January 2024 Resource Roundup

Our Shoulder to Shoulder Community & Congregational Network is an opportunity to connect with interfaith and community organizations and leaders throughout the country who are, in some capacity, addressing anti-Muslim discrimination in the U.S. Members share resources, problem-solve, and reflect on this important work in our meetings. Our network includes volunteer-run organizations and organizations with 10+ staff members. Members include organizations in rural, urban, and suburban communities in red, blue, and purple states and beyond. Each of them recognizes anti-Muslim discrimination as a threat to our communities and country. Each is committed to addressing this issue alongside their Muslim neighbors, friends, and family.

We collect, curate, and collaborate each month to create this Community and Congregational Network (CCN) Resource Roundup. This Roundup includes jobs, grants, events, reports, articles, movies, toolkits, and more. Each of the items listed in some way contributes to our shared work of building a country where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. If you’re on the CCN list, you know this work includes countering anti-Muslim discrimination and violence as just one of the things preventing us from realizing that better world. The notes below are a selection of public resources and events shared by network members and our various partners and friends. Know that our Shoulder to Shoulder team is here to support and encourage you in the work however we’re able. If there is something specific you’re looking for but don’t find here, or you’re looking for a thought partner, please reach out to us at info@s2scampaign.org

If you want to learn more about our Shoulder to Shoulder Community Network, contact us and/or check out our website.

Shoulder to Shoulder Updates & Highlighted Resources

In light of the current crisis in the Middle East, anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish discrimination in the United States are on the rise. On Tuesday, December 19, we convened prominent U.S. faith leaders across traditions to jointly acknowledge and address the rise in identity-based hate, and commit to building a nation where all people, no matter their faith or cultural background, are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

Dozens of national faith leaders have already added their names to the joint sign-on declaration that was shared at the gathering.

Now that we have a powerful start to a collection of signatories, we welcome you to — if you have not yet –please sign and share this joint declaration with those in your networks.

Coverage from December 19

• December 19, 2023: Joint Multi-faith Commitment to Counter Anti-Muslim and Anti-Jewish Hate
• Reading of the Joint Multi-faith Commitment to Counter Anti-Muslim and Anti-Jewish Hate in the U.S.
• Press Release: Joint Multi-faith Commitment to Counter Anti-Muslim and Anti-Jewish Hate in the U.S. — The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign
• The root of the problem? Christian nationalism, panelists say
• Islamophobia and antisemitism condemned by dozens of US interfaith leaders in DC | The Times of Israel
• Don’t let the war tear apart the tapestry of faith that makes America strong — Rev Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

Additional Community Statements

• Greater St Cloud Faith Leaders Against Islamophobia and Antisemitism
• Highlighting this particular guide to help you and your community when you need to write a statement. Writing A Solidarity Statement: Considerations and Process Questions — Building Movement

Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign partners in the press

• Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, Religion News Service, Fighting antisemitism and Islamophobia in one breath

Shoulder to Shoulder Upcoming Events

• Feb 13 Virtual Workshop | On Allyship & Accountability: Transforming Ourselves & Our Communities | Join us for an engaging online event where we will explore the power of allyship and accountability in creating positive change. We all have a role to play in transforming ourselves and our communities. If conflict is inevitable, then how might we engage with conflict courageously? How can we be more intentional about recognizing who we are as individuals and in relationship to others? How might we repair when we’ve intentionally or unintentionally inflicted harm to those within and beyond our own circles? More Information and Registration Here

Ramadan Is Coming!

March 11 — April 10, 2024

The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign’s Annual Ramadan Campaign is an effort to identify, uplift, and connect people to Iftars open to interfaith guests across the United States of America to support local relationship-building among Muslim communities and those of other faiths and cultural backgrounds.

• Check out and help us build 2024 Iftar listings around the country.
• Add your iftar to our national iftar listing on this form.
• Explore our Ramadan Resources. Download one of our interfaith iftar dialogue guides, including one designed specifically for virtual iftars. Whether this is your first interfaith iftar or you feel like a pro, these guides include helpful tips for meaningful and engaging conversations and meals. We also have resources from partners and friends at the bottom of our Ramadan Resources page.
• Learn more about Ramadan
• What You Should Know Before Attending Your First Iftar
• Did you know Muslims have lived in the Americas for over 500 years?
• We’re looking for Volunteers for our 2024 Ramadan Campaign to help with identifying iftars open to interfaith guests.

Countering anti-Muslim Discrimination trainings, workshops, and presentations.

Over the last four months, we have had a rise in requests for training, workshops, and presentations on anti-Muslim discrimination in the U.S. and how faith communities can respond. If you’re looking for support and resources, our team is here to help you and your communities. Reach out to us: info@S2SCampaign.org

Upcoming Important Dates

• Jan 24/25: Tu Bishvat — “New Year of the Trees”(Jewish)
• Jan 27: Holocaust Remembrance Day
• February: Black History Month
• Feb 5: Immigration Act of 1917 Bans Asians, and Other Non-White People from Entering U.S.
• Feb 6/7: Isra and Mi’raj
• Feb 14: Vasant Panchami — Beginning of Spring (Hindu & Sikh)
• Feb 14: Ash Wednesday — Beginning of Lent for Western Christians
• Feb 19, 1923, U.S. Supreme Court Rules Indian Immigrants Ineligible for Citizenship
• Feb 20, 1956, Civil Rights Activists Arrested for Organizing Bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama “There were times when it would have been easy to fall apart or to go in the opposite direction, but somehow I felt that if I took one more step, someone would come along to join me.” — Rosa Parks
• Feb 21, 1965, Malcolm X Assassinated During Speech in Manhattan
• Feb 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbury Killed
• March: Women’s History Month
• Mar 8: International Women’s Day
• Mar 10: Harriet Tubman Day
• Mar 10 — Apr 9: Beginning of Ramadan
• Mar 15: International Day to Combat Islamophobia — What will your community do to mark this important day?
• Mar 16: 6 Asian women killed in spas and massage parlors in Atlanta, GA.
• Mar 19: Nowruz
• Mar 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the United Nations.
• Mar 23/24: Purim (Jewish)
• Mar 25: Holi
• Mar 27: Muslim Women’s Day
• Mar 31: Easter — Western (Christian)
• 2024 Religious Holidays Calendar from Encounter World Religions, an organization promoting pluralism and religious literacy.
• AntiRacism Calendar
• Equal Justice Initiative Calendar

Spring Holy Days Resources

Sharing these resources for the upcoming spring holy days

• Spring 2023 Interfaith Discussion Guide | Sanford Health
• Lived Diversity: Observing Passover, Easter, and Ramadan | Institute for Islamic Christian Jewish Studies
• Celebrating Together: 2023 Spring Festivals & Religious Practices | Aspen Institute by Sheridan Ruiz
• Multifaith Neighbors Network guides to Ramadan, Passover, and Easter.
• What Companies Should Post on Social Media About Ramadan, Passover, and Easter | National Law Review by Stephanie M. Marrone
• Upcoming ING Ramadan and Abrahamic Holiday Convergence Events | Islamic Networking Group (ING)
• Sikh Celebrations! Lessons and Activities for Inclusive Classrooms | Sikh Coalition

Events

• Kaufman Interfaith Institute Book Groups: Monthly Monday evenings starting January 22nd and will be discussing Rev. Jennifer Bailey’s book, To My Beloveds: Letters on Faith, Race, Loss, and Radical Hope. | Beginning January 24th, the Wednesday afternoon group will meet bi-weekly, exploring Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference by John Inazu. Registration information for both can be found here
• Jan 24, 9:30 AM EST/8 PM IST Instagram Live conversation with Sunita Viswanath (Hindu’s for Human Rights) and Priyali Sur (The Azadi Project) delving into Constitutional Rights and Nationalism.
• Jan 30 | Paths to Understanding | Challenges We Face The meaning of monotheism | In this conversation we will discuss: The divisions in our society | The meaning of monotheism | Jesus’ leadership in the parable of the good Samaritan Register Here
• Peace Education Following Atrocities | Rossing Institute | Jan 31 2024 | Register Here | In this webinar we are keen to learn about peace education following atrocities. We will learn from Rwanda, how they implemented peace education after horrific events. Ian Manzi is an advocate for peace education in post-genocide Rwandan society and will share his professional experience, including working for the Agahozo-Shalom youth Village and as a co-founder of Critical Thinking for P.E.A.C.E.
• Jan 31 at 3 p.m. ET Op-Ed Training with Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons from BJC | Hosted by Redletter Christians | Want to learn how to craft concise, effective, and prophetic commentary? Guthrie is leading an op-ed training as a part of Red Letter Christians’ Professional Training Series. The training is open to the public and free to attend. Click here to register.
• Feb 1–29 Peacebuilding amid Polarization: A Leader’s Toolkit for Constructive Engagement on the Israeli–Palestinian Crisis | Sharing Sacred Space & Religions for Peace USA | Drawing on the expertise of leading scholar-practitioners of religion, peacebuilding, international relations, and conflict transformation, this five-part series offers practical, conceptual, and theological tools to help community builders, educators, religious leaders, and peace activists — both experienced and in training — navigate the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and its global impact. Each session offers opportunities for participant engagement through educational content, frameworks for analysis, and capacity-building exercises.
• Feb 2–3 American Muslim Health Professional’s National Conference The Johns Hopkins University and AMMSA are proud to partner for this exceptional event that will bring together clinicians, researchers, healthcare entrepreneurs, and public health pioneers. They will address critical health topics that directly impact our communities.
• Feb 5, 2024 “Preaching Jesus with Interfaith Sensitivity” Webinar God’s Law in Lenten Texts: Romans 4, Exodus 20, and Jeremiah 31 12:00–1:15 pm CT More Information and Registration Here
• Workshop Proposals due Feb 5 | Netroots Nation in Baltimore July 11–13
• Feb 7, 2024 | Creating A Safe Space For Interfaith Dialogue: Skills And Reflections | Journalists and Writers Foundation & World Interfaith Harmony Week | More Information | A webinar on cultivating a secure space for interfaith dialogue will feature experts in the field who will delve into the essential skills, tools, and knowledge required for interfaith dialogue. The experts will elaborate on effective strategies for acquiring, nurturing, and teaching the skills relevant to interfaith dialogue.
• Feb 13 | On Allyship & Accountability: Transforming Ourselves & Our Communities | Join the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign for an engaging online event where we will explore the power of allyship and accountability in creating positive change. We all have a role to play in transforming ourselves and our communities. More Information and Registration Here
• Feb 13 | Cary Theatre, North Carolina | 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime A story of courage and resilience, revealing the impact of Islamophobia on a tragic night in Chapel Hill, NC, in 2015. Register for in person event here
• Feb 14, 12–1 pm CT Interreligious Studies: An Introduction, Chicago Theological Seminary hosts a discussion of Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva’s new book — via Zoom
• Workshop submissions due Feb 16 | Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference to be held June 5–6, 2024, at the Tri-Faith Commons in Omaha, NE.
• Feb 20 | Paths to Understanding | Pluralism in the Abrahamic Tradition & the Temptation to Supremacy In this conversation we will discuss: Teachings of Supremacy | Pluralism in the Abrahamic Tradition | Doctrines of Discovery Register Here
• Feb 26 — March 5 | Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom — Spain 2024 — MEJDI Tours
• Feb 28 and 29 | The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium is co-sponsoring a two-day online workshop on communicating across differences, especially religious and political disagreement, hosted by Resetting the Table. Register for the workshop here.
• Interfaith Photovoice has ongoing online courses
• 2024 Convenings for Interfaith Leaders | The Kaufman Institute, in cooperation with the Fetzer Institute (Kalamazoo), invites you or a representative from your organization to attend a series of small gatherings of leaders representing interfaith initiatives and organizations from across the State of Michigan in 2024. Tuesday, February 20 — Wednesday, February 21, 2024 / Pursuing Anti-Racism and Communities of Belonging | Tuesday, April 16 — Wednesday, April 17, 2024 / Exploring Language for Pluralism and Human Flourishing | Thursday, June 20 — Friday, June 21, 2024 / Critical Hope: Envisioning the Future of Interfaith | Information Here
• March 7 | Augsburg’s 2024 Interfaith Symposium: Building Trust in Divisive Times Thursday, Augsburg University | The keynote lecture will be given by Manu Meel, who is passionate about empowering young people to bridge divides. He believes that the biggest threat to American democracy is polarization. As CEO of BridgeUSA, Manu is leading the largest and fastest-growing student movement to bridge our differences. Registration is coming soon! Sponsorship opportunities are available for more information.
• March 16 Join Dr. McCarty at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry graduate student conference Lumen et Vita. The theme for this year is “Synodality, Dialogue, and Reconciliation,” and the conference is accepting proposals in Religion and Peace Studies as well as in other topics. Submissions due by January 22
• March 26 | Paths to Understanding | Human Nature, Social Media, and the Three Great Teachings In this conversation, we will discuss: Three Great Teachings of the Abrahamic Tradition; The Slander Machine of Social Media and Human Vulnerabilities; Antisemitism and Exclusive In-grouping by Christians. Register Here
• April 4–6, 2024 | Religion Communicators Council Convention | Louisville, Kentucky
• April 25–27th | Othering and Belonging Conference | UC Berkeley
• June 5–6, 2024 | Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference to be held on the Tri-Faith Commons in Omaha, NE. Tri-Faith Initiative and UNO’s Religious Studies department invite submissions due Feb 16
• July 11–13 | Netroots Nation in Baltimore Proposals due Feb 5
• August 2–4 | The 2024 Interfaith Leadership Summit Interfaith America | Chicago
• August 30 — September 2, 2024 | 61st Annual ISNA Convention | Dallas, TX
• May 23 — June 1 | Peace Catalyst trip in Bosnia & Herzegovina. You will meet and talk to Serbian Orthodox Christians, Bosniac Muslims, and Croatian Catholics. You will visit and discuss the Srebrenica memorial and learn why things fell apart, but more importantly, you will consider how to put things back together with people who have endured civil war and genocide. Trip details

Jobs

• Faith in Public Life Position Openings | Chief Operating Officer, Senior Director of Communications, Theologian in Residence
• MCC is hiring an International Program Racial Equity Director. This senior management position will work full-time on racism or other forms of oppression and equity work in MCC International Program. The MCC International Program is managed jointly by MCC Canada and MCC US.
• Minnesota Multifaith Network (MnMN) is seeking a communications specialist on a contract basis to manage and implement communications tasks on behalf of MnMN. We are looking for a commitment of 100 work hours per month. Compensation is negotiable depending on qualifications. More Information Here

Scholarships

• The annual BJC Religious Liberty Scholarship Contest engages high school students in church-state issues by directing them to express a point of view on a religious liberty topic. BJC is accepting essay or video submissions for our 2024 contest, focusing on the connection between Christian nationalism and book bans. All entries are due March 15, 2024.
• Islamic Scholarship Fund’s Scholarship Application is open until March 21st, 2024, for the 2024–25 school year. Every year, ISF awards up to $10,000 in scholarships to up-and-coming changemakers in media, policy, public interest law, and film.

Fellowships

• Apply by January 31 to join Trinity Leadership Fellows. Join a diverse cohort of emerging leaders on a two-year journey of faith-inspired learning. This non-residential, free program will prepare lay and ordained professionals with the tools they need to energize and empower their congregations and communities. Learn from leading scholars, experts in the field, and mentors.
• The Arab American Leadership Program (AALP) is currently accepting applications for Summer 2024! The AALP is an exciting national program that connects Arab American college students and recent graduates to Congressional internships. We place students from universities across the country in public service internships in Washington, DC, and in various states. Applications are due January 26th, 2024.
• Global Voices: Youth Interfaith Digital Storytelling Campaign: The “Global Voices” Youth Digital Storytelling Campaign aims to empower and amplify the voices of the global youth (ages 18–35) in fostering interfaith dialogue. Through short video messages and anecdotes, participants are welcome to share their personal experiences, promoting understanding, respect, and unity across diverse faith backgrounds. Information Here. Due Feb 2
• Obama Foundation’s Leaders Program is looking for changemakers between the ages of 24 and 45 from the Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and United States regions who are already doing great work in their fields and want to deepen their leadership skills and meet like-minded individuals to collaborate with and learn from. Applications close Feb 9
• Catalyst Project will be hosting the Anne Braden Anti-Racist Organizer Training Program for white social justice activists and organizers starting in May of 2024! This year’s program will meet in-person (with COVID protocols) for 3 trainings May-August in Orlando, Florida. Applications are due February 15th, so apply now!
• Applications for the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s paid 9-month Congressional Policy Fellowship are being accepted on a rolling basis. Through a 9-month paid fellowship, young professionals gain real-world experience working on legislative and public policy issues in Congress. This opportunity is for American Muslims committed to a career in public service.
• BJC Fellows Program | We are currently accepting referrals and applications for the 2024 BJC Fellows Program. If you know someone who is interested or if you work with young and emerging professionals, please share this information. Please encourage any past applicants to reapply. The 2024 Seminar will take place July 24–28, 2024. Application deadline: March 1, 2024 (Shoulder to Shoulder’s Director of Strategic Communications, Rev. Cassandra Lawrence, was a 2022 Fellow.)
• Religious Worlds of New York Summer Institute Fellowship will meet July 8–26, 2024, at Union Theological Seminary in the Manhattan neighborhood of Morningside Heights. Applications are due on March 5, 2024
• Introduction to Christian Peacebuilding | April 3 — May 8, 2024 | This 6-week online small group, created by and in partnership with Peace Catalyst International, will help you learn how conflict can become an opportunity to work toward God’s fullest vision of reality, one of justice and mutual flourishment. You will begin to grasp how conflict unveils ruptured relationships, both interpersonally and between groups. This small group is designed for everyday Christians and Christian leaders who are curious about how their faith and lives could be shaped into becoming a remedy to the chaos and pain of our world. We hope for it to be a kickstart to a lifelong process of being shaped into instruments of peace.

Grants

• Inaya Care Fund from HEART: a grassroots fund for US-based Muslims in need of financial assistance as they navigate grief, organizing, and transitions. (Please share and support this beautiful care fund)
• Rise Together Fund is offering rapid response grants ranging from $5,000 — $25,000 to U.S. based community organizations. Each inquiry will be reviewed on a rolling basis. RTF will support organizations with general support grants whenever possible to allow for organizational flexibility. More Information Here
• Pace e Bene has opened applications for the Changemaker Youth Grants 2024 — an initiative designed to foster the imaginations of youth aged 12–23 and fuel their creative solutions for addressing violence in their communities. These young minds have the opportunity to secure grants of up to $1,000 for projects that transcend boundaries, embracing creativity, artistry, and thinking outside the box. Click here to access the application. For more details, visit our website. Deadline is Feb 10, 2024.

Spring Holy Days Resources

• Spring 2023 Interfaith Discussion Guide | Sanford Health
• Lived Diversity: Observing Passover, Easter, and Ramadan | Institute for Islamic Christian Jewish Studies
• Celebrating Together: 2023 Spring Festivals & Religious Practices | Aspen Institute by Sheridan Ruiz
• Multifaith Neighbors Network guides to Ramadan, Passover, and Easter.
• What Companies Should Post on Social Media About Ramadan, Passover, and Easter | National Law Review by Stephanie M. Marrone
• Upcoming ING Ramadan and Abrahamic Holiday Convergence Events | Islamic Networking Group (ING)
• Sikh Celebrations! Lessons and Activities for Inclusive Classrooms | Sikh Coalition

Toolkits

• The Enduring Echoes of His Song A new website dedicated to the legacy of Rabbi Abraham Heschel. When Dr. Martin Luther King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught my dad to pray with his feet — Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• Peacemaker’s Toolkit, Search for Common Ground | Multi-Faith Neighbors Network
• Over Zero released a refresher guide on its core content surrounding the narrative patterns and underlying psychosocial dynamics that precede and occur throughout identity-based violence.
• Antisemitism from
• Writing A Solidarity Statement: Considerations and Process Questions — Building Movement

Books

• The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Edited by Joan Chittister, Saadi Shakur Chishti, Arthur Waskow (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2006)
• Go and Do Likewise — Following Jesus into our Common Humanity | Now available as a paperback or e-book. In his latest book, Paths to Understanding’s executive director, Reverend Terry Kyllo, tells the story of his journey out of white Christian Supremacy and responds to the question, “Is it okay for faithful Christians to be in relationship with other religious traditions?” Learn more about the book
• I Shook Up the World: The Incredible Life of Muhammad Ali by Maryum “May May” Ali.
• Religions for Peace is pleased to offer Faithful Peace: Why the Journey to Build Resilience is Multi-Religious, as a free downloadable PDF.
• Prisms of the People, by Hahrie Han, Elizabeth McKenna, and Michelle Oyakawa who studied and documented the strategic design decisions of successful movement organizers. They found what many of you know: Movements are successful when they act as prisms, transparent objects that usually has three sides and bends light so that it breaks up into rainbow colors.
• Religious Hatred: Prejudice, Islamophobia and Antisemitism in Global Context. By Paul Hedges. Why does religion inspire hatred? Why do people in one religion sometimes hate people of another religion, and also why do some religions inspire hatred from others? This book shows how scholarly studies of prejudice, identity formation, and genocide studies can shed light on global examples of religious hatred. More Information

Reports

• Principles for Reframing the National Security Narrative | Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
• Racial Equity & Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) — National Collaborative for Health Equity There are many great reports, toolkits, and guides on this website that mark the National Day of Racial Healing on January 15. Check out the guiding principles for Transformative Reparations on page 28 of Toward Transformative Reparations. The principles outlined in this report and on this website are necessary also to our work countering anti-Muslim discrimination.
• 21st-Century Narrative Change with Focus on Social Media, written by Amy Sprecher and Aaliytha Stevens, Co-founders Building CommUnity LLC
• Facilitating Social Transformation Through Self and Collective Healing: A Collection of Insights, Resources, and Practices, written by Colette Rausch, Director, Neuroscience and Peacebuilding, Think Peace, and Laura Webber, Convener, Think Peace Learning and Support Hub
• “Sickness and Health in the Body Politic: Religious Traditions of Social Boundaries, Justification, and Policy” by Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D.
• 8 Ways To Protect American Democracy: Safeguarding Elections in 2024 and Beyond, Center for American Progress, January 4, 2024
• Replenishing Trust: Civil Society’s Guide To Reversing The Trust Deficit, Spitfire, January 11, 2024
• USIP Religious Peacebuilding Action Guides
• Overall, about four in ten U.S. adults say that all or most of their friends have the same religion they do. But about six in ten report having at least some friends whose religion differs from their own, according to a new analysis of data from a 2022 Pew Research Center survey. That includes 43% who say only some of their friends have the same religion they do and another 18% who say hardly any or none of their friends do.
• 100 Days Of Building Power And Solidarity: Observations And Recommendations About Immediate And Long-Term Infrastructure Needs For Palestinian, Muslim, And Arab Groups In The U.S. Read the Report Here

Films

• A Case for Love is a heartfelt yet personally challenging movie inspired by the teachings and writings of Bishop Michael Curry, most well-known for his passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This documentary examines whether or not love–specifically unselfish love–is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the U.S. In the documentary, the film team travels across the U.S. interviewing everyday people from various walks of life and ethnicities, striving to live their lives selflessly. Stories include racial justice, military, foster care, sexual trafficking, love and loss and others as well-known figures including Pete Buttigieg, Al Roker, Sam Waterston, Becca Stevens, Russell Moore, John Danforth, John Clyburn, Kelly Brown Douglas and Jon Meacham weigh in on the issue.
• United We Build | Documentary Series | Interfaith America | As we head into an election year, Interfaith America, an organization with over twenty years of experience creating social cohesion and civic cooperation, would like to highlight the often-unheralded stewards of democratic practice, individuals who work daily to create space where others are welcome and seen. To bring these stories to the forefront, we are launching ‘United We Build,’ a mini-documentary series highlighting bridgebuilders nationwide. These bridgebuilders share a belief in our Potluck Nation, a country of diverse identities and divergent ideologies. That belief is often fueled by their varying faiths and rich religious traditions.
• God & Country | From director Dan Partland and producer Rob Reiner, GOD & COUNTRY looks at the implications of Christian Nationalism and how it distorts not only our constitutional republic but Christianity itself. Featuring prominent Christian thought leaders, GOD & COUNTRY asks this question: What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism?
• 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime | A story of courage and resilience, revealing the impact of Islamophobia on a tragic night in Chapel Hill, NC in 2015.

Articles

• Peel District School Board Celebrates One Year of ‘Affirming Muslim Student Identities and Dismantling Islamophobia’ Strategy
• Why religious freedom is more important than ever in 2024
• How U.S. Muslims Have Transformed in the 20 Years Since 9/11 — and What It Means in the Wake of 10/7
• When Dr. Martin Luther King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught my dad to pray with his feet — Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• We Need a Change in Strategy by Allison Ralph, Ph.D.
• Tri-Faith’s recent feature on NPR’s Morning Edition, showcasing how Tri-Faith, nestled here in Omaha, serves as a beacon of hope by bringing together diverse faith communities.

Podcasts

• 2023 Wrap: Top 10 ‘Interfaith America with Eboo Patel’ Episodes

Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign Staff Recommendations

• Cassandra: “High on the Hog,” Netflix Series. Food writer Stephen Satterfield traces the origins of African-American cuisine, tracing its through lines from Africa to Texas. In Season 2 Episode 3 Stephen meets former student activists in Atlanta and honours the legacy of the chefs and bakers who fuelled and funded the Civil Rights Movement, including the Nation of Islam.
• Nina: Graphic novels by Huda Fahmy

Closing:

Welcome to a practice of peace. It is messy. It is not easy. It is fragile and thin and breakable. It is a verb, not an achievement. It needs to be conjugated regularly. It is the experience of having been torn. And, having been torn, staying with that new shape and finding dignity in language, in protest, in lamentation, in justice, in re-ordering, in catharsis. It’s not a landscape; it’s staying alive.

Padraig O-Tuama in Neither Here nor There: The Many Voices of Liminality By Timothy Carson