What does it mean to belong? What does it mean to be free?

Texas is often a bellwether for the nation's political, cultural, and demographic future. As the state's Muslim population continues to grow, so too do efforts to portray Muslims as outsiders and to define Texas—and America—as an exclusively white Christian nation.

The stories we tell about who belongs shape our civic life and our democracy. By centering the voices and lived experiences of Muslim Texans, we challenges harmful stereotypes, expands the public narrative, and fosters greater understanding across differences. As goes Texas, so goes the nation.