80% of congressional seats, numerous local positions, along with one supreme court seat are up for election this November. American Muslims have been at the center of political rhetoricand discourse from both parties. The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) will offer data driven recommendations on how everyone, even those from marginalized communities, can be engaged in the political process, locally and nationally. This session will provide empirical evidence on the opinions and policy priorities that can be used to respond to stereotypes of the American Muslim community; deconstruct the Islamophobia industry and understand how it’s used as a legislative tactic; and preview ISPU's interactive Legislative Map.

Sarrah Buageila is the Project Manager for ISPU’s Research Department. Sarrah spent eleven years at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan where she has worked as an Interviewer, Research Assistant, and Project Manager within the Project Design and Management Group. She primarily worked on the National Survey of Family Growth, a study of the National Center for Health Statistics. Sarrah has co-authored papers for the International Field Directors and Technologies Conference and the American Association for Public Opinion Research Conference. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and has completed Graduate work towards a Masters of Liberal Arts in American Studies.
Saeed A. Khan is currently in the Department of History and Lecturer in the Department of Near East & Asian Studies at Wayne State University-Detroit, Michigan, where he teaches Islamic and Middle East History, Islamic Civilizations and History of Islamic Political Thought. Mr. Khan is also a Research Fellow at Wayne State University’s Center for the Study of Citizenship. He is also Adjunct Professor in Islamic Studies at the University of Detroit-Mercy and at Rochester College, co-teaching a course on Muslim-Christian Diversity. With areas of focus including US policy, globalization, Middle East and Islamic Studies, as well as genomics and bioethics, Mr. Khan has been a contributor to several media agencies, such as C-Span, NPR, Voice of America and the National Press Club.