These are areas that can be applied to any industry and will help women build a foundation on how to thrive in the workplace. The second component is networking. These sessions will be led by Muslim women who are experts in their respective fields. From Fireside Chats to Panels, it will give women an opportunity to learn from others in their community, while expanding their networks. The last component is mentorship. Participants will be paired with a mentor who has demonstrated excellence in the field they are in or striving to be in. They will meet with their mentor at least twice a month to discuss their respective journeys, help them expand their network, apply what they have learned, and help them reach their professional goals. This program will prepare them for success in their respective industries while instilling the power and importance of community so they pay it forward.

Los Angeles County holds a special place for our organization. It is where our Founder & CEO was born and raised, where Muslim Women Professionals (MWP) started years ago, and where we continue to have our largest audience. We’ve hosted countless events across Los Angeles County bringing together Muslim women from across Los Angeles County. We’ve also had women attend from cities including San Diego and San Bernardino. This grant will take our organization to the next level. We will build out a successful mentorship program, expand MWP’s presence through in-person events, and finally, be the catalyst for our virtual community and first-ever in-person conference in Los Angeles. In the past we’ve hosted a conference in partnership with USC’s Muslim Student Association, but due to budget constraints it was virtual. The MWP Mentorship Program will propel the next phase of our organization and The MWP Conference will secure our position as the fastest growing nonprofit for Muslim women.