Dear Friends,

2020 was an incredibly pivotal year. The general elections were just one example of a definitive moment for our community. Through it all, we persevered, we organized, we showed up like never before and over one million Muslim voters made their voices heard. We were honored to organize this goal in service and could not have done this without our partners and without you. 

The drive for organizing is deeply personal for us. Organizing is our legacy from our Prophet(s) who lovingly uplifted a movement that centered on human experience and the most vulnerable in the community. We organize for the strength and the benefit of our community. We organize so that, beyond elections, we can strategically build for the policy change we wish to see for years to come. 

The truth is, our work on the MMV campaign had been years in the making from the day we walked into Emgage in the spring of 2017. Since then, we have put in countless weekends, tiring travels, and long hours developing our tools, practicing our strategy, building our institution, sharing our resources, learning from our mistakes, and enjoying a few wins along the way! The turnout we saw in 2020 was a long culmination of all of those efforts. 

Throughout the MMV campaign, we heard so many stories of voters in our community.

• Voters like 18-year-old Amina, who cast her official ballot for the first time, driven by the desire to fight for climate change. 
• Voters like 68-year-old Omar, who left the home he had known in pursuit of the American dream, saving dollar after dollar, year after year, to gain citizenship and the right to vote. 
• Voters like 42-year-old Sarah, who marks her election days the year before and is often seen working at the election polls after rallying her neighbors in the preceding weeks. 

Each voter’s story was unique; they were, in truth, one in a million. Ultimately, the MMV campaign was built for the community, by the community. The MMV campaign was our celebration and a reflection of our determination to build elections as a vehicle of change for our community’s political will. We learned so much this year and are honored to have been a small part of the journey. The MMV campaign may be over, but we will continue to engage with purpose, organize with heart, and win every day.

In service and solidarity, 

Mohamed Gula and Aysha Ahmed.