Interfaith America

06/12/2026

There is one week left to apply for the BRAID Fellowship.

This opportunity brings together undergraduate student leaders from across the country to build skills in interfaith cooperation, strengthen their leadership, and lead bridgebuilding work on their campuses. Through training, mentorship, and hands‑on projects, fellows gain the tools and experience needed to create more connected and respectful communities.

Applications close on June 19. We encourage students to apply and share with those who may be interested. https://www.interfaithamerica.org/grants/braid/

06/12/2026

Can a song become a force for the common good?

Community problem-solving takes many forms. Music is one of them.

Be The People shines a light on everyday leaders, spreads the stories of their work, and invites all of us to take part.

Listen to “Gotta Be Us (Be The People)” and add your voice.

Tag someone who’s making a real difference in your community.

Interfaith America is proud to serve as the lead faith partner for Be The People.

06/11/2026

New York City is coming together around the Knicks, but the story goes beyond basketball.

A viral line, “My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish,” has become a rallying cry for a vision of the city rooted in diversity, pride, and connection.

At a time when many communities feel both hope and fear, this moment raises an important question: what does it mean to build a shared life across difference?

Jake Shapiro reflects on this moment, the leadership shaping it, and the challenges that remain.

Read the full Quick Take:

“My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish, my Christian’s Dior, Knicks in four!”

06/10/2026

From students to trainers, Suraj Arshanapally and Anastasia Young show what interfaith leadership can become over time.

At the Interfaith Leadership Summit, both first learned how to engage across difference.

Today, they return as trainers, shaping the next generation of bridgebuilders.

In this conversation with StoryCorps One Small Step, they reflect on how their journeys began, how interfaith work shaped their careers in healthcare and public health, and why these relationships still matter.

Watch the clip and read and listen to the full story: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/students-to-trainers-emerging-leaders/

06/10/2026

The Department of Defense has reduced its list of officially recognized religions from more than 200 to 30. Critics argue the move risks excluding service members from diverse faith backgrounds and raises deeper questions about religious pluralism in public life.

Read the full quick take by Chris Crawford:

The U.S. Department of Defense has reduced its list of officially recognized religious affiliations from over 200 to 30 — and has drawn controversial lines on who belongs under the definition of “Christian.”

06/08/2026

What makes Bruce Springsteen a pluralism hero?

It is the way he tells stories.

Stories of people we recognize and people we might otherwise overlook. Stories that expand our sense of who belongs.

Springsteen’s music reminds us that pluralism is not about becoming the same. It is about building a shared life that honors our differences.

Read Eboo Patel’s full tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the power of everyday pluralism. https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/pluralism-hero-bruce-springsteen/

06/05/2026

Fannie Lou Hamer’s courage helped reshape American democracy.

Born into a sharecropping family in Mississippi, Hamer became a powerful voice for voting rights, desegregation, and political representation. She endured arrests, violence, and lasting injuries, yet never stopped organizing, teaching, and building coalitions for change.

During Freedom Summer, she reminded others: “If we’re trying to break down this barrier of segregation, we can’t segregate ourselves.”

Read the Pluralism Hero tribute by Bex Blackburn: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/pluralism-hero-fannie-lou-hamer/

06/03/2026

Every person you pass today is carrying something worthy.

In this month’s Sacred Pause, Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque invites us to consider what it means to truly see one another. Not just in theory, but in practice. Especially when difference feels unfamiliar or challenging.

Across traditions, there is a shared truth. The person in front of you matters.

The question is whether we choose to live like it.

06/02/2026

We are proud to launch PluribUS 250.

As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this initiative uplifts the people, stories, and ideas shaping a more pluralistic future.

PluribUS 250 highlights Americans working across religious, cultural, and political differences for the common good through articles, resources, events, and more.

Join us in reflecting on our past, celebrating the contributions of all Americans, and envisioning what we can build together.

Explore PluribUS 250 https://www.interfaithamerica.org/today/pluribus-250/

06/01/2026

Diana Eck saw something others were missing.

Religious diversity was not distant. It was shaping everyday life in America.

But diversity alone was not enough.

Her definition of pluralism challenged us to do something harder. It challenges all of us to engage across difference.

Read the full Pluralism Hero story by Carolyn Roncolato: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/pluralism-hero-diana-eck/