Elected Officials Join at the State of the Coalition Brunch

Chicago, IL. The Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition (Coalition) held its annual State of the Coalition Brunch on Saturday, December 5th, 2020. Over 400 guests on 12 pages of Zoom screens along with hundreds of others on Facebook Live, were joined by over 40 elected officials. The event was held virtually but had a live twist. The Coalition partnered with Corner Bakery to deliver brunches to guests across several states. A full three course meal including soup, sandwich of choice, salads, and dessert was enjoyed while guests connected via the chat feature, enjoyed music and comedy, and received briefings on the Coalition’s 2020 initiatives.

American Muslims communities are diverse, complex, and complicated. The Coalition serves those who identify as Muslim, African American, South Asian, Arab, Latino, African Immigrant, Native American, and other underrepresented communities.

The theme of the event was to “reflect on, honor, and appreciate 2020 challenges and efforts while also looking forward to a stronger 2021” shared Co-Founder and Executive Director Reema Kamran at the start of the event. Famed Chicago Jazz artist Tammy McCann sang Duke Ellington’s Come Sunday and Nasheed (Sacred Song) artist Uthman Wendell Ames sang a medley of Arabic and English sacred music including Tala’a Badru Alaina and Amazing Grace.

The event addressed challenges faced by communities of color during 2020 with COVID19, racial inequity, and economic distress. It also highlighted the work the Coalition of over 120 organizations of all faiths and backgrounds is doing to tackle the challenges, including working with legislators and underrepresented communities on the Census, voter engagement, and policy.

Co-Founder and President Dr. Dilara Sayeed emphasized “We achieve Civic Justice when policies made for us- are made with us; when elected officials understand us- and look like us; and when we share our unique American stories- and own them.” In 2021, the Coalition plans to continue serving the community through stronger engagement with legislators, redistricting equity, and recommendations for diverse voices on local, state and federal boards and commissions.

In attendance were over 40 elected officials. IL Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, and Congresswoman-Elect Marie Newman spoke and expressed commitment to work with Illinois’ diverse communities more closely on key issues facing all Illinoisans. Other elected officials were Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congresswoman Rep. Cheri Bustos, Senator-Elect State Representative Karina Villa, Senator Ram Villivalam, Senator Laura Ellman, Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Representative Terra Costa Howard, Representative Joyce Mason, Representative Lyndsey Lapointe, DuPage County Board members Sadia Covert and Greg Schwarze, Cook County Board members Bridget Degnen, Kevin B. Morrison and Donna Black Miller, Kane County Board members Chris. Also greeting guests were Chicago 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman, MRWD’s Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda and Kimberly duBuclet, and municipal leaders across the state Raees Yawer, Sharmin Shahjahan, Asad Khan, Sara Sadat, Bushra Amiwala, Safaa Zarzour, Nagla Fetouh, Anisha Patel, Syed Wajahat Abedi, Khaja Mohiuddin. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others sent videos.