WORDE specialists collaborate, advise and provide resources to the US Government on a number of foreign and domestic issues from countering violent extremism, homeland security, civil rights, to Muslim-community outreach and engagement. We provide policymakers, law enforcement, and public officials with a better understanding of the difference between mainstream Islam and radical ideologies. Our specialists also work with government recruiters to encourage young Muslim Americans to serve our country. In this capacity, WORDE strives to engender trust between the government and Muslim American communities through several avenues including the Heritage Council, US Department of Justice, US Department of Defense, the Congressional Anti-Terror Caucus, and the LAPD.
COUNTER-RADICALIZATION INITIATIVES
As America faces a growing threat of homegrown terrorism, it is increasingly essential that Muslim communities and policymakers collaborate to undercut radical ideologies that lead to violent extremism. With input from law enforcement agencies, Muslim community leaders, and youth in America, WORDE developed a series of projects to counter radicalization. WORDE’s publications on developing a national agenda to counter “homegrown” radicalization explore ways that Muslim communities and policymakers can create bottom-up efforts to address the evolving threat of homegrown radicalization, tackle the dangerous ideology underlying the movement, and engender greater trust between the government and Muslim communities.
WORDE educates policymakers and law enforcement officials about the differences between mainstream Islamic ideologies, and radical ideologies promoted by violent extremists. Our training provides participants the tools to conduct effective outreach efforts to Muslim organizations and socio-cultural networks that uphold shared values. These values include religious freedom of all persons, non-violence in conflict resolution, and respect for the government’s rule of law and its ability to provide social justice. Across the world, millions of Muslims uphold these values and have the capacity to counter radical narratives, promote social cohesion, conduct development and humanitarian assistance work, and mediate peaceful conflict resolution.
EMPOWERING ASJ & SUFI MUSLIM NETWORKS
Across the world, in Pakistan, Indonesia, Singapore, Yemen and the United Kingdom, WORDE is actively engaged with empowering traditional Muslim networks to strengthen their communities against the rising threat of violent extremism. At WORDE, we believe the US should establish a good working relationship with religious and cultural leaders who adamantly reject the radical ideology of the terrorists and could serve as a bulwark against militants. Our strategy includes investing in human capital, facilitating linkages with local and international public policymakers, and establishing international networks of moderate Muslim scholars, cultural groups, and thought leaders that empower one another to generate positive change.
Phoenix Press is a unique endeavor to amplify the voices of thought leaders, international authors, activists, and politicians throughout the world who struggle to bring social justice to developing countries, combat religious radicalism, and to promote universal rights of human dignity and equality of gender. Through its publications, it also seeks to educate people about the beauty, complexity and cultural richness of societies they may only encounter through the written word.
INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CENTER (ICC)
Located in Gaithersburg, MD, the ICC is a forum where people from all traditions can converge to promote principles of peace, social harmony and plurality through prose, music, meditation and sacred movement. We are developing the center to become a space for cultivating positive social networks — where the community can foster a sense of belonging and youth can channel their energy into peaceful, productive outlets.