Know Your Neighbor Campaign

This simple idea connects Muslims to their neighbors. It has been tested in several neighborhoods and it works beautifully, breaking the ice and allowing a better understanding and communication in the neighborhood.

Muslims distribute a flyer entitled, "A Friendly Note From Your Muslim Neighbor" to houses in their neighborhoods. Mr. Paul Findley originally wrote this copyright-free flyer. Since then, many versions have appeared throughout America. Individuals and Masjids can either order preprinted pamphlets from DawaNet or download it from the internet and print it on their own. The distribution will most likely spark conversation and may lead to better relationships in the neighborhood. If an opportunity arises, you can propose a neighborhood watch program if none exist at this time. Download a pdf version of the flyer.

Start a Neighborhood watch program
Very few Muslims probably know that based on the announcement by Attorney General John Ashcroft, the Neighborhood Watch program now extends to include terrorism prevention, a move critics fear could fuel Cold War-style discrimination and censorship. By asking neighborhood groups to report on people who are 'unfamiliar' or who act in ways that are 'suspicious' or 'not normal,' our government is opening the way to fear-mongering and fueling already rampant ethnic and religious scapegoating. In view of this, it is recommended that Muslims initiate a neighborhood watch program in their neighborhood if one is not already in place. Your police department should give you a step-by-step guide before you call a meeting of your neighbors to get the program started.