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Interfaith Welcomes Impressive Group of New Interns

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Throughout the year, Interfaith Philadelphia offers a diverse array of internship opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students from across the country to work with us. This summer we welcomed four new interns, all whom are passionate about grassroots interfaith work! Learn a bit about them below and see their full bios here. Meet Zev Zentner, Youth Programs intern! Z ev Zentner is a rising senior at Grinnell College. A Religious Studies major, they care deeply about interfaith action. Zev is a member of the Grinnell Religious Studies Student Education Policy Committee and they are the vice president of Chaverim, Grinnell’s Jewish Organization. “I’m so thrilled to be able to spend the summer at Interfaith Philadelphia. Interfaith work has been part of my life since I was a child and I’m so excited to be able to take a more active role in interfaith work for the next generation.” Read Zev’s full bio here ! Meet Katelyn Stealey, Data Analysis/Development Research intern! Kate...
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In Mosaic Program, We Grow Together

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Gusu School youth proudly show their artwork from Mosaic   When I tell people that I am spending this summer working on interfaith programming for youth, they often say the same thing: “Wow, that must be really challenging right now!” When I tell them that Interfaith Philadelphia’s Mosaic Summer Program is a free interfaith summer initiative for middle schoolers, they look at me like I have three eyes. I get the instinct, in a world that feels more divided by the day, the Mosaic program feels like one of a kind.  Mosaic is special—not only because it's a free program at a time of record-shattering childcare costs—but because its goal is to bring together diverse groups of young people to help them learn about the many different cultures in their city.  This June, we held two week-long programs: one in North Philadelphia at Gesu School and one in South Philadelphia at the Aquinas Center. In July, we offered Mosaic in East Lansdowne at  Vision Academy Charter Scho...
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Hundreds Gather to Celebrate Our Anniversary and Honor 2024 Dare to Understand Awardees 

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Board, donors, staff, and friends at a pre-event reception  Our 2 024 Dare to Understand Awards and 20th Anniversary celebration , held on June 6, 2024, was a remarkable occasion and a meaningful way to reflect and honor those who helped us reach this incredible milestone! With more than 275 people in attendance at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, we honored Imam Dr. Quaiser D. Abdullah, The Reverend Jesse B. Garner, Marjorie N. Scharf, The Very Reverend Judith A. Sullivan, and the Walking the Walk Alumni and Partners - all of whom have been central to living our vision, and whose dreams will shape the future of interfaith work. Interfaith Philadelphia community members, former board members, program leaders, and alumni from our 20-year history reunited to hear the stories of the people who have shaped the organization into what it has become today. The evening was filled with music, inspiring dialogue, testimonials, and Philadelphia-themed snacks and treats. Our Exe...
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Religious Leaders Council Unites for "Toll the Bell" Community Initiative 

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Rev. Sarah Hedgis, Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church,  Rev. Edward Livingston, Director of Religious Community Initiatives, and  Rev. Dr. Jay Gardner, Zones of Peace Coordinator at Interfaith Philadelphia honor victims of gun violence at Toll the Bell event .  On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Friday, June 7, 2024, Philadelphia united for Toll the Bell ,   an initiative organized to raise awareness and honor victims of gun violence. Held in collaboration with Interfaith Philadelphia’s Religious Leaders Council, t his city-wide event engaged over 40 partners, including faith-based sites and community organizations. A midday vigil service at the Annenberg Center in West Philadelphia featured prayers and reflections by these members of the Religious Council: Bishop Patricia Davenport, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod ELCA; Kavneet Singh Pannu, American Sikh Council; Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association; and Bishop Peter Hwang, Counci...
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Walking the Walk Memories

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At our upcoming 2024 Dare to Understand ® Awards Ceremony , we're celebrating the nearly 1000 past participants of our Walking the Walk Youth Initiative . As we reach out to these alumni, many are sharing how their experiences in the program have helped them as adults living and working in an interfaith society. In this article, we hear from an alumna, Katie Rockford, and a mentor, Maha Attia. I am a Walking the Walk alumna who participated for four years, two of which I was a student group leader. Growing up in an interfaith family inspired me to take part in Walking the Walk . I always wanted to learn more about people from various religions and backgrounds and find commonalities, while simultaneously embracing differences. Some of my favorite memories were when we came together as a group to volunteer at Inglis House, a long-term care community for individuals with disabilities. Not only were we able to have conversations about how volunteering and charity are important to our...
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Religious Leaders Council Holds Interfaith Prayer Service for Mayor Parker

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  The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia   (RLC) hosted an interfaith prayer service for Philadelphia’s newly elected mayor, Cherelle Parker, on February 20, 2024 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City. With more than 300 people in attendance, the service included scripture readings from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith traditions. “We are here to pray for Mayor Parker and City Council, to build bridges of peace, and to support one another,” said Rev. Edward Livingston , Interfaith Philadelphia’s Director of Religious Community Initiatives. The service was led by the RLC Co-Conveners:  Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez; The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania; Imam Anwar Muhaimin, Quba Masjid; and Rabbi David Straus of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Attendees recited a pledge written by the RLC entitled "A Call from People of Faith to Stop Violence," and ...
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Quest Discussion Group, an Opportunity to “Dare to Understand”

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By Marilyn Berberich For over fifteen years, the Quest Discussion Group  has gathered monthly to explore faith traditions and topics of spirituality. As a first-generation Quest participant, I began this interfaith journey at a Borders Bookstore in Chestnut Hill. Our kickoff selection was Karen Armstrong’s book The Spiral Staircase. It was a fascinating read and an even more fascinating conversation. I left with new and unexpected perspectives. My interest was piqued; I was eager to see where our next book would take us! As the calendar flipped from one year to the next, the Quest readings included fiction and nonfiction as well as time-honored and recently published books. The books informed, inspired, and often surprised us. They also sparked questions and comments that participants were eager to bring to monthly discussions. Although many of the books we read would have been wonderful to read independently, the text was even more engaging through the interfaith dialogue.   ...
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