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January 2025 Resource Roundup

Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign
27 min readJan 10, 2025

Each month we collect, curate, and collaborate 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 including countering anti-Muslim discrimination and violence as just one of the things preventing us from realizing that better world.

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 siblings in their community.

Know that our Shoulder to Shoulder team is here to support and encourage you in the work, however we’re able. The views expressed in linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign. 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. You can check out past resource roundups on our Medium Channel.

S2S Updates & Highlighted Resources

Ramadan Is Coming!

February 28 — March 29, 2025

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.

Upcoming Important Dates

  • January is Muslim American Heritage Month | “Muslim American Heritage” celebrates the contributions of Americans of Muslim heritage to the United States from its founding through the present.
  • January 16 is Religious Freedom Day, marking the date in 1786 that the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was passed. It articulated the concept of faith freedom for all, and the principle was enshrined a few years later in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While marking that milestone, we always remember that not all citizens nor all people enjoyed the rights and privileges of religious freedom in 1786.
  • Jan 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Jan 21: National Day of Racial Healing
  • February: Black History Month
  • Feb 28: Ramadan expected to begin
  • 2025 Religious Holidays Calendar from Encounter World Religions, an organization promoting pluralism and religious literacy. Recognizing the religious holidays of others is a great way to make folks feel seen and foster conversation and connection. This resource is perfect for workplaces, schools, community groups or anyone wanting to know more about the celebrations and seasonal festivals of their neighbors.
  • AntiRacism Calendar — Featuring all federal holidays, key dates in voting rights, and significant dates in the fight to end racism.
  • Equal Justice Initiative Calendar — “When we engage truthfully with our history, we are better equipped to address contemporary issues ranging from mass incarceration, immigration, and human rights to how we think and talk about cultural moments and icons.”

Events

  • Jan 12, March 12, April 1 | Thriving Together Webinars | Power Labs | Discover how to improve the well-being and performance of members and volunteers through the science of motivation.
  • Jan 14 | The Nonprofit Killer Bill & You: How to Protect Your Charities in 2025 and Beyond | Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and LaunchGood | CAIR and LaunchGood encourage nonprofit leaders, CEOs and board members who work in areas related to faith, humanitarian aid, human rights, civil rights, and other positive causes to join us. [NOTE: this webinar is not open to the general public. We plan to vet registrants to confirm their identities and nonprofit affiliations]
  • Jan 14, 21 | Journeying Through Lent with an Interreligious Lens: A workshop for Christian clergy | How do we address the ways in which scripture, our traditions, and our liturgical practices have been used to support and promote antisemitism, particularly during the Lenten season? In this 3-week workshop series, ICJS invites Christian clergy to use an interreligious lens as they prepare to journey with their congregations through the Lenten/Easter season.
  • Jan 14 | Deepening Without Drowning — Intro to Insight Mediation | Mediators Beyond Borders International | Insight Mediation has been described as the “fourth pillar” of conflict resolution. It starts with a definition of conflict that makes sense for the relational work mediators do, with a focus on the challenging human behaviours we see every day in our work. Grounded in learning theory, Insight Mediators approach conflict through a learning lens, rather than one of containment or avoidance. The goal of this workshop is to help you start asking more, and telling less, and feel the relief that comes from an approach that is grounded in understanding human behaviour.
  • Jan 15 | Muslims and Political Participation After the 2024 Election | Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). Join ISPU on January 15 at 12 p.m. EST for an engaging panel discussion examining the political events that shaped the Muslim community over the past year and exploring the role they will play in the political system moving forward.
  • Jan 15 | Migrants and Muslims at Guantanamo: A History of Demonization, Social Control, and Resistance | Muslim Counterpublics Lab, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Amnesty International, and the National Immigrant Justice Center | January 11th, 2025 will mark 23 years since the Guantanamo Bay prison was repurposed to house Muslim men and boys captured in the “War on Terror”. The prison serves as an emblematic example of institutionalized Islamophobia. But Guantanamo today is but the most recent iteration of the U.S. government’s ongoing vilification and incarceration of marginalized communities. This panel will explore Guantanamo’s legacy, and how the entrenched image — that the prison houses the “worst of the worst” — justifies its existence and evolution.
  • Jan 15 | Unpacking Bonhoeffer’s Legacy Today | Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies (ICJS) | In this online conversation, Dr. Victoria Barnett will delve into the historical complexities of Bonhoeffer’s life and legacy, warning against the dangers of reducing his life and work to simplistic, “momentary” lessons for contemporary Christian activism. Instead, Barnett will argue for a deeper, more nuanced engagement with Bonhoeffer’s theology, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to faith and ethical action in the face of injustice and crisis.
  • Jan 16 | Mobilizing to Take on the Crisis of Hate | On Jan. 14, Interfaith Alliance is launching their new report, “Together against Hate,” to draw attention to the threat of hate-based violence and to highlight the power of interfaith communities to take on this crisis. Join this conversation between Executive Director of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign Nina Fernando, Interim Director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project Rachel Carroll Rivas, the Sikh Coalition’s Managing Director of Policy and Communications Graham West, and Interfaith Alliance’s National Programs Associate Zev Mishell about how civil society can address this issue in the new political climate. In this pressing moment, it’s important to work across our differences to push back against hate and continue advocating for a more inclusive society.
  • Jan 16 | Get Prepared: Protect Yourself and Community from State Repression | Muslims for Just Futures | In this community virtual event, MJF will share our virtual Community Defense Hub and the MJF resources that you can access on the hub. In addition, this virtual event will also include a brief Know Your Rights session, by attorneys from the MJF legal network who will discuss how to assert your rights and protect yourself and community against law enforcement, immigration authorities, state surveillance, and state repression.
  • Jan 16 | How to De-Polarize and Build Community in Your Town: Information Session | Sharing Sacred Spaces | This information session will give you insight into how Sharing Sacred Spaces builds or reignites the sense of peace, safety, and wellbeing of a neighborhood, town, or city. And, further, we will discuss how you can partner with us in bringing our community-building and skill-based training to your area. Whether your community is starting from scratch, needs to rebuild, or is looking to be proactive to ensure your community safety net of trust, this program is designed for you.
  • Jan 16 in NYC | Know Your Rights, Find Your Voice: Faith Communities Against Mass Deportation | Please join the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) and Union Theological Seminary on January 16th for a consultation designed to empower NYC’s faith communities with the tools to know their rights and find their voice in the face of mass deportation. This event will provide education and resources to over 90 diverse houses of worship, spotlight the experiences of West African faith leaders directly impacted by these issues, and build a mental and community map of available resources for deportation-related emergencies. Together, we will send a powerful message to city and federal authorities: faith communities stand in solidarity with and support new New Yorkers. Register here.
  • Jan 16 | Social Change Roles: Finding Your Place in Crisis & Conflict | Peace Catalyst International | Join us for an interactive workshop to explore the main roles needed for social change and how to find the most effective way for YOU to be a peacebuilder.
  • Jan 16 & 17 | Communicating Across Divides Workshop | Based on the work of Resetting the Table, this workshop offers communication skill-building for charged political conversations and a forum for dialogue across disagreement. Participants will exchange views and personal experiences, surface differences and commonalities, and practice communication skills for addressing differences directly and constructively. The workshop builds community capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration.
  • Jan 17 in Chicago | Muhammad Ali Day 2025 | Muslim Civic Coalition | Join a conversation about Muhammad Ali’s unwavering faith and courage in championing justice — in our cities and nation, and across the globe.
  • Jan 18 in Alexandria, VA | Together We Thrive: NoVA Community Resource Day | MAS-DC, Project Anar, and Muslims for Just Futures | Join us for a family friendly community resource day to bring together our Muslim communities and other neighbors on MLK weekend. Connect to social service resources, legal services, community organizing spaces and more. Attend workshops, enjoy good food, participate in art making and build relationships with new community members.
  • Jan 20 | Threads of Hope: Weaving Resilience Through the Power of Legacy | Right To Be | This is a moment to nurture hope, honor the resilience passed down by those who came before us, whether they are still with us or not, and celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join us for a Roundtable of Reflections with RTB staff and board members as they reflect on the leaders and change makers who inspire strength and perseverance, even in the most challenging times.
  • Jan 20 in Memphis, TN | For Such A Time As This: A Prophetic Listening Session & Interfaith Service and Moral Mass Meeting | Join us for For Such A Time As This. This gathering will take place in Memphis, TN and unite faith leaders, community advocates, and people of goodwill, committed to amplifying justice, equity, and love in the face of divisive and regressive forces. Inspired by Dr. King’s legacy and prophetic vision, this event is a declaration of hope and a moral response to an immoral vision for America. You can join us in person or via livestream at 6PM CT (7PM ET). Register by clicking here.
  • Jan 20 | Multifaith Prayer Circle During Inauguration | On January 20th, MLK day, while the 47th U.S. president is inaugurated, we will gather. We will honor what we are feeling as we face into the next four years. We will remember we are not alone. Together, we will recommit to taking courageous action in solidarity with Palestinians and to showing up for one another, fighting for collective safety and liberation for all.
  • Jan 22, 29, and Feb 5 | Christian Theologies of Power and Resistance Mini Course | Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies | With the 2024 election behind us, it is clear that Christian nationalism and the empowerment of conservative Christians will play prominent roles in American politics and policy. How does Christian theology intersect with Christian nationalism, and how can it also inform Christian resistance to it? In this course, we will explore the theological foundations and traditions that have supported much of the Christian backing for Donald Trump over the past decade. At the same time, we will examine theological voices from within the Christian tradition that challenge the ideas of Christian nationalism, Christian supremacy, and Christian hegemony.
  • Jan 23 in Pittsburgh | MLK Interfaith Lecture: Rebuilding a Nation with Revolutionary Love, Featuring Valarie Kaur | Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Carnegie Mellon University
  • (Postponed) Jan 26 | Suzy & Wally Marks, Jr. z”l 2025 Trailblazer Forum: Contending with Bias, Challenging our Narratives | Join NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change for a critical conversation between their honorees about bias and narratives in media. “We’re eager to announce that our Trailblazer honorees this year are the Forward and MSNBC chief correspondent Ali Velshi. The honorees have delved into complexity in their news coverage of events in Israel Palestine, the Middle East region, and how those events have spurred action and conversation in the US.”
  • Jan 29 | Community Defender Training: Understanding Your Rights and Protecting Your Community Under the New Administration | National Immigration Project | Join the National Immigration Project for a free webinar for community defenders, advocates, and impacted community members to go over the basics of what you can do to protect yourself and your community in the face of potential immigration enforcement. We’ll go over what immigration policies have changed in the first week of the Trump administration; a primer on your Fourth Amendment rights; and ways for families to prepare in case of an arrest by immigration officers.
  • Jan 30 | Day of Learning: Exploring Black Christian Views of American Muslims | Muslim Wellness Foundation | We are inviting Black Christian leaders and community members to participate in an 8 hour day of learning on Thursday Jan 30 [9–4pmCT] via Zoom. In a time when division and misunderstanding threaten to erode the fabric of our society, this gathering aims to create a space for empathy, connection, and cooperative action. Your voice, experiences, and perspectives as leaders and members of the Black Christian community are invaluable to this conversation and the pursuit of solidarity.
  • Jan 30 in DC | Celebration of Light | Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington | The evening will showcase powerful work being done by our speakers to bridge divides and better meet the pressing needs of our communities. The program will inspire you through engaging conversation and beautiful music and dance traditions of our local faith communities.
  • Jan 31 | Briefing on Refugee Resettlement and Impact of Executive Orders | We Are All America, Refugee Council USA, Church World Service | The webinar will provide a clear explanation on the current developments, the latest updates on their impact on refugee communities, and a deeper look into the changes affecting national resettlement agencies across the country. Our speakers will share resources on how we as a community can defend our values, combat threats to refugee resettlement, and ways to take action.
  • Feb 2 | The Trump 2.0 Agenda: Key Concerns for Jews, Muslims, and Interfaith Allies | Jews and Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT) | How will the Trump agenda affect immigration, civil liberties, and prospects for peace in Israel/Palestine?How can Muslims, Jews, and Allies effectively respond? This conversation features Haris Tarin from Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Dove Kent from Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, and Professor Michael Barnett from George Washington University.
  • Feb 12 | Deepening Our Capacity for Interreligious Spiritual Care — Chaplain Event | Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies | Are you a volunteer chaplain, CPE student, a solo chaplain, or a care provider new to the field of spiritual care provision? Consider joining ICJS for a special lunch and learn gathering where we will explore ways to expand one’s interreligious competency and capacity as a spiritual caregiver. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to learn about ICJS’ capacity-building grants, designed to specifically address the interreligious needs of chaplains in small Maryland-based organizations with limited access to other resources.
  • Feb 25 | Latino Attitudes Towards Muslims and Islam Training 1 (Latinos and Latino Leaders) | ISPU is hosting a training conducted by LatinoDecisions to equip you as community leaders in strategies to build bridges and collaboration opportunities between the Latino and Muslim communities. The training is based on ISPU and IslamInSpanish’s research on Latino views of Muslims and Islam.

Jobs

  • Do you want to join the S2S Team? We are looking for creative and collaborative people to build our capacities, starting with project-based contracted work. If you’re interested, please send us a cover letter, resume, and 2 references to info@s2scampaign.org (thanks to all those who have already reached out!)
  • The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is excited to hire a Senior Director for Policy and Climate to lead their Policy team, manage their Climate department, and coordinate IRAP’s global policy initiatives. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning January 2, 2025. Click here to learn more about the position and how to apply.
  • Stop AAPI Hate’s Data & Research team is hiring a Research Manager and a Data & Research Coordinator. “We’re looking for team members who are excited about leveraging data & research for advocacy. The deadline to apply is January 10, 2025. If you have questions, contact employment@stopaapihate.org.”
  • ISB Atlanta: Islam. Service. Bridge-Building has an excellent opportunity to make a difference. We currently are seeking an outstanding nonprofit professional to fill an open position as Associate Director. Click here to learn more about this exciting career opportunity.
  • Convergence Center for Policy Resolution (Convergence) is seeking a Programs Director to join their close-knit team to design, lead, and facilitate Convergence Collaboratives and Convergence Learning Lab engagements. Click here for a full description of this remote position and submit your application ASAP.
  • THE CENTER FOR THE POLITICAL FUTURE (CPF) is a non-partisan center housed in the University of Southern California’s Dornsife College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. CPF currently seeks to hire a full-time Program Administrator to serve as the Assistant Director of the Center. For more information about the position, and to submit your application, please visit here.

Scholarships

  • Islamic Scholarship Fund | ISF Scholarship Program is an incredible opportunity for students to pursue higher education in one of four supported fields: Film, Law, Media, and Policy. In the past 15 years, ISF has awarded over $3.5 million to over 600 emerging leaders. Apply before March 21st, 2025. Learn more and apply here.

Fellowships

  • Participate in an ISPU Challenge Lab (Southeast Michigan residents) | “We’re seeking creative and innovative community members in Southeast Michigan with a background in public health, healthcare, health policy, community engagement, and care coordination, among other expertises, to participate in a collaborative single day research event.” | Learn more and apply to participate here.
  • Don’t miss the chance to be a BJC Fellow: Apply now for the class of 2025! BJC is now accepting applications for the next class of BJC Fellows, a program for young professionals who want to deepen their historical, theological and legal understanding of religious liberty and develop skills to advocate for the cause throughout their careers.
  • Apply now for Trifaith Initiative’s 2025 Emerging Clergy Cohort! Participants will engage in a cohort of sixteen emerging leaders from diverse faith and religious traditions. The seminar will equip participants to foster interfaith learning and understanding in their congregations and communities. Learn more and apply here by December 20.
  • Islamic Scholarship Fund | The ISF Congressional Policy Fellowship is a highly selective and advanced program devoted to increasing American Muslim representation in public policy. Through a 9-month paid fellowship, young professionals gain real-world experience working on legislative and public policy issues in Congress. Apply before February 11th, 2025. Learn more and apply here.
  • The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Mediation Support Project MSP (CSS/ETHZ and swisspeace) are very happy to once again organize the Peace Mediation Course in 2025. Applications are now open! The deadline for application is 31st of January 2025. Learn more and apply online.
  • Emerging Leaders Program | Auburn Theological Seminary | The Auburn Emerging Leaders Program is a year-long experience with a multifaith, cross-cultural, and diverse cohort of emerging faith-rooted leaders between the ages of 18 and 35. The Emerging Leaders program begins with a five-day in-person, immersive residential intensive and continues with monthly virtual cohort gatherings. Each cohort of 16–20 members is selected through an application process and receives Auburn Emerging Leader fellowships covering program curriculum, travel, and meals. Applications are due by February 15, 2025 and participants will be notified by March 21, 2025.
  • Fellowship for Congregations, January-June 2025 | Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies | The Fellowship for Congregations is a 6-month cohort experience for leaders from Muslim, Christian, and Jewish congregations to build understanding and relationships across those divides. Fellows learn about each other’s religious traditions, discuss the foundations of interreligious work, and collaborate on an intercongregational project. The next fellowship cohort will begin January 28, 2025.
  • The Othering and Belonging Institute’s 2025 Summer Fellowship application will open December 8. This is a great opportunity for undergraduates, Master’s students, and early Ph.D. candidates to work on a research project with an OBI mentor. The fellowship will be entirely virtual. Contact Charlotte O’Keefe Stralka (charlotte.okeefe@berkeley.edu) if you have questions.
  • Afghan Youth Mentoring Program | Are you an Afghan youth who arrived in the USA in 8/2021 or later? We invite you to participate in our Afghan Youth Mentoring Program, designed to support you as you navigate your new environment and achieve your goals! To enroll or learn more about the program, contact: hello@iphobiacenter.org
  • The Commons 2025 Civic Leadership Cohort | Western States Center | Western States Center’s The Commons cohort is an opportunity for connectors, organizers, bridge-builders, and community leaders to learn, vision, and build for a shared future. Launching in February 2025, this cohort creates space for participants to wrestle with the big questions that undergird our democratic society and movements for justice and equity: How do we define the moment we’re working in? How did we get here? What vision for justice and equity are we working toward? What and who do we need to get there? What stands in our way? Application deadline: January 17, 2025.
  • Abrahamic Program for Young Adults | Chautauqua Institution | During the Summer Assembly Season, the Abrahamic Program for Young Adults (APYA) provides unique opportunities for interfaith dialogue and service to early career adults interested in pursuing vocations in ministry, chaplaincy, or interfaith work more broadly. Applications are due by Monday, January 13, 2025.

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 — Rapid Response Fund: Please note, the Rapid Response Fund to Support Palestinian, Arab, BAMEMSA Communities Amid Rising Hate, Intimidation, and Government Suppression is now closed. However, we recognize that this is an unprecedented time for our communities, families, and organizations and that there is an ongoing need for support and action. If you would like to speak with a member of our team about any of these issues, please contact webcontact.ks@proteusfund.org.
  • Strengthening the Campus Community Grants from Interfaith America: Grants Available to Students for Bridgebuilding Initiatives. Students, if you are interested in bridging divides on your campus or in your community, apply now for Interfaith America’s Strengthening the Campus Community grants. These grants will support projects that bridge meaningful divides on campus or in your community. Strong applications will describe projects that leverage interfaith and bridgebuilding skills for meaningful actions in post-election America. For more information, read the RFP and apply by Jan. 31.
  • Abdelkader Global Citizenship Prize | Abdelkader Education Project and Islamic Society of North America | Essay and Multimedia Contest for Students: Ethical Leadership in Today’s World. During challenging times, the past can provide valuable insights for the present. Consider the life of Emir Abdelkader (1808–1883), the Algerian freedom fighter and Islamic scholar whose moral character, statesmanship, and defense of human rights inspired people across the globe. Learn more and submit your entry here by January 31, 2025.
  • Approximately $1 million in funding is available from the People’s Garden Initiative through USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, in partnership with The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) 2025 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program. The program will fund projects that support community-based gardens promoting sustainable agriculture practices that benefit people and wildlife. Applications will be accepted until January 30, 2025.

Calls to Action

  • Protect Civil Society: Vote “NO” to H.R. 9495 and any corresponding Senate bill (the ‘Nonprofit Killer bill’) | “Despite strong opposition from over 300 civil society organizations, H.R. 9495 (the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act) passed the House on November 21st. This bill includes a dangerous provision that threatens the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations for engaging in freedom of speech activities. Its passage endangers the vital work of nonprofits and sets a troubling precedent for future political exploitation.” | For additional information, see resources provided by the Charity and Security Network, and an ACLU joint letter signed by over 300 advocacy organizations. In addition, see this Muslims for Just Futures letter sent to the Senate Finance Committee on S.4136/H.R. 6408.
  • Stand with Wadee Against All Hate: Take Action for the Wadee Resolution to pass in the House (H.R. 99) | “Hate crimes against Palestinians and Muslim communities are on the rise. We need your voice to demand action. The brutal murder of Wadee AlFayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian Muslim American, was fueled by a toxic climate. He was the first victim in the U.S. following October 2023. The attack on Hesham Awartani, a college student shot while wearing a keffiyeh, additionally highlights the ongoing targeting of Palestinian and Muslim identity.” The Wadee Resolution (S.R. 589) has passed the Senate, and now needs to pass in the House (H.R. 99).
  • Tell Congress (again!): Pass the NO BAN Act | The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act is being reintroduced in both chambers early this Congress. Organizations can endorse the bill here. Members of Congress have the opportunity to make history and pass the first Muslim civil rights bill. More than 400 civil rights, faith, national security and community groups support the bill because separating families is immoral and religious freedom is meant for ALL. Organizations can endorse the bill here.
  • Tell President Biden to Finish Closing Guantanamo Bay Prison | United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy and Advocacy | Upon taking office in 2021, President Biden announced his intentions to close Guantanamo Bay Prison which at the time held 39 prisoners. Over the last four years, the Biden administration transferred 24 of those men out of the prison. During President-elect Trump’s first term, he signed an executive order to keep the prison open and “load it up with some bad dudes.” President Biden must do all that he can to close Guantanamo Bay Prison before the end of his presidency.
  • Interfaith Immigration Coalition #ThisIsWelcome initiative | This new initiative aims to amplify stories of welcome and work for justice and opportunity for all through our immigration policies via a petition to elected officials and candidates for federal public office. Read the press release announcing the exciting new multi-media effort.
  • Call for Proposals: Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference 2025 | Tri-Faith Initiative | The Tri-Faith Initiative and UNO’s Religious Studies department invites submissions for the fourth annual Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference that will be held on June 5th, 2025 on the Tri-Faith Commons in Omaha, NE. Our theme this year is Fueling the Work. How do we nourish minds, bodies and spirits to do the work of social justice? We are seeking papers and presentations that address topics associated with the intersections between race, religion, and social justice across different sectors of society. We invite multi-sector approaches — nonprofit and civic leaders, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) practitioners, community members, educators, health and mental health practitioners, artists, religious communities, and scholars.
  • Pledge to Listen | Millions of Conversations | “I pledge to listen to others who hold different opinions, views or beliefs. I will try to understand their reasons and their perspectives and will respectfully express my own in return.”

Resources

Toolkits & Trainings

  • 2025 Travel Ban Center | National Iranian American Council (NIAC) | The Ban is most likely returning in 2025, and NIAC is launching our new Travel Ban Center — a hub for the latest information and updates, legal aid, and advocacy — to combat this harmful policy and stand up for the dignity and rights of our community. This comprehensive center will include a story collection form, access to legal aid, volunteering opportunities, and advocacy tools to combat the ban’s harmful effects.
  • The Courageous Path: Mission Possible with Nonviolence365 Training | The King Center | Participants will engage in dynamic discussions and interactive sessions that highlight the enduring relevance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles in today’s world. The workshop will provide an exploration of nonviolent strategies, demonstrating their effectiveness in addressing contemporary social and political challenges.
  • Checklist: Preparing your Organization for Media Rapid Response | ReThink Media
  • Confronting Conspiracy Theories and Organized Bigotry at Home: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers | Western States Center
  • Speaking for Ourselves: Resisting Organized Bigotry at School | Western States Center | Students have the right to a safe and inclusive education. While it’s not their responsibility to counter bigotry, they have a critical voice and the power to organize. This toolkit is addressed to young people and aims to support them in taking safe action and reaching out to adults for support when they encounter white nationalism and other forms of organized hate.
  • Thriving Together (and other resources) | PowerLabs | Learn how to design and run people-powered campaigns. Organizers worldwide are using the science of motivation to create the conditions for deep learning, commitment, creativity, and performance required to achieve purpose in complex and uncertain political environments.
  • Project 2025 Conversations Guide | Muslims for Just Futures | “Let’s bring together our community members, especially those who may be less in tune about what policies the Trump administration is likely to enact to talk through what a Trump presidency will look like and the specific impacts on Project 2025 on our community members, through the realm of immigration, Palestine and foreign policy, public education and more. While we understand that a Harris administration would have likewise made things worse for our communities, the plans that Project 2025 lays out are devastating for Muslim communities on a larger scale.”
  • Understanding the National Strategy on Countering Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate: A Guide for Groups and Leaders | Muslims for Just Futures | This guide analyzes the inaugural U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate (Strategy) by examining how the Strategy reinforces harmful national security frameworks, lifting up components of the strategy that align with community recommendations, and offering guidance for groups to engage with the Strategy moving forward.
  • Asian American Momentum Training | Momentum and 18 Million Rising | Come learn hybrid organizing skills, dig into campaign development, and develop base building tools while deepening our analysis of power, oppression and current issues. By reflecting on the challenges of our current political moment, we’ll gain frameworks and tools for building up 18MR’s membership base and running effective winnable campaigns. The training takes place April 7 to 11, 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
  • Certificate: Culture, Communication, and Conflict | National Conflict Resolution Center | A Certificate Program for Leaders Navigating Today’s Workplace
  • Partnering Against Hate curriculum | Interfaith Alliance | All people, no matter where we live or who we are, deserve to feel safe and welcomed in our communities. But all too often, the lives of our friends and neighbors are forever changed by hate-based violence. Now more than ever, we must join together to make clear that hate has no home in our communities. Partnering Against Hate is designed to help guide groups and individuals who want to do more to make their communities safer and more inclusive.
  • Racial Healing Conversation Guide | W.K. Kellogg Foundation | The National Day of Racial Healing — always held the Tuesday after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — centers around experiences rooted in truth-telling, offering people, organizations and communities a day set aside for racial healing, bringing people together to take collective action for a more just and equitable world.

Reports

  • Hindu Nationalism in America: Assessing the Influence of Hindutva Ideology in the U.S. | A new report by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) examines the extent to which Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva, resonates among U.S. Hindus in our sample by surveying their views on identity, politics, and social issues and comparing them to the general public. Previous ISPU polls have not included large enough sample sizes of Hindus in the U.S. to analyze.
  • Pro-Democracy Organizing against Autocracy in the United States: A Strategic Assessment & Recommendations | Harvard Kennedy School | This report proposes nonviolent resistance strategies and support systems that could be relevant for protecting local communities and subjugated groups, and for informing a broad-based pro-democracy struggle under a hypothetical authoritarian administration. We suggest some immediate investments in infrastructure that could support effective pro-democracy organizing and mobilizing, both today and in the event of authoritarian decline or consolidation across all branches of government.
  • Together Against Hate Report | Interfaith Alliance | Hate and violence have always existed as a disturbing feature of American society. However, in recent years, we have witnessed a documented escalation in political and hate-based violence that threatens our democracy and puts all of our communities at risk. Interfaith Alliance has developed Together Against Hate to offer a counter force to this rise in hate-based extremism. Register for the upcoming webinar about the report here.

Event Recordings

  • Live 4th Annual Faith in Democracy 2025 | The organizers of the “Faith In Democracy in 2025' on January 5, 2025 vigil showed that people of faith can be uniters, not dividers in today’s America. The vigil, which included important leaders from a variety of faith traditions, was led by the Franciscan Action Network, Sojourners, and Faith in Peace Concerts.
  • Don’t Obey in Advance: Faith-Based Call to Action to Save Democracy | On the fourth anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, we came together for an organizing call on how faith communities can take action to ensure that all Cabinet nominees are highly qualified to perform their duties and are committed to upholding our Constitution. We grounded ourselves spiritually to prepare for activism in coming years. The call was sponsored by six organizations representing hundreds of thousands of people of faith of diverse ideological and political backgrounds: Sojourners, Interfaith Alliance, Faithful America, Faith in Democracy, Freedom Road and the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.

Videos

Films

  • 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime | In 2015, three Muslim-American students were executed while eating dinner in their home in Chapel Hill, NC. In 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime, filmmaker Tarek Albaba makes an impassioned case for justice for these innocents and for his community. The documentary film charts the victims’ families’ agonizing overnight pivot from trauma to advocacy as they struggle to prevent their loved ones’ deaths from being dismissed as the result of a random parking dispute.
  • Hamdardi: Beyond Borders, Bound by Compassion | Taba Productions, Directed by Ashley Tabatabai and Stefan Fairlamb | This short film captures the profound human impact of the 2017 Muslim Ban. A bereaved immigration officer struggles with his role in the system after meeting a young Iranian brother and sister detained during the ban. See this panel discussion with the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) following a screening of the film.

Articles

Podcasts

Closing:

“May we look up at that night sky. May we let joy in. For we will be someone’s ancestors one day. If we do this right, they will inherit not our fear but bravery born of joy.” — Valarie Kaur

Interfaith
Democracy
Peacebuilding
Pluralism
Islamophobia

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Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign
Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign

Written by Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign

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Shoulder to Shoulder is a coalition of 36 religious denominations and organizations committed to standing with American Muslims to advance American ideals

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