New Interfaith Leadership Network Will Support Local Changemakers
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New Interfaith Leadership Network Will Support Local Changemakers

June 4, 2024

New Interfaith Leadership Network Will Support Local Changemakers

Interfaith Alliance’s Interfaith Leadership Network will provide faith leaders with resources to convene local interfaith coalitions.

WASHINGTON — Interfaith Alliance, a national organization that advocates for inclusive democracy and healthy boundaries between religion and government, has brought together a select group of diverse faith leaders from across the country who applied to participate in the first Interfaith Leadership Network (ILN). The organization will support these local leaders with practical skills, financial resources, expert coaching, and a strong, collaborative network to advance civil rights and religious freedom across the country.

Every member of the 2024 Interfaith Leadership Network cohort will focus on a significant local project, mobilizing people of diverse faiths and beliefs to strengthen interfaith relationships and positively impact their communities. Each will receive a grant of up to $5,000 alongside mentorship, training, and media support to uplift their work.

“With extremism and hate-based violence on the rise, now more than ever we need to support those who are working to unite their communities and strengthen our multi-faith democracy,” said Maureen O’Leary, Interfaith Alliance’s Senior Director of Field & Organizing. “The impressive members of the first class of the Interfaith Leadership Network are each pursuing critical projects to achieve a more just, equitable democracy in their communities.”

The members of the 2024 Interfaith Leadership Network are:

  • Hussayn Abdul-Qawi; Los Angeles, California
  • Matthew Anderson, Boston; Massachusetts
  • The Rev. LaNesha (Lynn) DeBardelaben; Seattle, Washington
  • Kyle Evans; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Rabbi Steven Philp; Chicago, Illinois
  • The Rev. Dr. Anna Piela; Evanston, Illinois
  • Rabbi Scott Shafrin; St. Louis, Missouri
  • The Rev. Kimble Sorrells; Atlanta, Georgia
  • The Rev Dr. Neil G. Thomas; Dallas, Texas

Each of these ILN leaders is available to discuss the significance of this network and the work they are doing in their own communities.

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