Interfaith Philadelphia Donor Spotlight: Meet Marilyn Berberich

By -

Marilyn Berberich with student

Marilyn Berberich is a long-time friend and mentor with Interfaith Philadelphia. After serving as a Walking the Walk™ Youth Initiative mentor, Marilyn went on to be a Walking the Walk group leader for 8 years! Today, Marilyn developed and is running our first-ever Interfaith Book Trail, a pilot program for elementary school youth in Southern Delaware County to explore different religious and faith communities. Marilyn is also an UPLIFTer as part of Interfaith Philadelphia’s monthly giving program. We are so grateful for Marilyn who has played such a significant role in making Interfaith Philadelphia what it is today! Read on to see what Marilyn says about why she is a part of our organization!

Interfaith Philadelphia has connected me to beautiful and welcoming faith communities, new experiences, and amazing people I may never have encountered on any other path. I keep my Passport to Understanding on my desk where it greets me every day and reminds me that being curious, venturing out, welcoming in, standing tall, and standing with all point me toward understanding and appreciating my neighbors.

I love it when my travels take me past a church, a mosque, a synagogue, or a gurdwara that I have stepped inside… what a joy to dip into memories of hospitality and friendship I experienced on the other side of the door. Thank you for the many ways you have discovered to build bridges and open hearts and minds, Interfaith Philadelphia!

Click here to support our work

Become an Interfaith Philadelphia UPLIFTer

Read the related article: New Eyes: The Gift of Being a Walking the Walk Group Leader by Marilyn Berberich

To inquire about volunteer opportunities email Sara Zebovitz at ssz@interfaithphiladelphia.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Offering Support, Resources and Navigating Conversations in Time of Conflict

By -
Image
Today, our society needs dialogue and understanding more than ever. Because of this, we have worked tirelessly to unite people to stay in relationships and listen with compassion. Over the past two months, we have gotten requests from and worked with numerous individuals, organizations, and communities to help meet their needs in response to the crisis in Israel and Gaza. Here are just a few examples:  Interfaith Leadership Interfaith Philadelphia’s Board of Directors and the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia directed their attention to this crisis at their fall meetings. Demonstrating the importance of having tables that foster ongoing relationships, each of these bodies asked its members to share the following: What are you holding? How is this impacting you and your communities?  What kind of support do you need?   We learned how alone leaders felt when they did not hear from their interfaith colleagues after October 7th, and how the simplest gesture of a call
Read more

10 Tips for Interfaith Dialogue

By -
Image
Interfaith dialogue can be a meaningful and enriching experience, allowing people of different beliefs and backgrounds to come together in conversation and understanding. However, at times it can also be challenging and uncomfortable.  To foster respectful dialogue, it's essential to approach conversations with an open and curious mindset.  Here are ten ways to be mindful in interfaith dialogue. Practicing these techniques can create a more compassionate and empathetic discussion that celebrates differences and promotes greater understanding. 1. BE CURIOUS: Ask questions with the intent to learn rather than from a place of judgment.  2. LEARN THE DETAILS: Ask questions like “What is the greeting you say with this holiday?” 3. ACKNOWLEDGE MISTAKES WHEN THEY HAPPEN: Mistakes are bound to happen; we are only human. Be sure to acknowledge them and apologize for any harm done.  4. ASK FOR PERMISSION: Say things like “Would you mind if I asked you about…” 5. BE WILLING TO SAY SOMETHI
Read more

Walking the Walk Memories

By -
Image
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
Read more