OUR MISSION
To facilitate inmates’ transition to the communities by providing them opportunities to self-reflect because “Thinking Matters”.
News
Salaam’s strives to implement our mission to provide CONSISTENT services at all three stages of incarceration has started to materialize. Reentry journey begins from County Jails, continuing to Texas Prisons and upon release. Here are the highlights as of September 2024:
Weekly Services to Harris, Fort Bend and Travis County Jails. Harris County Jails’ Chaplaincy and Reentry Departments have been collaborative partners in providing Muslims equitable services. Three of the long-time volunteers and leading jail project:
Imam Hamid Hardizi is the full-time Staff Chaplain in Harris County. Jails’ Commissary provides free Qurans to any inmate requesting it. ICNA-CSJ donate bulk of English and Spanish Qurans due to increased demand.
We finally had access to Fort Bend County Jail. Chaplain Ahmet Gunduz serves brothers every Wednesday. He started with one brother and now many join the Taleem services. This County Jail needs a volunteer to hold Jumua’ congregation.
Our Secretary Syed Fawad Raza is in Austin area now and leads Juma’ weekly in Travis County Sheriff’s Office senior Chaplain has a Muslim Chaplain position working 1o hours weekly and seeking to get our candidate approved.
Our project to serve sisters in prisons started May 2021 by providing all fifteen female TDCJ units’ chaplains Qurans, Salaah Booklets and Islam: Beliefs and Teachings books. We were finally allowed to start serving Gatesville three locations in May 2024. Peer Mentor Yusuf Abdul-Samad from Killeen is the Gatesville volunteer coordinator. Mariano Cortes from Killeen community has been approved to volunteer in TDCJ. Another waiting approval.
Transition Home has been a learning curve for the founder, Badar Alam and Imam Ali Kemal Civilek operating first two TDCJ approved transition homes: Shifa House and Salaam House over a decade ago. Each lasted year each. Allah has blessed us with Halal House that has been successfully operating for over two years now under the leadership of Joseph Clark, founder 5th ward Human Development Center at 5222 Lyons Ave. Joseph and the community has been serving the 5th Ward neighbors for decades. Visit them on Sunday afternoons feeding neighbors, it is a sight to reckon. A Chrisitan organization provides boxes of Pizza in addition to the hot meal served by Muslims.
Weekly Services to Harris, Fort Bend and Travis County Jails. Harris County Jails’ Chaplaincy and Reentry Departments have been collaborative partners in providing Muslims equitable services. Three of the long-time volunteers and leading jail project:
Imam Hamid Hardizi is the full-time Staff Chaplain in Harris County. Jails’ Commissary provides free Qurans to any inmate requesting it. ICNA-CSJ donate bulk of English and Spanish Qurans due to increased demand.
We finally had access to Fort Bend County Jail. Chaplain Ahmet Gunduz serves brothers every Wednesday. He started with one brother and now many join the Taleem services. This County Jail needs a volunteer to hold Jumua’ congregation.
Our Secretary Syed Fawad Raza is in Austin area now and leads Juma’ weekly in Travis County Sheriff’s Office senior Chaplain has a Muslim Chaplain position working 1o hours weekly and seeking to get our candidate approved.
Our project to serve sisters in prisons started May 2021 by providing all fifteen female TDCJ units’ chaplains Qurans, Salaah Booklets and Islam: Beliefs and Teachings books. We were finally allowed to start serving Gatesville three locations in May 2024. Peer Mentor Yusuf Abdul-Samad from Killeen is the Gatesville volunteer coordinator. Mariano Cortes from Killeen community has been approved to volunteer in TDCJ. Another waiting approval.
Transition Home has been a learning curve for the founder, Badar Alam and Imam Ali Kemal Civilek operating first two TDCJ approved transition homes: Shifa House and Salaam House over a decade ago. Each lasted year each. Allah has blessed us with Halal House that has been successfully operating for over two years now under the leadership of Joseph Clark, founder 5th ward Human Development Center at 5222 Lyons Ave. Joseph and the community has been serving the 5th Ward neighbors for decades. Visit them on Sunday afternoons feeding neighbors, it is a sight to reckon. A Chrisitan organization provides boxes of Pizza in addition to the hot meal served by Muslims.
Plans are underway for the Sixth Annual
Texas Prison Dawah & Reentry Symposium
Dates and Venu TBD
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Chaplaincy is slowly getting back to serving inmates. All Chapels in three Jails are reserved for Juma’ and
Taleem Friday and Saturday, respectively. Community needs to move forward and benefit from Fard
Kifayah: enabling about 500 Muslims to offer their weekly congregation.
Taleem Friday and Saturday, respectively. Community needs to move forward and benefit from Fard
Kifayah: enabling about 500 Muslims to offer their weekly congregation.
How you can help Incarcerated brothers in Harris County Jails can only offer their Juma’ prayer, when a volunteer is there to be with them. We need TEN brothers to volunteer on Fridays so brothers can offer their Friday obligatory prayer.
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Where Can You Start Your Journey?
It is important to note that the reentry process begins during incarceration. Here are several ways in which you can assist in our efforts forward:
It is important to note that the reentry process begins during incarceration. Here are several ways in which you can assist in our efforts forward:
- Join Muslim Mentor Program, a Sheriff-approved Reentry Program. Make Juma, Friday Prayer, in Harris County Jails located in downtown Houston.
- Serve the incarcerated in jails/prisons in your area. Network and engage to bring Muslim volunteer organizations to a state-wide Platform.
- Get involved in Salaam’s 2022 Female unit visits, in collaboration with TDCJ unit Chaplains and Muslim Imams/Chaplains.