Two of the seven candidates supported by the non-profit Project Mobilize won their races in municipal elections April 5. Project M views the election as an important first step to get the Muslim American community more involved in local politics.

When it started last year, the non-profit group Project Mobilize, or Project M, hoped to change the political landscape in suburban Chicago by promoting Muslim Americans as election candidates. So far, there are no Muslim Americans serving as elected officials in the Chicago area. But Project M hopes that will change in municipal elections April 5.

Across the country, dozens of Muslims have actively engaged in the American political process, running for — and winning — elected offices. In Chicago, Muslims have been active in voter registration for decades, but for the first time this year there is an organized effort to prepare and mobilize Muslims to run for political office.

Running for public office is not something that women are encouraged to do in male-dominated Arab Muslim culture. But five of the seven Arab Muslim candidates running for local office in Chicago’s Southwest suburbs are women.

Project Mobilize is encouraging local community members to vote in the November 2010 midterm elections by reaching out to candidates seeking support from the Muslim American community. “This is really the next logical step towards us fulfilling our political aspirations,” according to Project M Executive Director Reema Ahmad.