Announcing

Dr. Dilara Sayeed

Stepping Down as President of the Muslim Civic Coalition

Dear Community Members, Partners, Donors, and Allies,

We write today with deep gratitude and clarity to share a leadership transition that has been part of the Coalition succession plan since inception.

After 10 years of dedicated and inspiring service as part of the founding team, Dr. Dilara Sayeed

will be stepping down as President of the Muslim Civic Coalition,

effective January 30, 2026.

Dilara will continue to be a Board Member of both the Muslim Civic Coalition (501c3) and the Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate (501c4), ensuring continuity, institutional memory, strategic vision, and ongoing stewardship.

This transition comes with full confidence in the Coalition’s strength, leadership pipeline, and future direction. Under Dilara’s leadership and nurturing, the Muslim Civic Coalition has grown from a bold vision into a nationally recognized civic institution.

During her tenure, the Coalition:

Mobilized 150+ partner and ally organizations across diverse faith, race, and backgrounds to advance justice and strengthen civic power. Today, we have one of the largest and most diverse Muslim and ally civic leadership networks in the country -ready to respond to pressing needs.

Launched and scaled successful leadership fellowships, candidate pipelines, and civic education programs to increase capacity in our community members. 98% of the 2025 Fellows stated their experience with the Coalition was "powerful" or "very powerful". The Coalition has nurtured a diverse and talented team who will continue this work.

Recruited, hired, and fully staffed an empowered and diverse team. The Advocacy and Policy initiative led the passing of over 9 bills into law, and supported over 25 bills by partners and allies - at local, state, and federal levels. These bills protect us, increase services to those who need them, and help every family thrive. The Voter Education and Turnout initiative has one of the strongest systems of grassroots civic engagement strategy and execution. All departments work in cohesion to serve our diverse communities.

Ensured successful fiscal sustainability through recurring grants, donors, and sponsorships. Dilara also initiated a Halal-compliant endowment that has an annual contribution of 5-10% of revenue, plus growth.

Responded to moments of crisis with principled leadership, narrative clarity, and respectful coalition-building. Dilara has elevated American Muslim civic participation while strengthening relationships with broader American neighbors across diverse races, faiths, and backgrounds.

This work was not without challenge. Dilara led through periods of political polarization, rising Islamophobia, disinformation, resource constraints, and community trauma - while insisting on integrity, courage, and a long-term vision for civic power-building rooted in values.

The Coalition is stable, well-resourced, and poised for its next phase of impact. We are profoundly grateful to Dr. Dilara Sayeed for her leadership, sacrifice, and belief in what Muslim civic power can accomplish when it is principled, strategic, and people-centered.

Dilara’s decision to step down reflects both completion and calling: completion of a foundational chapter for the Coalition, an opportunity to model strength in leadership succession and transition, and a calling to bring her experience to new arenas of service where humanitarian relief, policy, and national/global solidarity intersect.

We are completing the comprehensive process to fill the crucial role of Executive Director of the Muslim Civic Coalition. Apply or encourage others to apply by January 25, 2026 to this role: http://Bit.ly/CoalitionExecutiveDirector

With gratitude and resolve,

Sameeer Afsar and Reema Kamran

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Muslim Civic Coalition

IN GRATITUDE

Muslim Civic Coalition’s commitment to youth and advocacy support the greatest needs in our community, inspiring the leaders of today and tomorrow to carry the charge forward.

We are grateful to Dilara for laying a strong foundation for continued progress.

Noureen Hashim-Jiwani, Board Member

Muslim Civic Coalition from its inception to today continues to bring innovative ideas and campaigns to civic engagement and community partnership.

When I joined the board I quickly realized that the Coalition is meeting an unmet need in our community as the only organization of its kind bringing diverse communities together to encourage citizens to participate in the civic engagement and come together to advocate for legislation on behalf of minority and marginalized groups in Illinois.

We are grateful to Dilara for leading the Coalition over the last decade and providing guidance and mentorship to our next generation of community leaders.

I am looking forward to Dilara staying on the Coalition Board and continuing to bring her experience and leadership skills as

we guide the organization into the next chapter.

Ayesha Ahmed, Board Member

Since our inception as an organization, and under Dilara’s visionary leadership, the Muslim Civic Coalition has intentionally reflected the diversity of the Muslim community- on the board of directors, staff and in its collaborations, initiatives, and outreach.

Lifting the voices of diverse races, ethnic groups, classes, backgrounds and traditions has been, and will continue to be at the core of the Coalition’s mission to foster civic engagement, empowerment and social justice.

Anthony Simpkins, Board Member

As a Next Generation board member of the Muslim Civic Coalition, I’ve seen firsthand how Khalto Dilara has opened doors for young Muslims.

Through initiatives like the Civic Leaders Fellowship Program, she didn’t just create opportunities, she built pathways for youth to step into leadership, public service, and civic engagement with confidence. By intentionally bringing professionals, public servants, and community leaders into these spaces, she connected young people to real career pathways and mentorship that many of us would not have had access to otherwise.

Her belief in young people and her commitment to investing in our growth will continue to shape this movement long after her presidency.

Adam Kattom, Next Gen Board Member

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