Interfaith Education Cohort: Interfaith K-12 Educators Uplifting Students
January 27, 2023

A wise friend once told me that “integrity” means integrating who you are throughout all parts of your life.
The values and expressions we hold in one space ultimately have a place in other parts of our world as well. For those of us who find meaning in spiritual life and conversation, this proposition can seem at odds with our professional identities. Most of the time, the two don’t mix. It is undoubtedly complicated to bring aspects of spiritual identity into one’s work, yet it is far from impossible. The goal of the Interfaith Education Cohort is to create a community of education professionals to achieve this aim: to have meaningful conversations with the people in your life be they children, adults, or anywhere in between!
The Education cohort is a place to connect with people who share interests and values. The backgrounds of our cohort are as diverse as Interfaith America, yet there is a singular focus on uplifting our nation’s youth through a practice of respectful communication. In our sessions, we connect educators to one another and provide space to build community while tackling difficult questions: How can we have interfaith conversations in schools? What does interfaith look like in your subject area? What do you want to do to make an impact in your workplace?
Our work as the Interfaith Education Cohort equips cohort members with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to integrate an identity as an interfaith leader into an identity as an educator. Speaking from personal experience, the interfaith work I’ve done in middle schools throughout Massachusetts has been amongst the most meaningful work I’ve done as an educator. Come to an event to learn more!
Sign up to join us for our next event on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST!
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Interfaith Educators Cohort

Melanie Young
Melanie Young co-leads the primary and secondary Interfaith Education Cohort with Matthew Segil. Melanie, a Philadelphia based educator, is the founder of Infinite Mind Tutors and Math Girl Movement. Before launching Infinite Mind Tutors, Melanie was a teacher and tutor working in Philadelphia’s public schools for over nine years. During this time, she coached two NBA Math Hoops National Championship participants and was awarded the Sixers Youth Foundation Game Changer Award in 2018 and the University of Pennsylvania Woman of Color Award in 2014.

Matthew Segil
Matthew Segil co-leads the primary and secondary Interfaith Education Cohort with Melanie Young. Matthew was a middle school math and science educator in Massachusetts for over four years. During his time as a teacher, he hosted interfaith dinners for his fellow educators centered around the Jewish practice of Shabbat to build an inclusive community focused on education, joy, and cultural exchange.