{"id":76420,"date":"2021-12-27T10:54:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T15:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imam-us.org\/?page_id=76420"},"modified":"2024-12-11T13:45:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T18:45:18","slug":"a-blueprint-for-the-shia-muslim-community-of-north-america","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/imam-us.org\/a-blueprint-for-the-shia-muslim-community-of-north-america","title":{"rendered":"A Blueprint\u00a0for the Shia Muslim Community\u00a0of North America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><b>A Blueprint&nbsp;<\/b><b>for the Shia Muslim Community&nbsp;<\/b><b>of North America<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Developed by I.M.A.M. 2011 | Updated 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image no-overflow\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/imam-us.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Shia-Community-Blueprint-2024-925x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-132081\" style=\"width:368px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Almighty God says,&nbsp;&#8220;&#8230; <strong>cooperate<\/strong>&#8230;&#8221; [Quran 5:2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">As a community and as a whole, we are just like a mechanical engine that contains many cogwheels. Each one plays its role and every wheel is counted. It is makes no difference if the wheel is large or small for if a single one gets damaged, it will cause the entire machine to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&amp;hp) said, &#8220;<em>God&#8217;s hand [support and power] is with unity and cooperative work.<\/em>&#8221; There is no way to succeed without cooperation. So, &#8220;<em>cooperate<\/em>&#8221; as God says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I.M.A.M.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Introduction<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This document is a repository of ideas that illustrates how Shia Muslims in the United States of America and Canada view the path forward and the future of their communities, and what these communities should resemble within the scope of the guidance of the Supreme Religious Authority.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first draft was prepared by the Imam Mahdi Association of Marjaeya (I.M.A.M.) in 2010 after consulting more than a hundred professionals, experts, and key leaders from the Shia Muslim community in the United States and Canada. It was called \u201cThe Shia Roadmap\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2011, the Roadmap was presented to The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America during its 11<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> conference held in Dearborn, Michigan where it received the Council\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imams.us\/resolution-of-the-eleventh-annual-conference-of-the-shia-muslim-scholars-of-north-america\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">endorsement<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then, this detailed vision has been reformulated into a universal blueprint that describes the key elements necessary for the Shia Muslim community at large to thrive and advance in North America.&nbsp; This initiative needs further development by the next generation of young professionals to become a comprehensive plan. There is no single organization, institution, or group that can take on this huge project alone. All Shia Muslim organizations are like the individual parts of one body that will carry the community members to their destination. Almighty God says, \u201c\u2026 Cooperate with each other in righteousness and piety\u2026\u201d. [Quran 5: 2].<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I.M.A.M. is providing a concise summary of this Blueprint with the goal of fostering cooperation and collaboration on mutually beneficial endeavors and to create a platform for anyone who is interested to come together and work on one or more of the tasks in this immense project. I.M.A.M. is privileged as the Liaison Office of the Supreme Religious Authority to bolster and support this initiative to the fullest and will work tirelessly, sparing no expense to make it happen.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I.M.A.M.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Executive Summary<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Shia Muslims, we come together as a community based on our religious beliefs. We look to engrain within ourselves the morals and teachings of the Holy Qur&#8217;\u0101n and the Ahl al-Bayt (pbut). Over time, the religious leadership, as a continuum and representation of our 12th Holy Im\u0101m (p), has worked tirelessly to provide direction to the community and its decisions are made by consulting experts in different focus areas, which demonstrates the importance of outreach to those knowledgeable in various fields.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the Liaison Office of the Supreme Religious Authority, I.M.A.M. serves the community by implementing the strategic vision of our religious leadership or <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marjaeya<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This vision is to serve the collective advancement of the Shia Muslim community of North America.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We see a promising future for the North American Shia community based on our presence amongst the Shia communities and our interactions with the leaders across the continent. Still, there is a vital need for further development, maturation, and growth. Cooperation and collaboration among local Shia entities is lacking and underdeveloped. Furthermore, the talents, skills, capabilities, and overall potential of the Shia are not being optimally utilized and invested. The need for a cohesive and outlined strategic vision for the Shia Muslim community is dire and one that must be developed immediately in order to streamline our efforts and serve the advancement of the community.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, we have created \u201cThe Blueprint for the Shia Muslim Community of North America\u201d, a strategic document that provides a framework for professionals and community leaders to work towards mutual goals and objectives. As such, our analysis of the current state, aided with the recommendations of experts and professionals from around the continent, resulted in the creation of several focus areas.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This document is a collection of key elements in several focus areas that have a direct impact on our future development. It serves as a vehicle to foster the discussion of our strategic goals and objectives to help us progress as a community. I.M.A.M. has adopted it as its strategic vision for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I.M.A.M. is taking this bold step in order to invite experts from various disciplines and professions and solicit their expert insight and participation in developing a future plan of action.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order for the Shia community in North America to be more cohesive, influential, and effective in its advancement, there needs to be a concerted and collaborative effort and dedicated resources in the following areas:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educational standards and tools for learning<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Religious and spiritual maintenance, preservation and growth&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fostering identity at every life-stage<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social engagement and empowerment<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordinated humanitarian services&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public relations and outreach&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civic involvement&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cultural development and heritage preservation&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal guidance and networking<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial invigoration and support&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reinforcing organizational infrastructure<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capacity-building and leadership<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/imam-us.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Shia-Community-Blueprint-2024-925x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-132081\" style=\"width:509px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Focus Areas<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The A Blueprint for the Shia Muslim Community developed from a fundamental goal within Imam Mahdi Association of Marjaeya (I.M.A.M.) to advance the cause of the Shia Muslim community in North America. There was a growing concern that Shia organizations across the continent were insular and working in isolation and duplicating each other\u2019s efforts. Therefore, I.M.A.M. embarked on this effort in order to coalesce the efforts of Shia Muslims in North America, foster communication and cooperation, and efficiently advance towards our common long-term goals. This can be achieved by focusing on the following areas:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Educational standards and tools for learning<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Education and learning play a vital role in the development of the global Shia Muslim population. As a community, we must dedicate significant effort into delivering the best education to all members of the community. This will be achieved by establishing:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">K-12 schools<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schools for higher education<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A nationwide Shia Muslim Education Council to examine the state of all the Shia Muslim schools in North America and to help establish and maintain such entities in their own localities<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think tanks and institutions for advanced and strategic studies<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resources to create a scholarship fund to aid Shia Muslim students in North America<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Academic credentials for our <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hawza-educated<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> scholars<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Shia university on par with top universities in the continent<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Religious and spiritual maintenance, preservation and growth<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Religious and spiritual development must be in accordance with the Qur\u2019\u0101n and the teachings of Prophet Mu<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ammad (pbuh&amp;hp) and the twelve Imams (pbut), and must focus on the individual Shia Muslim as well as the community at-large. This can be achieved by:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing mosques and centers<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recruitment and development of qualified scholars or imams for mosques and centers<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizing regular religious programs including daily prayers, Friday prayers, and the commemoration of important religious occasions<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acquisition or development of high-quality resources for all age groups and in all forms of media&nbsp;(print and digital).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing high-quality weekend Islamic Schools<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acquisition or development of Islamic curricula to serve weekend schools, private schools, online learning and homeschools.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotion of Islamic extra-curricular and recreational activities such as scout programs and afterschool clubs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishment of adult education classes for born-Muslims and converts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Fostering identity at every life-stage<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is critical that Shia Muslims in North America feel a true sense of belonging to the community in which they live. Therefore, the principles and responsibilities of good citizenship must be explained further so that it becomes clear and well-understood. We need to also focus on providing younger generations with a clear understanding of their identity, which must be shaped by our belief system while also taking into account that it is culturally diverse and blended. Based on a true realization of the North American Shia Muslim identity, it is important that we fulfill our obligations, not only to the community, but to the broader society. These obligations include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identity development programs based on the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt (as) which emphasize creed:<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The purpose of existence<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to realize one\u2019s own purpose in life and navigate through various crises&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to establish positive relationships with the Creator, oneself, and others (whether Muslim or non-Muslim)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The concept of mercy and justice<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emphasizing the principle of citizenship in our teachings<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stressing integration into the larger society while preserving our identity<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting individual positive heritage and background<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing, through various means, an understanding of what it means to be a North American Shia Muslim<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building a strong sense of community amongst all Shia Muslims in North America and other vibrant communities through communication and collaboration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Social engagement and empowerment<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our faith addresses what we aspire towards and provides solutions for social issues that exist in society. Thus, it is important that we provide the following services:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anti-violence programs against women and children<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drug- and sex-addiction rehabilitation programs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foster care programs for migrant women and children<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senior citizen homes<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hospice care<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diversity training programs for Islamic centers and organizations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Coordinated humanitarian services<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We should emphasize the importance of serving and caring for those who are disadvantaged and help them by establishing the following:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initiatives to support orphans<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infrastructure to support refugees<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senior home-care programs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mechanisms to aid those affected by catastrophes or natural disasters<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Public relations and outreach<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is essential that we strengthen our networks so we can voice our concerns and viewpoints, and disseminate sound information to the Shia Muslim community continent-wide as well as non-Shia Muslims and non-Muslims. Moreover, we should promote dialogue and cooperation on mutual goals. This could be accomplished through the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use media to communicate new developments and reach out to all Shia Muslims in North America.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a platform where Shia Muslims can enter information regarding their profession or area of expertise so that it can serve as a resource for networking and collaboration.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop a unified platform to denounce extremism and false depiction of Islam and Shiism.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishment of outreach programs to engage non-Shia Muslims and non-Muslims through intra\/interfaith conferences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Civic involvement<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Become part of the policy-making process at the local, state\/province, and federal levels of government to have a voice in our future. It is crucial that our voices are heard and our opinions are taken into consideration. Therefore, it is important to be part of the discussion on issues that affect us locally and nationally.&nbsp; This could be accomplished through the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emphasizing census participation<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting civic duty and service<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encouraging participation in voting so change can be effective to advance the Shia Muslim agenda in North America and to influence outcomes in our communities<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defending the civil rights of Shia Muslims in North America<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing nationwide campaigns to educate the Shia on their rights and ability to advocate for decision-making matters.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporting candidates for public office from our own communities and those who advocate for our rights.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"convertful-229366\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Cultural development and heritage preservation<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In strategic partnerships with public and private institutions, innovative cultural programs that support economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainability will need to be developed. We will become more competitive and resilient through programs and projects that&nbsp;help reduce poverty, improve the quality of life, and&nbsp;increase social equity. This can be accomplished through the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting sustainable tourism to holy sites with initiatives that strengthen cultural heritage and embrace geo-tourism as an effective and&nbsp;enduring form of economic and social development<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preservation of culture depends not only on the conservation of tangible heritage but also by recognizing the value of knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation through religious practices, customs, and language and spreading it to our communities. Therefore, we must prioritize projects that focus on ingraining culture in the youth<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishment of cultural museums at local and national levels to preserve our cultural identity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Legal guidance and networking<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We must understand and leverage our legal rights as citizens to preserve the status of Shia Muslims across the continent.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> To do this, we must:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educate and promote law-abiding citizenship<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defend the rights of Shia Muslims by creating a Shia Muslim Legal Counsel in various areas where the Shia reside to take on cases concerning Shia Muslims and their rights<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Form a Legal Defense Council comprised of Shia lawyers<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certify our centers\u2019 leaders as licensed clergymen to gain legal status in all matters related to Shia Muslim social and family affairs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establish a scholarship fund to encourage a predetermined number of our young people to study law with the condition they serve the Shia community pro bono for 5 years after graduation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create proper marriage and divorce processes that will protect the interest of all parties involved in civil court proceedings.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establish a Shia Muslim Divorce Committee to look into issues of divorce and receive the authority of the Jurist to execute a divorce<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educate those involved in marriage and divorce issues of the relevant legal processes<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Align the legal process with the religious process so inheritance and wills are addressed clearly and to ensure the rights of Shia Muslims are not infringed upon because of negligence or ignorance in the legal process<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Financial invigoration and support<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The financial stability of the Shia Muslim and the community is essential. It is imperative to find proper legal and religious means to increase the wealth and assets of the Shia Muslim and community in order to provide stability in our journey to success. Some of the means through which this can be accomplished is by pursuing:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishment of financial programs to overcome poverty and shift our community members off welfare<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organization of the spending of religious dues in North America<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A network for the purpose of career development and job searches<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishment of sound financial planning to advance the causes of the Shia Muslim Community in North America<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Form a Business Advisory Council composed of Shia leaders and experts to advise and support individual and community initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Reinforcing organizational infrastructure<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizational development is an attempt to encourage the members of an organization to expand their candidness with each other about their views of the organization, their experience during their involvement, and to take greater responsibility for their own actions as members. The assumption behind Organizational development is that when people pursue both of these objectives simultaneously, they are likely to discover new ways of working together that prove more effective for achieving their own personal and shared (organizational) goals. Our intention is to improve the effectiveness of people and organizations by:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing relationships and liaising with key personnel in the organization<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researching and evaluating systems in the organization to understand dysfunctions and\/or goals of the systems in the organization (&#8220;diagnosing&#8221; the systems in the organization)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifying approaches (or &#8220;interventions&#8221;) to improve the effectiveness of the organization and its personnel<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applying approaches to improve effectiveness (methods of &#8220;planned change&#8221; in the organization)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluating the ongoing effectiveness of the approaches and their results<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Capacity Building and Leadership Development<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An important task for us as Shia Muslims is capacity building in the various communities by maintaining and leveraging current expertise and grooming and developing the leaders of tomorrow. We can accomplish this by:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bridging the generation gap between current community leaders and youth groups<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating functional succession plans to ensure efforts persist at a high level<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focusing upon fostering\/developing female leaders<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Producing material for personal skills development<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Producing a plan for youth engagement in community affairs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Empowering youth with community projects which match their passion and needs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consulting professional corporate experts to develop leadership protocols and education material within the context of our communities<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing a panel of experts to deliver leadership training<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raising awareness of the need for leadership development programs<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically developing the capacity of young professionals, women and any group that is disenfranchised or marginalized.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Blueprint&nbsp;for the Shia Muslim Community&nbsp;of North America Developed by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-with-right-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-76420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - 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