Muslims for Progressive Values New York is back with our first mixer of 2026 ☀️ Come out to Astoria Park on Saturday, May 23rd between 4pm to 6pm for games and food!!
Our community is rooted in collective wellbeing; we are a group of pro-queer, anti-Zionist open hearted folks in NYC. If this sounds like you, come join us on May 23rd.
Salam & Rahma everyone!
After a post-Ramadan break, we'll insha'allah start up with our Virtual Qur’an Chats again on June 13th at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET. See you then!
We gather virtually or in-person to discuss the Quran. The group aims to be an inclusive space to connect to, struggle with, and grow from the sacred and deeply lyrical text while exploring the gamut of possible interpretations (whether progressivist, shia, modernist, sunni, feminist, sufi, queer, or salafi). Core to this endeavor is a commitment to 1) recognizing the historic multiplicity of Muslim interpretation and 2) embracing the diversity of our own personal experiences and understandings. In this process, we will differ and disagree - it's only natural! Let's embrace that and grow from one another.
Bring your whole selves into the conversation. Be respectful. Share air time so everyone has an opportunity to speak. There are no silly questions. Each of us are at different places of our spiritual journey and we look forward to supporting each other wherever we may be. No level of familiarity or knowledge of Arabic is required.
Explore an intimate portrait of two individuals that have fought so hard for peace in a world often fighting against them.
After 9/11, fear and Islamophobia spikes in America. Into this storm steps Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl - Islamic jurist, human rights advocate, and one of the fiercest critics of Wahhabism and the Saudi regime. His refusal to stay silent makes him a lightning rod: vilified, threatened, and nearly killed for his words. Surrounded by a private library of half a million books - some banned for centuries - Khaled fights for an Islam rooted in pluralism, democracy, and justice. At his side is Grace Song, his wife and partner, who shares in the danger and the defiance. Together they confront assassination attempts, smear campaigns, and the loneliness of standing against power. I'd Rather Be Dead Than Silent is a visceral portrait of courage under siege - a film that dares to ask what silence costs in an age of rising hate. Directed by Tina Mascara.
The film will be followed by a short panel discussion, including:
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl, film cast, Distinguished Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law
Grace Song, film cast, Executive Director THE USULI INSTITUTE
Tina Mascara, Director
Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director CAIR-LA/CEO CAIR-CA, Human Rights and Democracy Advocate
Light refreshments and prayer space available 7:15-8:00 pm
Join MPV Boston as we gather with Mass Peace Action and the Stan Strickland Quartet for an evening of Jazz for reflection and unbounded movement! Music and dance bring us together in joy and community.
This performance invites us into deep stillness. Sway and flow with the music, or jump up and shout!
During dark times, art is a light, and a powerful form of resistance. Let us come together and enjoy a bit of respite amidst the tragedies we face at home and abroad.
Stan Strickland (aka Rajahn) – Singer, saxophonist, flutist, Stan has performed throughout the US, Europe, New Zealand and the Caribbean. He has played with the Boston Pops, Aretha Franklin, Yusef Lateef, and Herbie Mann and has opened for Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, among others! He is Associate Professor of Voice at the Berklee College of Music and Executive Co-Director of EXPRESS YOURSELF, an organization serving youth who are mentally challenged. His one man show: ‘Coming Up for Air, an Auto-Jazzography’, received the prestigious Eliot Norton Award in Theater for best solo performance.
Akili Jamal Haynes – Akili Jamal Haynes’s artistic name is Chibuzo Dunun, as Chibuzo comes from the Igbo people in Nigeria and Dunun represents a family of drummers – often considered leaders in West African cultures. He is a faculty accompanist at Boston Conservatory at Berklee as well as the Harvard Dance Center. He served as assistant researcher and arranger for an Alvin Ailey Dance Theater production, directed by Judith Jamison. He is the founder, director, and multi-instrumentalist for Chibuzo Dunun and World of Chibuzo.
Josh Rosen – A distinguished composer and professor of Piano and Ensembles at Berklee College of Music, Josh has played to audiences in Europe and Africa. He has released nine critically acclaimed CDs with his unique jazz compositions, known for their melodic harmonies. Critics have praised his piano playing for its sophistication, emotional depth, and complexity. He performed with jazz greats, including Rakalam Bob Moses, and Joe Lovano, and he was part of the Lincoln Center’s Summer Festival.
Max Ridley – A very active Boston-based musician, composer and teacher who attended Boston Arts High School after falling in love with the Double Bass and the art of improvised music. Max was awarded full scholarships to study at the Berklee College of Music and also earned his master’s degree from Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute. Max has played with leading musicians such as Kenny Weiner, Terry Lyne Carrington, and Perico Sambeat. He has performed at the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and at the Umbria Jazz Festival.
Muslims for Progressive Values is excited to bring to our community the Progressive Islam Curriculum Live Workshop with Kendra Cordova, educator, MPV Board Member, and the brilliant mind behind our Youtube Series, MPV with Kendra.
The 13th workshop in this online series will cover Lessons 4 and 5 of the Progressive Islam Curriculum's Unit 7 "Sexual and Gender Diversity in Islam", which explores the various instances of affirmation and acceptability of sexual and gender diversity throughout Islamic history and analysis of four Islamic values to understand how Islamic teachings can accommodate the idea that an individual’s sexual and gender orientation is an intrinsic part of their biological and physiological makeup.
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM PT | 9:00 PM CT | 10:00 PM ET
Registration Fee: $15 donation to Muslims for Progressive Values' Public Education Fund to compensate our educator with the benefit of an interactive question and answer session. If you would like to attend but cannot afford the $15 donation to MPV, please reach out to us at info@mpvusa.org before registering so we can confirm if we have a sponsorship available to you.
*Pay your registration fee here*
Sexism and patriarchy remain dominant infrastructures in today's world. Reshaping that infrastructure and the centuries-old mindset that accompanies it requires collective engagement and action from us all, working in allyship with one another. It is only when we lift each other up collectively that we can finally dismantle the walls of inequality and oppression built by the patriarchy.
Ani Zonneveld exemplifies this spirit as a pioneering voice for progressive Islam and social justice. She is an award winning songwriter, Founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values, and author of the book, An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count as a Muslim Feminist .
In this session, Ani shares her personal and professional experiences in advocating for human rights, gender equality, and religious freedom. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the intersections between faith, feminism, and activism and the various initiatives she's created in countering patriarchy and sexism in society including her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and in opposing the misuse of religion to justify prejudice.
Muslims for Progressive Values Boston is partnering with the Wicked Queer Film Festival to co-present the ‘Tender Revolutions - Queer SWANA Stories’ short film program. This is a 90 minute collection of short films celebrating love in all of its different forms across Southwest Asia and North Africa, as well as the Muslim world.
This is a ticketed event and will be held at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA on April 5th at 4:30 PM.
Join MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld at Busboys and Poets in Washington DC for a book signing and reading of her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
Location: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street NW Washington DC 20009
Program: Book reading, brief song sharing, discussion, and book signing
Join Muslims for Progressive Values Founder & President Ani Zonneveld on March 30, 2026 at OLLI at Berkshire Community College for a book signing and reading from her memoir, An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior. An in-person only event will be held from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, followed by a hybrid event from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
MPV Boston is delighted to invite you to join us for an Eid Prayer and Social!
Gathering Details
Friday, March 20, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM ET
Community Church of Boston (2nd Floor), 565 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Accessibility: This space is wheelchair accessible. The main door will be unlocked, please open the door and either take the stairs or the elevator to the second floor.
We look forward to celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan in community with you!
Muslims for Progressive Values is excited to bring to our community the Progressive Islam Curriculum Live Workshop with Kendra Cordova, educator, MPV Board Member, and the brilliant mind behind our Youtube Series, MPV with Kendra.
The 12th workshop in this online series will cover Lessons 1, 2, and 3 of the Progressive Islam Curriculum's Unit 7 "Sexual and Gender Diversity in Islam, which explores the presence of sexual and gender diversity in Islam's texts and history to apply a progressive hermeneutical approach to discern the permissibility of these diverse identities in Islamic teachings. Workshop participants will review the Qur’an, to identify verses that demonstrate both acceptance and affirmation of sexual and gender diversity, and the Hadith, which highlights the Prophet’s interactions with individuals with diverse sexual and gender identities.
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM PT | 9:00 PM CT | 10:00 PM ET
Registration Fee: $15 donation to Muslims for Progressive Values' Public Education Fund to compensate our educator with the benefit of an interactive question and answer session.
*Pay your registration fee here*
MPV Los Angeles Virtual Qur’an Chat
Join MPV Los Angeles every Saturday at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET during the month of Ramadan for a virtual Qur’an Chat!
This two-hour workshop, co-hosted by the Gender Working Group of the MFAC and members of the U.N. Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (IATF-Religion) and led by MPV’s President, Ani Zonneveld, will provide a platform for faith-based actors and secular feminists to discuss key findings from the research compendium, co-create practical strategies for faith-based action and advocacy, and build partnerships and accountability mechanisms across faith traditions.
Salaam Community!
We are so excited to enjoy an Iftar with our community this Ramadan! Please join us on Saturday, March 7th for a potluck dinner, communal prayer, and joyful fellowship. We plan to gather at 5:30pm, break our fast at sunset at 6:08pm, pray Maghrib and then hang out and share a meal. We welcome new and familiar faces, progressive Muslims and allies, and those who want to respectfully join us. Please feel free to bring your children, and non-Muslim friends or family members!
Please bring a halal dish to share. If you are not able to bring a dish, please still come! Let us know what you can bring in this document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10BqmpYenvpbO3kNzC4pug95qH2YHY0ouxrBRfbg3sq4/edit?usp=sharing
We encourage carpooling! Please email sanfrancisco@mpvusa.org if you need a ride or can offer one. For public transit, you can take #7 bus from Berkeley BART and walk 0.3 miles to the church.
We will gather in the Fireside room at the UU church at 1 Lawson Rd, Kensington, CA. Enter through the front doors, and head straight toward the back of the building to the right. We will post signs. There may be another event in the building in a different room, so follow signs and directions to find us.
Looking forward to seeing everyone, Inshallah!
Ramadan Mubarak Everyone!
I'm looking forward to hosting iftar on Saturday, March 7, at my place in West LA (Zip Code 90064). Fast breaking time around 5:54pm that day. I'll make a main dish but feel free to bring side dishes to share.
More details to come!
Join Muslims for Progressive Values for "The De‑Spiritualization of Women: Patriarchy and the Erasure of Female Sacred Agency in Islamic Tradition", a Learning Circle with Dr. Hasib Nasiri.
Date 🗓 March 7, 2026
Time 🕘 11:30 AM PT | 2:30 PM ET | 8:30 PM CET
About the Learning Circle: This lecture examines how patriarchal interpretations within Muslim history have gradually stripped women of their spiritual authority, reducing them to domestic and biological roles. Drawing on Muslim feminist scholarship, it highlights how these limitations emerged through specific historical and political processes, and invites participants to reimagine an Islamic tradition where women’s sacred agency is fully restored.
About the Presenter: Dr. Hasib Nasiri is a Danish‑Afghan philosopher whose work sits at the intersection of Islamic philosophy, theology, and gender in the Islamic tradition. He earned his doctorate from Uppsala University on a dissertation examining the role of religious critique in Islamic thought. Since 2020, Dr. Nasiri has facilitated reading circles in Islamic feminism with more than 110 participants across both introductory and advanced levels. These circles have become a space for learning, reflection, and community, created for a deeper learning.
Join MPV Los Angeles every Saturday at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET during the month of Ramadan for a virtual Qur’an Chat!
Ramadan Mubarak Everyone!
Seyhan is graciously hosting an iftar on Tuesday, March 3, at her home in West Hollywood (Zip Code 90046). Fast breaking time around 5:51pm that day.
More details to come!
Every year I organize an iftar at my home, and this year is no exception! The address is in the 90068 zip code and the exact address will be shared to the 'yes' RSVPs 48 hours before the night of. Be sure to have your message notification turned on.
I welcome everyone, but unless I know you personally, for security reasons I do require you to have a legit Meetup profile.
I will provide Malaysian chicken curry for the main dish, but you are more than welcome to bring an appetizer, salad or dessert. If you do, please post what item you will be bringing on the event page.
Drinks: for conservation reasons, please bring your own water bottle and/or your favorite drink. I will provide cups.
If you want to help me setup, please reach out!
If you are interested in buying a copy of my memoir, signed copies will be available for a discounted purchase, $40 for a hardcopy and $30 for a paperback.
Wishing you a blessed Ramadan!
We invite you to join us for a Community Teach-In about Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism) and Zionism that will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, 3 pm-5 pm at the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, 160 N 3rd St., San Jose, CA 95112. The Teach-In is open to anyone who is interested in participating, but registration is required as space is limited. The Teach-In will be a combination of lecture-style presentation and small group discussions with other participants.
This event is co-sponsored by: Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, Green Party of Santa Clara County, Hindus for Human Rights, Human Agenda, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Jewish Voice for Peace-Bay Area & South Bay, Muslims for Progressive Values, San Jose Against War, and San Jose Peace and Justice Center.
If you have any questions, please contact vivek@hindusforhumanrights.org
Join MPV Los Angeles every Saturday at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET during the month of Ramadan for a virtual Qur’an Chat!
We are delighted to invite you to join us for our Annual Community Iftar Gathering!
Gathering Details
Friday, February 27, 2026
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Community Church of Boston (2nd Floor), 565 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Accessibility: This space is wheelchair accessible. The main door will be unlocked, please open the door and either take the stairs or the elevator to the second floor.
Volunteers Needed (Poets, Singers, Storytellers, Artists, Chefs) We need your beautiful creative input at our open mic, our raffle fundraiser, and our potluck! Please let us know if you can contribute your energy, creativity, or culinary talents on the RSVP.
Join MPV Los Angeles every Saturday at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET during the month of Ramadan for a virtual Qur’an Chat!
Muslims for Progressive Values is sponsoring this evening's performance. Ticket discounts and dinner details forth coming.
In the meantime, find out more about the play on their Instagram.
Join MPV and Faith in Action on March 9, 2026 at 8:30 - 10:30 AM ET for a Workshop of the Compendium on Inclusive Sacred Dialogue.
This two-hour workshop, co-hosted by the Gender Working Group of the MFAC and members of the U.N. Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (IATF-Religion), will provide a platform for faith-based actors and secular feminists to discuss key findings from the research compendium, co-create practical strategies for faith-based action and advocacy, and build partnerships and accountability mechanisms across faith traditions.
Join MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld at Jewish Theological Seminary for a book reading event for her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, February 18 2026
Location: Private Dining Room at Jewish Theological Seminary 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA
Time: 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Program: Book reading, Q&A, and book signing
Join MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld at Union Theological Seminary in New York City for a Ramadan reading, musical event, lunch, book signing, and book reading of her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday February 17, 2026
Location: Union Theological Seminary
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET
Program: Ramadan reading, musical event, lunch, book signing, and book reading
Join MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld at Princeton Public Library for a book signing and reading of her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Event Details
Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET
Location: The Community Room at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA
Program: Book reading, Q&A, and book signing
Join the Interfaith Center for a Virtual Book Talk with MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld as she reads from her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Date: Friday, February 6 2026
Time: 12:00 PM PT | 3 PM ET
Location: Virtual
Join MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld at Manhattan College, Bronx for book signing and reading of her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, February 3
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
Location: Manhattan University, 4513 Manhattan College Pkwy, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
Program: Book reading, Q&A, and book signing
Please join MPV Boston for our upcoming community watch party on this Saturday, January 31 from 3:00 - 5:00pm at PSF Community Center!
This time, we will be watching Homebound. It's a Bollywood film that centers on anti-Muslim discrimination in India and was recently shortlisted for the 2026 Oscars. English subtitles will be on. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Join MPV’s Founder and President Ani Zonneveld at Library Square in Little Rock, Arkansas for a screening of “Witness”, keynote speech, book signing, and book reading of her recently published memoir, “An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count As A Muslim Feminist”.
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM CT
Location: Library Square, 100 River Market Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201
Program: Screening of the short film "Witness", keynote speech, book reading, Q&A, and book signing
