Webinar training and report provide guidance on model resolutions, strategic guidance, and tools to advance Muslim inclusion, civil rights protections, and community-led policy victories nationwide
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and CAIR Action today released its new webinar training to supplement its joint “2026 Toolkit on Promoting Muslim Civic Engagement in Local and State Governments,” a first-of-its-kind advocacy guide designed to help Muslim communities and allied advocates win meaningful policy changes across city councils, state legislatures, school boards, and university governing bodies.
The webinar and toolkit were unveiled on Tuesday evening during a national call and is now publicly available for download.
Click Here: Download the webinar and full toolkit now!
The 2026 Muslim Civic Engagement Toolkit offers community leaders, organizers, faith-based advocates, and civic partners a collection of model texts, sample policy language, advocacy strategy frameworks, and examples of successful measures passed across the country. It covers policy areas including but not limited to:
- Recognition of Muslim Heritage Month, Ramadan, and Eid
- Religious accommodations in schools, workplaces, and public institutions
- Halal food access and inclusive institutional practices
- Anti-discrimination measures protecting Muslims and other marginalized groups
- Free speech protections, including response guidance to IHRA-style speech restrictions
- Peace and justice resolutions, including local calls for ceasefire action
In a statement, CAIR Action Executive Director Basim Elkarra said:
“Local and state governments are where community voices have real impact. This toolkit is a roadmap for turning community concerns into concrete policy victories. It gives every American Muslim the tools and strategies they need to organize, build broad coalitions, and win meaningful change that reflects the values and needs of their communities.”
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“This toolkit is about moving Muslim communities into the center of public debate and local and state decision-making. Too often, policies that shape our civil rights, religious freedoms, and civic participation are crafted without meaningful Muslim representation or input. This guide equips communities to engage strategically with government, assert their rights, and shape policy outcomes that reflect dignity, justice, and full inclusion.”
Part of a Broader Muslim Policy Agenda
The launch of the 2026 Toolkit on Promoting Muslim Civic Engagement in Local and State Governments builds on CAIR and CAIR Action’s sustained policy advocacy work, joining a growing catalog of national resource publications, including CAIR and CAIR Action’s join:
- White House: “Trump Administration Second Term 100-Day Agenda: Recommendations for Protecting the Rights of All Americans & Advancing Justice for All.”
- Congress: Legislative Priorities for the 119th Congress
- Free Speech Advocacy: Fact Sheet: Voices of Resistance Against the IHRA Definition and the Antisemitism Awareness Act.
- Fighting Occupation: Policy Memo: “The So-Called “Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act”: An Attempt to Eradicate the West Bank and Deny Palestinian Self-Determination”
- Community Organizing: August 2025 Congressional Recess Toolkit
- Ramadan: 2025 Ramadan Toolkit to Support Muslim Employees, Students, and Communities
Together, these resources form a comprehensive Muslim policy framework that supports civic empowerment, defends civil rights, champions freedom of expression, and advances peace and justice.
CAIR and CAIR Action encourage Muslim community leaders, students, educators, faith leaders, and allies to download the toolkit and begin organizing in their cities and states to transform local civic engagement into political power and policy success.
CAIR is a 501(c)3 organization and America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
CAIR Action is a 501(c)4 organization. Its mission is to engage, educate, and mobilize Muslim voters, train emerging leaders, and champion policy priorities that enhance the well-being and representation of Muslim communities. Through its work, CAIR Action aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive democratic society where the rights and voices of Muslims are acknowledged and respected.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR Action, belkarra@cairaction.org; CAIR Action Communications, media@cairaction.org