Council on American-Islamic Relations, Minnesota Chapter, (CAIR-MN)

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Minnesota (CAIR-MN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 2007, it is the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and legal advocacy organization. It provides free legal services to Minnesota Muslims and other racial, religious and ethnic minorities facing discrimination.

CAIR’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Last year, CAIR-MN handled nearly 200 cases, including school bullying and harassment, land use opposition, hate crimes and vandalism, racial and religious profiling, and extra-judicial exile. The majority of the cases involved employment discrimination, including discrimination in hiring and firing, hostile work environments, and denial of religious accommodations.

There has been a tremendous growth of CAIR-MN’s name and reputation in the community since its founding. Each year, CAIR-MN appears over 115 times in local news media. CAIR-MN was named a 2010 “Difference Maker” by the St. Cloud Times, received the 2011 Nonprofit Mission and Excellence Anti-Racism Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits, named the 2012 CAIR Chapter of the Year, selected for Minnesota Philanthropy Partners’ 2013 "Nonprofits to Know," and featured in the Rochester Diversity Council “What Works.” Recently, CAIR-MN received the 2013 Difference Makers Award from the American Bar Association’s Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division for “making a difference through pro bono work.”