NEW YORK (VINnews) — Muslim organizers and faith leaders in the Bronx are expanding their political influence in New York City following the election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to The New York Times.

A coalition of local mosques, churches, and community centers voted Thursday to join the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest nonpartisan organizing networks. The group, now called Bronx First, aims to advance policy goals including affordable housing, public safety, and mental health services. The event drew roughly 2,000 attendees across faiths, generations, and socioeconomic backgrounds and raised nearly $160,000 to fund organizing efforts.

The coalition’s New York members have long been involved in interfaith initiatives around housing and public safety, and the new network seeks to formalize those efforts and build political accountability. Organizers said the expansion is not about gaining power for its own sake but about empowering the community to address local challenges.

Mamdani, a Muslim South Asian born in Uganda, helped mobilize Muslim voters during his mayoral campaign, significantly increasing turnout in the Bronx. Organizers said the coalition will continue to advocate on issues such as affordable housing, responding to gang violence, and improving access to city services.

Muslim leaders said the move reflects growing political engagement among the city’s Muslim population, which has historically been reluctant to participate due to distrust in political institutions. Organizers noted that the 2025 mayoral election marked a turning point, as Muslim voter participation more than tripled compared with the 2021 race.

By joining Bronx First, Muslim faith and community leaders are integrating into broader citywide networks that include influential Black churches, synagogues, and community organizations, enabling the group to coordinate advocacy across neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx.