Aubrey's Story
Two and a half years ago, I was watching Good Morning America, transfixed by the young people on screen. I saw Dr. Eboo Patel, the founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), and a group of religiously diverse young people explain our duty to work together to better the world. I knew from that moment that I needed to get more involved in this movement of young people.
From joining IFYC’s national service campaign to receiving a student leadership scholarship to IFYC's biennial conference, I’ve received training, networking and mentoring to engage in interfaith work in my community.
IFYC has helped me see the possibilities for relationship-building and interfaith leadership in new and creative ways. I founded the Frederick Interfaith Youth Project, a group of religiously diverse young people dedicated to building religious pluralism in my hometown. I organized interfaith service events in my community, spearheaded a project at my Catholic church to formalize an official partnership with a local mosque, and coordinated educational events for my fellow high school students to learn about religious diversity.
Today, I am serving on the executive board of American University’s Interfaith Council as a freshman, and organizing programs on campus to combat the rising anti-Muslim bigotry.
