Champaign-Urbana: A Community That Gives Back
On Friday, August 14, the Muslim Civic Coalition held the first stop of our Statewide Listening Tour: Building Civic Justice in Illinois at CIMIC in Champaign-Urbana. The room filled with families, children, elders, students, and community leaders from across the Champaign-Urbana area. We came to listen. We left with a clearer picture of what Central Illinois Muslims need and with relationships we intend to keep.
Showing Up for Jummah and the Vote
Our team arrived at CIMIC for Jummah prayer, met community members, discussed the November midterms, and registered voters on site. Attendees were also directed to our nonpartisan Voter Hub.
Meeting Real Needs on the Ground
Federal cuts are stripping SNAP benefits. Homelessness is rising. Working families in Champaign County are absorbing both pressures. The Muslim community here is meeting those needs directly. We saw it firsthand when Project Sadaqah dropped off food during our visit.
Key community anchors include:
Avicenna Community Health Center - Providing free health care since 2009 and serving as a pipeline for young healthcare professionals committed to giving back.avicennahealth.org
Project Sadaqah - A Muslim-founded, community-driven nonprofit focused on food security, youth engagement, and outreach. Project Sadaqah regularly prepare and distribute free meals and groceries to unhoused and vulnerable neighbors in partnership with groups like Cunningham Township.
Friends of Champaign County Food Pantry - Structured like a store so people can walk through, choose what they need, and leave with dignity and belonging rather than a handout.friendsofchampaigncounty.org
CU Muslim Action Committee (CU MAC) - Advanced a local ballot referendum on ethical investment that now goes to voters. The measure aims to keep local tax dollars out of corporations profiting from military and violence spending and redirect them toward services that meet real community needs.Read more about the referendum.
Muslim American Society (MAS) - Runs community and youth programming that helps young people stay rooted, proud of their service, and committed to their community.masuc.org
Hidaya Academy - A full-time Islamic school serving the community.hidayaacademycu.com
CIMIC (Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center) - located near campus in Urbana, has long served Muslims across East Central Illinois and surrounding counties. It supports students and community members through educational programs, worship, social services, and a local directory connecting residents to resources—while also serving as an incubator for community organizing work.
The Champaign-Urbana Muslim community has built real infrastructure: education, youth development, health care, food security, mutual aid, and organizing capacity.
What We Shared
We shared key findings from the Illinois Muslims Report, developed with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding and the University of Illinois Chicago: Illinois has the largest Muslim population per capita in the nation and the youngest faith community in the state, with half of respondents ages 18-35. More than half reported religious discrimination, with Islamophobia, the economy, and healthcare as top concerns. Black Muslim respondents faced the highest levels of discrimination within the community due to race, cost remained the biggest barrier to mental health care, and Illinois Muslims are more likely than the general public to lack access to food meeting religious dietary needs. We also highlighted the laws and resolutions Illinois Muslims have led and the broader benefits those efforts bring to all communities, underscoring that laws made for us must be made with us.
What We Asked
What challenges is your community facing, and what support would help—especially amid rising anti-Muslim hate?
What does civic power look like for your community?
Who is missing from the conversations needed to make it happen?
What we heard was compelling and powerful. We will continue collecting this input and report back at the end of the listening tour. Join us at our next steps. Four more sessions are confirmed, with additional regions still being scheduled.
| City | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urbana-Champaign | Friday, August 14 | 6:00 PM | CIMIC, Central Illinois Mosque & Islamic Center, 106 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana |
| Rockford | Friday, September 11 | 6:00 PM | Venue coming soon |
| Springfield | Saturday, September 12 | 10 AM - 12 PM | Lincoln Library, 326 S 7th St, Springfield, IL (Rm: Carnegie North) |
| Decatur | Saturday, September 26 | 7:00 PM | Venue coming soon |
| Peoria | Friday, October 2 | 6:00 PM | Venue coming soon |
Attend a session or host a session. Masjids, community centers, campus groups, and organizations can host. We bring facilitation and materials. Email info@muslimciviccoalition.org.
Register and get ready to vote. Online voter registration for the November 3 general election closes October 18. Early voting opens September 24. Visit muslimciviccoalition.org/voterhub.
Thank you to CIMIC for hosting us. Thank you to every person who came, spoke, listened, and stayed for Maghrib. You gave us your Friday evening and your honesty.
Questions or want to bring the tour to your community? Reach us at info@muslimciviccoalition.org
