Muslim Immigrants: Social, Cultural and Religious Issues of Youth, Families and Schools in Greater Lansing

Year Awarded: 2001
Project Leaders:
Dr. Khalida Zaki, PI, MSU Department of Sociology; Dr. Janine Sinno, Co-PI, Family and Community Development Services; Dr. Deborah Johnson, Co-PI, MSU Department of Family and Child Ecology

Project Description:
This project focuses on assessing Muslim immigrant youth development, identity issues and risks and strengths (assets) using information from students, parents and schools. The Muslim community in the Lansing area includes immigrants from Somalia, Pakistan, Middle Eastern countries and refugees from Bosnia. This diversity of ethnicities and languages presents great challenges of adjustment for immigrant families, their children, the school system and the community. The goal is to guide youth development and cultural education programs, and to identify useful adjustment strategies for immigrants and their children.

Recent Developments:

Impacts that are a result of the project includes being approached regularly by families in the Muslim community to work with children and schools and with other outside institutions on behalf of the families and various ethnic groups in Muslim community interested in participating in the survey and focus groups.

Dr. Zaki was awarded Appreciation Award at the Pakistan Association of Greater Washington Metropolitan Area, Inc., on May 4, 2003, for her work and potential contribution of the study toward child development with Muslim families.

Family and Community Development Services, Inc. received W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant for mentoring and tutoring Muslim youths in Lansing.

Partnerships with the Lansing School District, Eastern High School and Pattengill Middle School were formed.

Dr. Zaki presented to several organizations such as the FACT Advisory Board, American Sociological Association, 2002-2003 International Extension Training Program, Islamic Center, Pakistan Association of Greater Washington and at Career Conference for Muslim Youth.