Muslim social restoration
striving to renew faith,
education, unity, family,
civic engagement, and
economic empowerment in
South Los Angeles.
Islāh LA Renew . Revise . Restore
Islah LA emerged from the
historic Masjid Ibaadillah community in
South Los Angeles In 1986. Led by
Imam Saadiq Saafir, a group of families
purchased storefront property on West
Jefferson Boulevard in Los Angeles to
establish Masjid Ibaadillah and to serve
its predominantly African-American
community. The Islah LA community
center currently led by Imam Jihad
Saafir, is a secular nonprofit charity
founded in June 2013.
In February 2014, it officially
started center safe-place programming
for children and families. By September
2014, Islah Academy opened with 20
students offering a Muslim-school cur-
riculum specializing in social justice,
high academic standards, Quranic stud-
ies, and 21st Century leadership.
History
Islah LA is one of the first of its
kind in the United States - an
inner-city community center
founded by Muslim-Americans to
serve South Los Angeles. Islah LA
is poised to start a new wave of
civic engagement within the
Muslim-American community,
As its primary focus is service, it
allows Muslims from diverse
backgrounds to have a space
where they can engage in their
community. The goal of Islah LA
is service to the greater commu-
nity and to provide an inclusive
community space for key social
services to the surrounding areas.
That is why we chose the Arabic
word, “Islah”, because of its
meaning to renew, revive, and
restore.
400 families served per month 30,000 pounds of food distributed per month Health screenings: by Umma Community Clinic
Open Every Saturday
11AM - 3PM There are 14,671 people per square mile in the 90043-
zip code. Note that 44% of children and 24% of seniors
live below the poverty line.
Islah LA Community Food Pantry
Goals Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Building
using
gifts,
assets,
passions,
strengths,
and
capacities
Infrastructure
Think Tank
Discussions
Businesses
Housing
Schools
Worship Spaces
Drug free zones
Alcohol-free zones
Vice-free zones
Institution Building
Cultural Resetting
Data Retrieval
Objectives
Unifying
Identifying
Common
Interests
Direction
Support
Funding
Cultural Resetting
Community
Leadership
Products of Islāh
Muslims Businesspersons
Youth Empowerment
Demise to Rise Prison
Outreach Program
Tayseer Zakah Program
The New
Paradigm
Khalifah
Contributing talents
& resources to the
Community
Leadership
Identifying Specific
issues within South Los
Angeles Muslim
community.
Inner-city Muslim Culture
Islah LA is suitably positioned at 2900 West Slauson Avenue, in a two-story building that once
housed the historic South LA institution, Marcus Garvey School. This building will be solely the
Islah Academy once the actual Center is constructed on the east portion of the current property.
It has an auditorium, kitchen, and eighteen classrooms that facilitate Kindergarten through 8th
Grade. The expanded Center will provide direct services to the local community, regardless of
background, as well as house Masjid Ibaadillah, additional educational space, and community
rooms for social activities.
We are passionate about personal development, social services, and civic
engagement. “Islah LA provides hope, support, and education for the neighboring
community,
with focus on Youth & their families, Food Security, and Previously incarcerated men and wom-
en.”
Accomplishments Since 2014
Islah FOOD PANTRY feeds more than 120 families every Saturday
Islah ACADEMY has more than tripled its student enrollment
Islah LA has started construction on its NEW BUILDING to include:
1] Ibaadillah Masjid 2] High School 3] Roof-Top Youth Basketball Court
Islah Academy PRINCIPAL receives County Supervisors’ Award
Islah LA / Academy IMAM receives 2018 KCET Local Hero Award