Extremism, hatred, bigotry, violence — these are all things Interfaith Alliance of Iowa aims to tackle through its Listening Tour, a road trip to Iowa communities intended to foster discussion about civil rights and freedom of religion issues that exist on a local, state, and international scale.

More than 200 tons of building supplies, will be donated to Rockport, TX residents Friday, September 29. With all the natural disasters that hit in September, it can be easy to lose track of all the towns victimized. With a population of just over 10,000, most Americans had never even heard of Rockport, Texas before […]

Source: How a Utah Interfaith and Charity Coalition is Making a Difference for Hurricane Harvey Survivors -...

Read more about How a Utah Interfaith and Charity Coalition is Making a Difference for Hurricane Harvey Survivors - World Religion News

Eleven interfaith protesters, including the Rev. William Barber II, were arrested outside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office while protesting Medicaid cuts in the GOP’s revised health care bill. About 50 protesters gathered Thursday (July 13) for the Capitol Hill rally, before marching to a Senate office building steps from the Capitol. Source: Clergy arrested outside McConnell’s office while protesting health care bill | Religion News Service

... Read more about Wampum belts and peacemakers: Unitarian Universalist Church to host Native American presentation | Faith + Values | lancasteronline.com

In a stirring display of solidarity and good will, some 300 representatives  of religious communities and civil society organizations gathered for a conference in Madrid on an issue of acute concern—forced migration. The event was held at the Iglesia de Jesus Church in Madrid on 20 June 2017, the International Day for Refugees. Source: Forced migration calls for faith in action | Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)

Religion has played an outsized role in U.S. history and politics, but it's one that has often gone unrecognized in U.S. museums. "As a focused subject area, it's been neglected," says Peter Manseau, a scholar and writer installed last year as the first full-time religion curator at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. America's exceptional commitment to religious freedom stems from the diversity of its faith traditions. The rebellious attitudes prevalent in frontier settlements fostered the growth of evangelical... Read more about To Understand How Religion Shapes America, Look To Its Early Days : NPR

For Rudayna Aksh, the decision to bring her 13-year-old daughter, Dalya Zeno, from Aleppo to Los Angeles was made for her. “We were sleeping one night,” Aksh remembers. “We heard, like, a big bomb around our house.” The Syrian war had begun and young girls were being kidnapped. “The war didn’t leave any choice for me,” she continues. “I had to come here with my daughter.” Those are the first words of “Dalya’s Other Country,” a new film by Julia Meltzer that premieres Monday night (June 26) on the PBS... Read more about ‘Dalya’s Other Country’ portrays Muslim American mother and daughter | Religion News Service

As Saadia Baig scooped chili beans into a bowl, Asiya Shakir placed a heaping helping of salad and crackers onto a plate. It was time for lunch, but the two women had no intentions of eating the food themselves — they were fasting until sunset in observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Source: Homeless receive 'Meals by Muslims' | News OK

At a time of growing assaults and intimidation of Muslim Americans, the Islamic Networks Group has partnered with 70 interfaith organizations to launch a “Know Your Neighbor” campaign. The effort is intended to encourage individuals and groups to encounter people of faith different from their own.   Source: ... Read more about Interfaith coalition launches ‘Know Your Neighbor’ campaign

World religious leaders have for the first time partnered up in a rare appeal for world peace. The appeal includes messages by 22 leaders, all appealing to the people of the world to make friends with people outside of their faith group. The appeal has been made as part of an initiative by the Elijah Interfaith Institute. Source: World’s Top Religious Leaders Issue Rare Joint Appeal - World Religion News

Palatine, IL:  Sikh Religious Society Palatine Illinois partnered with the local Palatine Library to invite the library members and community at large to an Interfaith Discussion about Holy Books, hosted at the Sikh Gurudwara (Sikh place of worship) in Palatine Illinois on May 24. More than 250 guests were delighted to visit and learn more about different religious holy scriptures, as well as share in "Langar" a vegetarian meal served by the volunteers at the Gurudwara. Speakers from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikh faith were invited to explain the core... Read more about Sikh Religious Society Hosted Palatine Library's Interfaith Holy Books Discussion | SikhNet