1,000 Voices. One Community. A Call to Be Counted.
There are moments in the life of a community when we are called not just to reflect, but to respond. This is one of those moments.
Across the country, African American Muslims are living, striving, and building—navigating faith, family, identity, and community with both beauty and complexity. Yet too often, our voices are not fully reflected in the data and decisions that shape our collective future. This gap is exactly why the Assessing the African American Muslim Community Survey, led by the Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), matters so deeply.
This effort is more than a survey. It is a collective voice—one that captures our lived experiences, our needs, and our aspirations. When we gather insight with intention, we move from assumption to understanding, from scattered efforts to meaningful strategy, and from being unseen to being clearly recognized.
Every response contributes to a clearer picture of who we are as a community. That clarity allows us to develop programs that truly serve our realities, advocate more effectively for resources, and build stronger families and institutions grounded in truth rather than guesswork.
We have already seen what is possible. Following the 2023 survey, which gathered nearly 400 responses, MANA launched the ITSFAAM initiative—focused on strengthening families, supporting young adult leadership, and engaging youth. This is what it looks like to move from data to direction, from insight to action.
Now, we have the opportunity to go further.
While this is a MANA-led effort, its success depends on all of us. Taking the survey is a simple step, but sharing it and encouraging others to participate is what transforms this effort into a movement. Each voice adds depth. Each response strengthens the whole.
The goal is to gather 1,000 voices—not simply as a number, but as a reflection of the diversity, strength, and breadth of our community.
We invite you to take a moment—less than two minutes—to add your voice. Then, take one step further by sharing it with someone else. In doing so, you help ensure that our community is seen, heard, and understood.
We have a rich legacy, a dynamic present, and a future full of possibilities. That future is shaped by what we choose to contribute today.
Let this be one of those contributions. Take the survey.
Akanke is a native of Atlanta who now resides in Dayton, Ohio. She reverted to Islam in 1994 and is passionate about Islam and Islamic spirituality. Akanke is a graduate of Georgia State University, where she earned a degree in Communication, with a focus on film, TV, and cultural anthropology. Her career is diverse, and her interests span various creative forms of expression. From producing TV and radio shows to creating documentaries, writing, graphic design, and life coaching, she strives to make a lasting and authentic impact wherever she goes. Akanke has been a dedicated supporter of MANA since 2007, currently serving as the organization’s Board Vice President. In this role, she plays a key part in working with the Board President and Secretary to shape the organization’s trajectory. Additionally, she serves as MANA’s part-time Communications Director.
