OUR MISSION

AMWRRI is a community-engaged research and public humanities organization that documents, preserves, interprets, and shares the lived experiences, histories, cultural memory, and contemporary realities of Arab, Muslim, refugee, migrant, and diasporic communities through community-engaged research, oral history, digital humanities, education, public programming, and community partnerships.

WHO WE ARE

Founded in 2009, the Arab and Muslim Women's Research and Resource Institute (AMWRRI) empowers Arab and Muslim communities, with special focus on women, migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations, through research, advocacy, and community-driven initiatives. We work collaboratively with the communities we serve, ensuring their voices shape the solutions built on their behalf.

Through research, public events, and workshops, we challenge stereotypes and document the diverse histories of Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. and abroad. Our core focus areas include:

  • Women's Empowerment | advancing education, rights, and gender equality

  • Disability Advocacy | connecting people with disabilities, caregivers, and providers to resources and dialogue

  • Human Rights | protecting refugees, migrants, and vulnerable populations

WHO WE ARE

Founded in Milwaukee

AMWRRI was established to address a critical gap: the lack of documentation and research on the experiences of Arab and Muslim women.

A Growing Need After 9/11

As Islamophobia increased in the years following 9/11, AMWRRI’s work became even more urgent—challenging stigma and creating space for Arab and Muslim women’s voices and experiences to be heard.

Preserving Stories Through Oral History

AMWRRI launched its flagship Oral History Project, collecting interviews and surveys from Arab and Muslim American women across generations. These firsthand accounts preserve stories that have historically been under-recorded and difficult for researchers and students to access.

ORAL
HISTORY
PROJECT

Expanding Community Engagement

The organization broadened its work to address issues affecting women and families, including cross-cultural marriage, disability inclusion, gender equality, and other community concerns.

Training the Next Generation of Researchers

AMWRRI began training researchers in respectful and effective interview methods, helping ensure that community stories are documented with care, accuracy, and cultural understanding.

Building for the Future

Today, AMWRRI is working toward the establishment of a comprehensive resource center dedicated to supporting the economic, educational, and cultural independence of Arab and Muslim women and their families.

TO HELP & ACT

AMWRRI welcomes volunteers and interns to help advance our mission. University students in particular can train as interviewers for our Oral History Project, learning professional oral history methods while helping preserve stories that matter. Our work is open to the public for academic and archival use, and we welcome scholars and community members to engage with it.