Interfaith America

Narrative: ia is committed to elevating our message of healing and hope and fostering opportunities for individuals to unite through shared values and projects. Through diverse storytelling strategies, ia uplifts the work of bridgebuilders and interfaith leaders including ia staff, members of the emerging leaders network (eln), students, educators, local and national thought leaders, and community partners to establish national narrative where mutual respect and cooperation across difference are social norms. For example, in fy24, ia published 190 pieces on interfaith america magazine, including articles written by 99 members of the ia network including members of the eln (which now includes 2,248 members from a variety of professional sectors, racial, ethnic and cultural identities, and worldviews). Additionally, ia published articles in external news outlets; featured thought leaders in the second season of interfaith america with eboo patel; and created inspiring video offerings include a mini-documentary series called "united we build," which premiered on the ia youtube channel in january 2024.

Innovation: in our innovation program area, ia applies learnings and expertise from our work in higher education to new sectors and changing and evolving conditions. Ia's innovation programming centers proactive engagement of religious diversity in a variety of sectors, including healthcare and health education, the growing bridgebuilding sector, democracy and civic engagement, and in workplaces and corporate spaces around the country. Ia equips partners across these sectors with skills, resources, and networking opportunities through grants and fellowships, events and convenings, trainings, strategic consultations, and other learning resources. Many of these initiatives have now become hallmarks of our programming. For example, the team up project, a collaboration with catholic charities, habitat for humanity, and y-usa, supports local leaders with grants and resources to implement service and bridgebuilding projects, inspiring communities to take action together for the common good. At the completion of the first phase of the project in spring 2024, we engaged an estimated 2,100 community members through this work.