Muslim Civic Coalition Hosts Strategic Planning Retreat for Allies United Coalition
Chicago, IL – April 9, 2026 – The Muslim Civic Coalition, a partnership of hundreds of changemakers and organizations dedicated to educating, collaborating, and amplifying social and civic efforts across diverse races, faiths, and communities in pursuit of civic justice, hosted the an in-person strategic retreat for the newly formed Allies United coalition.
As a steering committee member of Allies United, alongside our role on the steering committee of the PAVE Coalition and active membership in coalitions including Rainbow Push Coalition, ICIRR, Multifaith Immigrant Justice Alliance (MIJA), Illinois Revenue Alliance, Illinois Redistricting Collaborative, Illinois Coalition for Human Rights and others, the Muslim Civic Coalition and Chinese American Service League, facilitated the half-day strategic planning session on April 2 at Impact House in Chicago.
The retreat brought together leaders from multiracial, multi-ethnic, multi-faith, and multi-issue communities to align on mission, governance, and priorities for 2026. Key outcomes included:
Refinement of the coalition’s mission and purpose, centered on protecting civil rights and building cross-community solidarity
Agreement on core 2026 priorities, including timely issue areas for collective action
Establishment of a sustainable governance structure and the launch of working groups to advance the coalition’s work moving forward
Amina Barhumi, Executive Director of the Muslim Civic Coalition, stated: “We are at a defining moment. As the government escalates violence in our streets with fascist impunity, kidnapping and separating families, we cannot afford to stand alone. It is urgent that we build deep trust and relationships with partners across faiths, race, and issues. We must enter these spaces together, because we are fighting the same fights: against fascism, imperialism, illegal wars abroad, and the brutal attacks on our neighbors right here at home.”
This strategic retreat marks a significant step in strengthening coordinated action across communities. The next major milestone is the Allies United Breakfast on April 30 at the Chicago Urban League, which will feature trust-building activities, a panel discussion, and a public press conference.
Register to attend the breakfast here.