Muslim Wellness Foundation + Sapelo Square Presents:
ELECTION WELLNESS
TOOLKIT
Election Wellness For American Muslims. Resisting. Healing. Building. Thriving
“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by!”
Donald J. Trump made this declaration on Tuesday September 29, 2020 at the first presidential debate of the election. Within minutes, members of this alt-right white nationalist extremist group begin to rejoice online, celebrating this legitimizing moment of recognition by the Commander in Chief. Did that statement, that White Supremacist Call to Action send a chill down your spine? Did your jaw drop? Did you turn to the person sitting next to you, mouth ajar, trying to find words to express your horror? Did you feel a tightness in your chest and a knot in the pit in your stomach?
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For the millions of us who have witnessed and experienced racism/racial violence, and anti-Muslim bigotry, while ALSO coping under the weight of a global health crisis, disproportionately infecting and killing people of color - we must be prepared in every way possible for days, weeks and months to come.
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Anas ibn Malik reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.”
First and foremost, we put our trust and faith in Allah as the all-knowing, merciful Creator. And then we tie our proverbial camel.
We get prepared by naming and acknowledging the source of oppression: white supremacy.
We get acquiring the knowledge and resources to help us make the most well-informed decisions for ourselves, families/loved ones and communities.
We get prepared by grounding ourselves in the healing practices which fortify us and enable us to weather any storm.
We will need healing in order to continue to resist.
Build.
Thrive.
What fortifies you?
What inspires you?
What brings you joy?
Let’s get prepared.
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HOW TO USE
THIS TOOLKIT
Sapelo Square and Muslim Wellness Foundation developed this election wellness toolkit and guide to provide community members with important information and suggested actions that can help us prepare, across multiple spheres of wellness, for the days, weeks and months to come. The toolkit is not about supporting particular candidates nor is it a specific GOTV effort, but it names the concerns that our communities have (from voting to personal safety) and then offers practical guidance to address those concerns as we navigate this unprecedented moment.
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Our 7 Dimensions of Election Wellness [DEWs]:
Political, Emotional, Environmental, Spiritual, Financial, Environmental & Physical
Learn more about the DEWs below!
POLITICAL
WELLNESS
Political wellness is the ability to accurately and insightfully evaluate the questions of power that impact your life and create appropriate political responses. From fake news, to Russian meddling and voter suppression, it is important we understand what matters what's on the ballot and what's at stake.
EMOTIONAL
WELLNESS
Emotional wellness involves your ability to cope with life stress, express emotions, and feel positive about your life. According to the American Psychological Association, over 60% of Americans report significant stress related to the election. COVID fatigue, doom-scrolling and trauma due to racial injustice and discrimination might have feeling very overwhelmed. This is normal. And, we can learn how to manage these feelings in a healthy way. Click on the button to learn more tips for emotional wellness!
