Care2Elevate, or CircleofSTARhood, is a small support group based in Sterling, Virginia. It all started in 2012 with five divorced Muslimas who agreed with Mariam Azimi’s idea that they wanted to create a support group in their local masjid ADAMS center. After getting approval from Imam Majid and Imam Abd Ar-Rafa Ouertani, we met bi-weekly in the meeting hall. We focused on building each other while sharing our life challenges and our divorce stories, along with the heartache of facing our new role as a “single Muslima” or a “divorcee,” were shared in a safe, confidential space. Mariam Azimi’s passion for advocating for this target population grew the group’s members. It led her to make an assessment that concluded the number one factor contributing to women affected by divorce is lack of financial security. Her direct assessment and observation led to the co-founding and establishment of the Ikram Foundation in 2014, which focused explicitly on providing educational grants to divorced Mulsim women.

Further assessment pointed her to the necessary work needed to create wider accessibility for support groups in local masjids all over the US. Unless we acknowledge, educate, and connect after experiencing the grief of divorce, it holds us hostage. Our grief hangs lost and frozen in space; a part of us is, too. When we don’t fully mourn these losses in real-time, we’re left haunted by thoughts and emotions we don’t know how to manage. If we don’t do something to work through them, they remain with us. Untethered to time and place, they float around like unwelcome intruders. Overcoming our grief or loss of a breakup allows us to learn what we had not so that we don’t fall prey to similar situations when we decide to give marriage another chance. We can move forward mindfully and avoid rebounding into yet another toxic relationship. Support groups are the best methods to offer both genders a safe place to share their life experience, allowing for a better understanding of the other’s perspective while using the opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth. 

Even though the thought of rebuilding your life might be scary, you can find inspiration and support to improve this next chapter of your life; get tips on adjusting to the changes and living the life meant for you by joining Care2Elevate. We hope to come soon to a local masjid near you, inshAllah.