WISE Programs

WISE programs tackle foremost societal issues which are global and local. Our impactful programs promote the following results:

1) Art initiatives promote cross cultural understanding and create an awareness of the rich diversity of Muslim women’s lives.
2) Authoritative research papers proclaim Muslim women’s rights
3) Global convenings and forums network/empower women & youth leaders
4) Educational publications prevent the scourge of islamophobia, extremism and emerging threat of white supremacism.
5) E-learning platforms make WISE’s educational content available to higher learning institutions, community leaders & activists
6) Interfaith & Community engagement helps to collaborate with key stakeholders across genders, professions and faiths.

INTERFAITH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Art Programs

From 2002 until now, WISE has been producing impactful art programs that address the needs of American Muslims.

WISE UP - WHITE SUPREMACY

The hate-filled narrative of white supremacists continues to infect the public discourse, provides fodder for division, and leaves the majority without the necessary tools to stop polarization from taking root. If we do not act, the white supremacist groups will spread their hate with an aim to divide communities.

WISE UP - MUSLIM WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Gender-based inequality is a global phenomenon that transcends culture, religion, and income. Although Muslim women’s lives are influenced by a complex interaction of religious, cultural, social, economic, and political factors, religion wields a disproportionately large impact on each of these other factors.

AFGHAN WOMEN RELIGIOUS RIGHTS FORUM

On July 16th 2019, WISE collaborated with U.S Institute of Peace, Women for Afghan Women (WAW), and Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) – hosted a day long forum on the critical issues and outcomes of an inclusive peace process with the Taliban, to ensure the religious rights of all Afghan women are protected under this agreement.

WISE UP - Knowledge Ends Extremism

WISE UP Knowledge Ends Extremism is aimed at fighting Islamophobia and extremism with experience, knowledge and good judgment, and to show that the American Muslim community is collectively speaking out against all forms of hate, including Islamophobia and terrorism.

ERADICATING FGM IN EGYPT AND GAMBIA

From 2008 to 2010, WISE collaborated with a local partner organization dedicated to raising awareness about discrimination against women, in an effort to reduce the number of FGC cases in the Dair El Nahia region of Giza, Egypt.

IMAM TRAINING IN AFGHANISTAN

In order to address the promotion of women’s rights in Afghanistan, WISE collaborated with the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organization (NECDO), a non-governmental development organization dedicated to helping women and children in need.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS IN PAKISTAN

In 2009, WISE collaborated with Bedari, a women’s rights organization based in Islamabad, on a domestic violence awareness campaign in district Jhelum, an impoverished region of Punjab, Pakistan. Impetus for the project came after a bill against domestic violence passed in late 2009 by the National Assembly of Pakistan but which later lapsed in the Senate.