About Us

We are Muslims in Oak Park and the surrounding areas who have come together to hold youth and family activities, religious study, and community gatherings in keeping with Islamic traditions. We are families. We are neighbors. We are Muslims from all walks of life. We are from Oak Park, Chicago, and its suburbs. We are from the South and the North, from the Eastern and Western hemispheres, and from various places in between. Together, we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for one another, and to serving the larger community.

Mission Statement

OPMC fundraises to create a mosque and a community center that empowers Muslims from all backgrounds to engage in meaningful worship. This includes gathering for prayer, Islamic education, and supporting charitable and social activities.

Board of Directors

Munirah Curtis, MD

President
Dr. Curtis has lived in Oak Park with her husband and four children since 2007. She was part of the original group that started the OPMC. She has been a board member of CAIR-Michigan, has been an active voice in the District 97 Special Education Parent Advisory, and a former President of the Muslim Student Association at the University of Michigan.

Samar Hafar, PsyD

Dr. Harfi has been a part of the Oak Park Muslim Community since its inception. She was involved in its early planning stages and has continued to support the local Muslim community in myriad ways. She is a licensed psychologist and frequently shares her knowledge via presentations and talks in  the local and global community.

Nighet Razvi, MD

Treasurer
Dr. Razvi has helped create the nonprofit for Oak Park Muslim Community that started as friends gathering during Ramadan in Oak Park. She is a founding board member, and served as the first vice president. Dr. Razvi has also worked in mosques in Columbus, OH helping with education for children. At Islamic Foundation, she created a class for kindergarten and 1st grade called ‘Stories of the Prophets’. She has been involved in fundraising galas at Islamic Foundation at the committee level and as co-chair.

Tanveer Azmat, Ph.D.

Secretary
Dr. Azmat is a Ph.D. Qur’an scholar. His area of specialty is Qur’anic exegeses (tafseer). He trained as an electrical engineer and worked in automotive electronics for twenty years as project manager. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago, where he teaches courses in religion and humanities. Dr. Azmat writes and publishes academic papers on different aspects of Qur’anic studies.

Dr. Marzouki

Dr. Marzouki is an assistant professor of communication at the Illinois Institute of Technology. His research involves the intersection of youth citizenship, participatory media and politics, and creative culture production in the MENA region.

Organizational Leaders

Babacar Mbengue, PhD -- Resident Scholar

Murad Omery, MD -- Director of Community Relations

Bashar Abuelaynein -- Web Developer

Sarah Sarhan -- Graphic Design

Location

Many of our events are held at the Kinfolk Colab.

Kinfolk Colab

405 S Euclid Ave 2ND FLOOR

Oak Park, IL 60302