Inspiring with Impact
The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) is a national organization with operations in Atlanta and Chicago that, for nearly two decades, has tackled causes like health disparities, food justice, criminal justice reform, police accountability, housing insecurity, and community organizing. Since its inception in 1997, IMAN’s Chicago operations have created an entire ecosystem of services and safe spaces that support holistic wellness within the community of Englewood. The organization currently owns approximately 60,000 sq. ft. of property along 63rd Street between California and Fairfield avenues and on neighboring blocks. These sites are used to drive IMAN’s mission—which emphasizes Islam’s values of mercy, compassion, service, and justice as transformative forces for positive social change, according to the organization’s website.
Within a one-mile radius, the group’s influence is visible: from the IMAN Youth & Family Health Center to multiple transitional housing properties. There is a ceramics art studio for community classes, various meeting and gathering spaces, a behavioral health clinic, a medical facility, and vocational job training programs.
However, what stands out most, staff say, is the culture of inclusion and dignity that defines the spaces.
“Even as a Muslim-rooted organization, people walk through that door and they’re greeted with peace, they’re greeted with love—and THAT is at the root of our faith: treating people with the dignity we all deserve,” said Alia Bilal, chief executive director of IMAN.
Housing Instability: The Silent Barrier to Reentry
According to the Council on Criminal Justice, “Women’s pathways to criminal justice system involvement differ from those of men. Most system-involved women have experienced some form of childhood abuse or trauma. Many are at high risk for experiencing violent victimization by an intimate partner, and women in jails and prisons consistently report higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders than their male counterparts.”
These factors are compounded, researchers say, when women attempt to re-enter society after incarceration. In Illinois, “58% of unsheltered women in Chicago reported prior incarceration, underscoring the direct link between housing instability and recidivism,” according to the Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC).
These statistics point to a significant barrier for many women returning home: the lack of a safe address to parole to. While not all women face this challenge, advocates say it is a widespread issue. Without access to supportive housing, the risk of recidivism increases. Programs like IMAN’s Green Reentry Women’s House aim to fill this gap by providing not just shelter, but comprehensive support services and workforce development training to help women rebuild their lives.
Ending Recidivism for Women Coming HomeThe Green Reentry Women’s House is IMAN’s latest effort to reduce recidivism among justice-impacted women. But the initiative has been nearly a decade in the making.
The model began with the Green Reentry Men’s Housing Program. Taqi Thomas, now IMAN’s associate director of community engagement, security, and intervention, was part of the program’s first cohort as a returning citizen. He became the first participant to transition into his own apartment while learning financial literacy, budgeting, and money management tools.
Going Green
Formerly known as Project Restore, the Green Reentry Program eventually expanded into its current form. The word “Green” is now central to the branding—not only of the Reentry Program but also of the Green Reentry Women’s House. That choice, Bilal said, was intentional.
First, it reflects IMAN’s environmental focus: the organization retrofits older buildings using sustainable construction practices to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. “It’s the sustainable refurbishment of an existing building to make it more efficient, better for the environment, and sustainable for the future,” Bilal said.
Second, “green” symbolizes economic empowerment. The program not only provides housing but also offers training in the trades. “This program sets them [residents] up on a real career trajectory, but also pays them while they do it,” Bilal said, referring to the vocational component of Green Reentry.
Participants graduate with the equivalent of a high school diploma, trade certifications, a strong grounding in health and wellness, access to a medical home, and weekly behavioral health check-ins.
Finally, the color green has religious and cultural resonance. “Green is often associated with Islam because of its connection to nature,” Bilal said. “So it made sense to incorporate it into the branding of our housing and programmatic work.”
Power in Partnerships
There were several key players in making the vision of IMAN’s Green Reentry Women’s House a reality. A major part of the effort was made possible by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), which announced in February 2024 that it would provide $12 million over five years to community organizations to help fund new permanent and temporary housing in Illinois.
The funding presented an ideal opportunity for IMAN, given its ongoing work in housing and its goal to complete the Green Reentry Women’s House. In addition to BCBSIL, a local nonprofit also stepped in to support the effort. Digs With Dignity, a Chicago-based organization, furnished the house and provided interior design services, creating a clean, calming, and welcoming space for future residents.
Opening the Way: Residency and Readiness at IMANNow that the house is nearly complete, IMAN is in the process of refining its intake procedures.
“There’s definitely a list of interested individuals, and the organization is currently in the process of refining what the intake process will look like—to make sure we are identifying those who are the best fit for the program,” said Alia Bilal, IMAN’s chief executive director.
Though the program is rooted in Islamic principles, being Muslim is not a requirement for participation. The house will serve six residents at a time, focusing on formerly incarcerated individuals. The maximum length of stay is 18 months, during which residents will receive vocational training and participate in programs designed to prepare them for long-term independence and success.
How Programs Like IMAN’s Green Reentry Women’s Shelter Help“So one of the things that I noticed on the very first day I walked into IMAN was a sign that said ‘Change, Serve, and Inspire.’ And I live by those three words to this day,” said Taqi Thomas, associate director of community engagement, safety, and intervention at IMAN.
Programs like this are vital because they help reduce recidivism. Although some of the programming is still being finalized, residents will have access to job training and an array of wraparound services that set them up for success and future self-sufficiency. This model is part of the broader IMAN ecosystem that Bilal describes—an integrated network of services designed to meet the full spectrum of residents’ needs. From access to medical and mental health care to workforce development, the Green Reentry Women’s House is a launchpad—not a landing place.
IMAN: Rooted in Faith, Driven by Action
“We’re not a mosque, a church, or a synagogue. We’re a community-based organization where these spiritual values and lessons are absolutely critical and relevant in the way we think about building community,” said Rami Nashashibi, executive director of IMAN.
Recently, IMAN exceeded its $2 million fundraising goal to continue advancing its mission—with a deeper focus on closing the life expectancy gap in the communities it serves.
During a recent visit, it was clear that IMAN prioritizes leadership from those most affected. When the neighborhood lacked access to fresh food, IMAN opened a grocery store. When there was a need for mental and physical health services, it created spaces to heal.
As someone who has personally been justice-impacted and emerged as part of IMAN’s pipeline of success stories, Thomas reflected on what he hopes the new women’s reentry program can achieve.
“I’m hoping that my story can be replicated with the women,” he said. “I’m hoping that, for one, this will be a safe space for them—to get themselves together. I’m hoping that they can also purchase homes and become homeowners after this, as well. That they’ll have stable housing and a stable life, period.”