Our values
When we make a decision about what to say, how to say it, or what to commit to, we should be able to point to one of these. They are the through-line under everything the project does.
Our mission
To improve experiences and outcomes for Muslim clients in Canadian human services by transforming how practitioners and organizations understand, assess, and respond to Muslim individuals and families.
Nothing about us without us.
The Salaam Project is rooted in Muslim lived experiences and guided by the voices of Muslim individuals, families, and communities.
Our work recognizes that those most impacted by systems must be central in shaping how those systems change.
There is no mastery of a community.
Cultural competence can unintentionally suggest that practitioners can master knowledge about a population. The Salaam Project promotes cultural humility instead: an ongoing process of reflection, learning, and accountability.
We do not teach practitioners to become experts on Muslims. We support them in becoming more thoughtful, responsive, and reflective practitioners.
Harm is often systemic, not personal.
The challenges Muslim clients experience are not solely the result of individual bias or lack of knowledge. Often, harm occurs when systems, policies, assessment processes, and professional assumptions fail to recognize Muslim identities, relationships, strengths, and realities.
We examine how practice frameworks can unintentionally misinterpret difference and create barriers to equitable care.
Faith and family are strengths, not risks.
Muslim identities, faith practices, family systems, and communities are sources of strength, resilience, and connection.
We challenge approaches that position Muslim culture, faith, or community relationships as barriers or risks without considering their meaning and protective value.
Accountability is not perfection.
Meaningful change requires more than intention. Organizations and practitioners must be willing to reflect, recognize harm, and engage in repair when standards are not met.
Accountability is about responsibility, responsiveness, and a commitment to ongoing improvement.
Change is a shared project.
Meaningful systems change requires partnership. The Salaam Project values relationships grounded in humility, mutual learning, and shared responsibility across communities, professions, and institutions.
Keep reading
The values point at the how. The theory of change points at the what and the why.