Shapiro announces largest grant to a Muslim organization in Pennsylvania

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant is the largest grant in the history of the commonwealth given to a Muslim organization, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office. The grant will result in 12 new classrooms, a gym, and more spaces for a community center in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA — Describing it as the “center of the universe in this community,” Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Al-Aqsa Islamic Society on Tuesday evening to announce a $5 million grant for the community center.

“I know that right now, as we’re facing, tumult overseas and we’re facing a lot of rising hate here at home, institutions are more important than ever before, and having community centers like this are more important than ever before,” Shapiro said to the room full of people sharing iftar, the meal eaten in the evening to break their Ramadan fast.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant is the largest grant in the history of the commonwealth given to a Muslim organization, according to Shapiro’s office. The expansion will result in 12 new classrooms, a gym, and more spaces to bring the community together.

Asif Hussain, Chairman of the Board of Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, says the goal is to have an “academic center of excellence” in the school, Al-Aqsa Academy. Currently, he said the K-12 school has about 300 students and they have a wait list as the community has grown in recent years.

“The idea would be to have a primary, secondary, and high school all in one building, and for students who are enrolled in primary education to stay for graduation, and this become a very important part of their development and their future endeavors,” Hussain said. He added the school currently has a 100% college placement rate and he would “love to see” 3,000 students enrolled.

A lot of the children and teenagers are African and Middle Eastern and come from impoverished backgrounds, Hussain said, and that all of the students at the school receive scholarships and financial aid to help pay for their tuition.

He said the school utilizes the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) as part of the scholarships given to students, which he’s described as “very helpful.”

Shapiro said his administration has increased funding for education “to a level never seen in the Commonwealth.”

“These are really wonderful kids,” he said. “I think it’s important to invest in centers of community.”

Shapiro said at the governor’s residence recently, he heard from members of the Muslim community expressing “fear because of the policies and the approach of the Trump administration.”

“Tomorrow (Wednesday) night, I’ll be hosting an iftar at the governor’s residence, and I expect that will come up in conversation,” Shapiro added. “It does in nearly every room I’m in, especially with the Muslim community.”

Shapiro described it as a “moment” where he thinks communities are “fearful of the federal government.”

“And that’s deeply concerning to me, and I want the Muslim community to know that they are welcome here in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “They are warmly embraced in Pennsylvania, that I’ve got their back and I’m going to protect them.”