The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), a member institution of the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), had its origins in the early to mid-1990s and came out of a desire to address the root causes of poverty in Chicago’s communities of color. Founded by Executive Director, Rami Nashashibi, alongside students and residents from across the city, IMAN sought to bridge the gaps between Arab, Muslim, Black, and Latino communities, recognizing that systemic racism, poverty, and criminalization affected them all similarly. Early organizing efforts, including youth programs and after-school activities like horticulture, aimed to unify these diverse groups and amplify their stories of resilience and struggle.

By 1997, IMAN had officially formed and quickly broadened its focus to tackle pressing neighborhood issues such as health disparities and economic development. They began renting a small clinic to provide basic health services, a step that marked the beginning of their holistic approach to community healing. Their commitment to fostering health, opportunity, and justice expanded to include criminal justice reform, community organizing, and arts and culture.

A key initiative, the Green Reentry program, retrofits foreclosed homes while training young people in several different fields including electrical, carpentry, and HVAC, offering participants college credits and a pathway toward personal and neighborhood transformation. Over the years, IMAN has graduated 40 students through this initiative, furthering their mission to create sustainable change in inner-city communities.

IMAN's partnership with SWOP has been integral to these efforts. The collaboration spans several decades, rooted in a shared goal of improving life for families affected by disinvestment and systemic inequities. One of their earliest collaborations was the "safe zones" initiative, which turned volatile blocks into spaces of safety by setting up basketball courts, games, and other community-building activities.

“I have seen the impact of what happens when institutions like IMAN and SWOP work within their neighborhoods for change and how much more impactful they are when they come together.” Alia Bilal, Chief Executive Director of IMAN, shared.

As their relationship grew, IMAN became a vital partner in SWOP’s "Reclaiming Southwest" campaign, an effort to combat the high number of vacant and foreclosed properties in the area. Together, they worked to rehabilitate homes, including a notable success at 62nd and Fairfield, where IMAN and its multi-faith partners transformed a

neighborhood sore point into a community asset through a months-long legal battle. This victory underscored the power of grassroots organizing and collaboration in reclaiming disinvested areas.

“On the last day they were awarded a successful case, they were gifted the building and the judge that had been working over this case shared how moving it was to see so many different people coming together from different backgrounds how meaningful it was to her to come to work with a group that had such passion in what they were doing.” Alia recounted.

Today, IMAN continues its mission of fostering health and healing, working closely with SWOP to break down barriers between neighborhoods and create a more vibrant, interconnected future. Their "Go Green on Racine" initiative, developed in collaboration with other Englewood organizations, focuses on transforming the 63rd and Racine area into a dynamic hub with projects such as a fresh food market, supportive housing, workforce development, and efforts to reopen the Racine Green Line station. IMAN’s vision for the future is to be more than a social service provider—they aim to be an institution that anchors long-term growth and transformation. As they look ahead, IMAN remains committed to addressing the disinvestment that has long plagued communities like Englewood and Chicago Lawn, relying on the collective strength of partners like SWOP to make a lasting impact.

In her final statements, Alia had this to say. “Barriers have been created between our neighborhoods and we want people to feel comfortable and welcome traveling from one neighborhood to the next. It contributes to the vibrancy of your life to be able to go from one neighborhood to another and enjoy oneself.” Alia continued. “We want to break down some of the historic ways our neighborhoods have been separated and this can only be made possible when we come together. We are still growing and relying on the support of our community; people willing to come in and get their hands dirty, be leaders and assist with the financial hurdles of working toward a better future for our neighborhoods.”

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