With the 2026 elections on the horizon, people of faith and conscience have an important role to play in strengthening American democracy.This listicle outlines five practical ways to promote pluralism, reduce polarization, and support a safe and trustworthy voting experience in your community. From hosting dialogue to serving as a poll worker, every action contributes to a healthier civic culture.These strategies are drawn from the Faith in Elections Playbook and the work of organizations across the country committed to nonpartisan civic engagement.Find the full resource at https://www.interfaithamerica.org/resources/faith-in-elections/Find more helpful resources from: Constructive Dialogue Institute One America Movement Braver Angels Civilize It National LGBTQ Task Force Vote.org National Voter Registration Day Vote Early Day Pizza to the Polls Sojourners A More Perfect Union

Interfaith America is working to build a nation where people come together across differences for the common good.For more than 25 years, this work has focused on helping leaders and communities develop the skills to navigate disagreement, build relationships across lines of difference, and strengthen our shared civic life.Our new mission and vision video brings this work to life. It shows how pluralism can move us toward greater understanding, stronger communities, and a more vibrant democracy.We invite you to watch the full video and learn more about the vision guiding this work. https://www.interfaithamerica.org/mission-vision/

On July 5, communities across the country will gather for America’s Potluck.This story takes you to five different towns, where neighbors are sharing meals, building relationships, and finding common ground across differences.It is a look at how connection happens at the local level, one table at a time.Read the full story to learn more.

Eboo Patel reflects on his early encounters with Barack Obama and the philosophy that shaped a generation of civic leaders. In this new essay in Persuasion, he argues that the social sector flourished when it centered talent, responsibility, and bridgebuilding and risks losing its impact when it turns away from that vision.With the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago as a backdrop, this piece asks what we can learn from a moment when hope, policy, and civic action worked in alignment and why that still matters now.Read:

At Harvard, students are stepping into interfaith leadership in a moment that demands it.Through programs like “Listening Across Lines,” student leaders like Zain Memon are creating spaces where peers can engage across religious and worldview differences with honesty, respect, and curiosity.This work is part of a broader effort led by Rabbi Getzel Davis and Harvard’s Interfaith Engagement Initiative to rebuild trust and foster meaningful connection on campus.As Rabbi Davis shared, “What constantly surprises and inspires me is how hungry our students are for relational depth and lived experience.”At Interfaith America, we are proud to partner in this work, supporting students as they build relationships that can withstand disagreement and strengthen campus communities.Read how Harvard is shaping a model for interfaith leadership.

This Juneteenth, we honor the power of community, perseverance, and possibility.Last September, Habitat for Humanity completed its first-ever Juneteenth Build in Nicholtown, a historic Black neighborhood. At the center of this effort was Miss Gwen, who at age 70 saw a lifelong dream become reality as her home came together through the hands of neighbors, volunteers, and partners working across differences for the common good.This moment is about ensuring that longtime residents can stay rooted in their communities and that pathways to Black homeownership continue to grow.Watch Miss Gwen’s story from The Best of America series and celebrate what is possible when people come together.

Pluralism Hero Opal Lee helped lead the movement to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday, transforming a long-standing community tradition into a National Day of Remembrance. Her example reminds us that lasting change comes through persistence, courage, and a commitment to a more inclusive civic life.Read the full tribute to learn more about her story and legacy. https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/pluralism-hero-opal-lee-the-grandmother-of-juneteenth/

As many nations grapple with division, World Cup teams are showing a different story.Players from diverse religious backgrounds are competing side by side while working toward a common goal.“It is symbolic yet also substantive,” said Interfaith America President Eboo Patel.“They score, they each say their respective prayers, and then they’re hugging each other,” he said. “You’re cooperating to build a community and a team.”Read the full story:

“Failing to see the humanity in all people puts us all on a slippery slope.”Today at the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Library, Michelle Obama reminds us what is at stake when we turn away from one another.And Former President Barack Obama points us toward what is possible.“Despite all of our differences, we can see each other and understand one another and make common cause together.”Pluralism is choosing to see, value, and work with people who are not exactly like us. It is how we build a society where everyone counts and everyone belongs.