Passionate about Interfaith Work? Join the Emerging Leaders Network

Last spring, I had the opportunity to gather with a group of healthcare professionals from Interfaith America’s Emerging Leaders Network. 

Nurses, physicians, a psychologist, and a medical librarian came together from across the country. We were invigorated to be in person. I overheard deep conversations about the importance of interfaith in healthcare settings and people dreaming up ways to change the world for the better and sharing powerful stories of how they had already begun these efforts.

We were delighted to be together and passionate to seek others at the Conference on Medicine and Religion who might be interested in joining our network. And our hopes were correct! There were amazing interfaith leaders in the sea of professionals eager to join a network of peers and tap into the rich resources that Interfaith America has to offer.

In the past, our network was only available to those who had the opportunity to attend an Interfaith Leadership Summit during their undergraduate experience.

We have now decided to be more inclusive and welcome in more people who are out in the world leveraging the foundational strength of religious diversity to achieve the common good. We know that when we welcome young leaders carrying out interfaith work in their communities into our network, our network becomes stronger. 

This month, the Emerging Leaders Network officially opens our doors.

Young professionals interested in joining Interfaith America’s Emerging Leaders Network can by completing an online training INTF 1101 Interfaith Foundations for Emerging Leaders and registering here.

When people join our network, they:

Gain access to a network of interfaith leaders who can help you navigate your own projects and career paths;
Exclusive access to grant opportunities and a fellowship program;
Are the first to know about Emerging Leaders dinners, service events, and other activities that are happening in their city!

Our Emerging Leaders Network is full of people who are doing great work across the country:

Laura Bohorquez Duque

Like Laura Bohorquez Duque. With the support of IA’s Interfaith Leadership Fund, they teamed up with Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief and the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry to host a Mobile Food Pantry that served food to 104 families with a total of 476 individuals from 29 different zip codes!

Shivam Gosai

Like Shivam Gosai, who with the help of the Emerging Leaders Network started a podcast focused on the intersection of Hinduism and mental health. Shivam, a mental health counselor specializing in trauma work and internal family systems, has also gone on and created a counseling group for Hindu Indian-American youths to discuss identity, race, and spirituality.

Casey Jones

Like Casey Jones during his IA’s Interfaith Innovation Fellowships transformed an unused section of a church property into a community garden, interfaith chapel, and classroom coordinating resources from his church (Episcopal), the local university, and Catholic, Methodist, Muslim, and Jewish community groups.

Lisa Doi

Like Lisa Doi during her Interfaith Innovation Fellowship and role as the president of the Japanese American Citizens League partnered with the Arab American Action Network to organize a “bridge-building pilgrimage” bringing together a group of Japanese American and Palestinian American high school students. All claimed Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim identities called the Chicago area home and traveled together through the south to learn about social justice at key sites.

jem jebbia

Like jem jebbia who with the support of an Interfaith America grant collaborated with her colleagues at Stanford University to host a panel and film screening that brought three activists together to discuss faith and voting, particularly the issue of voter suppression. The panelists were Rida Hamida, founder of Taco Trucks at Every Mosque, Bambajian Bamba, actor and undocumented activist, and Karla Estrada, founder of Undocutravelers.