First demographic report on Illinois Muslims is underway
Dilara Sayeed
Updated 12/20/2020 8:09 AM
The first comprehensive demographic report on Illinois Muslims is underway and initial findings are expected to be completed by fall 2021.
The Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition is partnering with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding and the University of Illinois Chicago to produce the report, which will provide a detailed portrait of Muslims statewide.
"It's to develop a much needed evidence-based needs, opportunities and demographics assessment of a diverse community that is often invisible, misunderstood and inaccurately portrayed," said Dilara Sayeed, president and co-founder of the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition and a former Naperville Unit District 203 teacher. "Illinois is home to one of the largest populations of Muslims in America. They are Black, because Nation of Islam has roots here.