OUR MISSION
Our mission is to support the career, workplace, and community development of Muslim American public servants and serve as a catalyst, resource, and force multiplier for the associations that represent and support them. MAPS aims to expand and harness the rich, collective contributions of Muslim Americans across public service sectors to build a more just and equitable United States.
We build community across government & civil society.
MAPS aims to foster community and serve as a connector among Muslim public servants within all branches and levels of government. MAPS will also share resources and ideas for professionals interested in forming new civil society groups, employee-led organizations, or MAPS chapters at their public institutions or local communities, and support and coordinate existing Muslim employee and professional associations and their programs and activities.
We unlock potential by supporting conducive workplaces & professional growth.
MAPS aims to facilitate welcome spaces for Muslim public service professionals, and promote their further contributions and achievements. MAPS will serve as a strategic partner in fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion within public institutions and will support existing institutional efforts to maintain safe workplaces free of discrimination. MAPS will also create or promote professional networking, mentorship, career education and advancement, and skill development resources among members and within MAPS chapters and partners.
We cultivate the next generation of American Muslim public service.
Broadening pipelines into public service is critical to not only MAPS, but our broader mission as American public servants. MAPS will share resources and launch outreach programs, in collaboration with local and national service organizations across the country, to ensure Muslim American young professionals are part of the national efforts to build a public service workforce that looks more like America.
OUR SCOPE
While we focus primarily on government officials, MAPS defines public service broadly to include anyone working on public policy and engaged in national service. MAPS welcomes all; those identifying as Muslim, as well as allies and anyone interested in becoming part of our community.
OUR VALUES
MAPS believes that the United States is enriched by the contributions of Muslim Americans and other people of faith. A more inclusive Federal, State and local workforce strengthens the institutions they serve and ultimately, the American public, by providing a broad range of skills and a diversity of experiences and perspectives. A diverse civil and foreign service is also essential to our national security, both at home and abroad.
MAPS believes that Muslim professionals should exercise their right of association at the workplace, and be accorded all other rights and privileges available to them free from discrimination. Members of MAPS are also committed to public institutions that allow employees to observe their religious beliefs either alone or in congregation with others, in accordance with Federal laws and guidelines.
MAPS draws from Islamic faith traditions to promote the Muslim and American values of freedom of religion, equality and solidarity, community building, and public service:
- Religious Freedom: “There shall be no coercion in matters of faith.” (Quran 2:256); “For you is your faith, and for me, my faith.” (Quran 109:6)
- Equality and Solidarity: “We have made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another.” (Quran 49:13)
- Community building: “Never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves,” (Quran 13:11); “Help ye one another unto righteousness and piety. But help not one another unto sin and transgression,” (Quran 5:2); “Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, God will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, God will remove one of his troubles” (Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, Al-Bukhari, Chapter 47, Al-Mazalim, 2442).
- Public Service: “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people” (Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, Al-Tabarani, Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsaṭ, 5937).
OUR BYLAWS
To obtain and review a copy of MAPS’ current bylaws, dated January, 2021, please contact us.