The Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community (MDMC) was selected as the 1st place recipient of the 2025 Women’s Giving Circle Cycle, receiving approximately $7,500 to open a new endowment with the American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF). This support was made possible through the nominations and votes of our Giving Circle members—whose collective generosity continues to uplift organizations doing transformative work in our communities.
As we highlight MDMC’s impact, we also honor the powerful vision that inspired their work from the very beginning.
When MDMC began offering pro bono American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for Friday prayers in 2010, it marked a transformative moment for Deaf Muslims across Minnesota and the nation. Until that point, there had been no consistent access to Islamic education or spiritual community in a language Deaf Muslims could fully understand. While many Deaf communities elsewhere had interpreters in churches or synagogues, Deaf Muslims in Minnesota had long been left without the access needed to participate in their faith. MDMC stepped in to close this gap and, in doing so, laid the foundation for a vital and long-overdue community resource.
Why They Started
The organization’s story begins with Valerie Shirley, MDMC’s founder and Executive Director. Valerie is the mother of a DeafPlus (hearing loss with an additional disability) son, and her family’s journey into the Deaf community began out of necessity, love, and a commitment to providing him with full access to communication. Recognizing that language was key to his development, the entire family learned ASL. Valerie and her oldest daughter, Mallerie, eventually became professional ASL interpreters—a path shaped by both personal experience and a desire to support others.
Their commitment soon extended beyond their home. Wanting Deaf Muslims to have the same access to spiritual knowledge as hearing Muslims, Valerie and Mallerie volunteered their time interpreting Friday sermons at Masjid An-Nur in North Minneapolis. Week after week, they ensured Deaf attendees could fully participate in the khutbah. For many, it was the first time they had ever experienced Islamic teaching in their own language.
As Valerie met more Deaf Muslims across Minnesota, she realized that their needs stretched far beyond Friday prayers. Deaf, DeafPlus, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DDPDBHH) Muslims were encountering systemic barriers—in hospitals, schools, workplaces, immigration offices, and courtrooms. Many institutions did not understand their legal obligation to provide interpreters or accessible communication. It became clear that what the community needed was not only spiritual access, but a culturally competent, disability-informed organization dedicated to advocacy and support. With that vision, MDMC was officially founded.
The Work They Do
Today, MDMC serves DDPDBHH individuals across the Twin Cities, both Muslim and non-Muslim. Many clients face multiple layers of marginalization: limited English literacy, limited ASL proficiency due to language deprivation, disabilities beyond deafness, or immigrant and refugee backgrounds. With nearly 90% of DDPDBHH individuals nationwide graduating high school with English reading skills no higher than a fourth-grade level, the gap in accessible information remains enormous.
An Impact Story
One client’s experience illustrates the importance of MDMC’s work. A DeafBlind immigrant woman came to the organization after months of receiving written notices from her housing office—letters she could not read and for which she had never been given an interpreter. By the time she reached MDMC, she was at imminent risk of eviction.
Through the Alt-LS program, MDMC translated her documents into tactile ASL and provided accessible explanations. Staff accompanied her to meetings, advocated for her rights, and ensured she received the accommodations she needed. Her housing was secured—and perhaps more importantly, she gained the confidence to navigate future interactions knowing MDMC was there to support her.
Current Struggles
Despite meaningful progress, significant barriers remain. Many institutions still struggle to understand their legal responsibilities around accessibility. Families of Deaf individuals often lack awareness of their loved ones’ rights, leading to years of unmet needs and communication deprivation. Demand for MDMC’s services continues to grow rapidly, but limited staffing and funding make it difficult to meet every request. Complex cases—especially those involving medical access, mental health or chemical dependency challenges, immigration issues, or housing instability—require sustained, hands-on support.
Ongoing funding challenges also threaten program continuity. Because MDMC relies heavily on grants, services may pause when a grant period ends while new funding is sought—leaving communities without essential support.
Looking Ahead
MDMC’s goals for the future center on empowerment, equity, and community-building. The organization aims to expand the Alt-LS program, increase interpreter availability in Muslim spaces, and develop more educational workshops for families and service providers. Strengthening partnerships with mosques, schools, hospitals, and government agencies is another priority, so that “accessibility becomes a standard expectation, not an exception.”
MDMC began with a simple but powerful vision: that every DDPDBHH individual deserves full access to their faith, their community, and the world around them. Today, that vision continues to grow—shaping a future where access, dignity, and belonging are fundamental rights for all.
Learn More
You can learn more about MDMC at mndeafmuslims.org, and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter to support their work and stay connected with the community they serve.
Explore all 18 nominees from the 2025 Women’s Giving Circle Cycle:
Women’s Giving Circle Nominees