Only a third of Americans say most people can be trusted.At the same time, loneliness, distrust, and division continue to shape how we relate to one another. But disagreement itself isn't the problem. A diverse democracy was built to survive disagreement.The deeper challenge is that too many of us have become strangers.In a new column for Religion News Service, Simran Jeet Singh and Mary Ellen Giess reflect on what it takes to rebuild trust, practice peacemaking, and create a more neighborly America.Read "America: Don't Be a Stranger."

As Americans prepare for this November's elections, many are questioning whether the process will be free and fair. In a new opinion piece for The Fulcrum, Scott Rasmussen shares why faith communities can be a powerful force for building trust, reducing division, and helping neighbors engage elections with confidence.Through conversations across differences, local civic engagement, and a commitment to the common good, faith communities can help strengthen both democracy and pluralism.Read the article: https://thefulcrum.us/elections/faith-communities-restore-trust-americas-electionsHow have relationships in your community helped build trust across differences?

Twenty-five years after 9/11, some experiences still linger beneath the surface.In a new reflection, Ali Khaleel shares memories of watching family members be singled out at airports after 9/11, the confidence he spent years building as a Muslim American, and the surprising moment when old fears resurfaced before a September 11 flight.His story is an honest look at identity, belonging, and the reality that healing rarely follows a straight line.Read "25 Years Later, I'm Still Shaving for the Airport" here:

Three friends met for dinner near their alma mater and left asking a bigger question: How do we measure the value of a field of study?For Shradha Jain, Hayley Segall, and Shannon Smith Page, the answer is clear.Religious studies helped them develop the skills to build relationships across differences, communicate with empathy, think critically, and lead in complex environments. Today, those skills shape their work in corporate strategy, nonprofit development, and parish ministry.Three traditions. Three careers. One shared conviction: understanding what people believe, value, and hold sacred is an essential human skill.Read their reflections:

Can Reading Make Us Better Neighbors?This fall, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute and Interfaith America are inviting people across the country to participate in Weave’s first ever BIG READ, a shared experience centered on David Brooks’ book, “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.”Learn more about ways you can participate at weavers.org/bigread/.

College students are asking some of life's biggest questions: What gives life meaning? Where do I belong? How can I make a difference?In a new IA Today article, campus religious, spiritual, secular, and interfaith leaders share what they're seeing among today's students and how colleges can better support young adults as they search for purpose, build community, serve others, and navigate a complex world.From creating spaces for reflection to fostering service opportunities and meaningful conversations across differences, these campus leaders offer insights that can benefit all of us.Read more:

No one is expected to remain in a situation that is unsafe or demeaning.One of the most common questions about pluralism is whether it asks people to expose themselves to harm by engaging with those whose views feel disrespectful or dehumanizing.The answer is no.Pluralism is an invitation. Every person has the agency to decide when and how to engage across differences. While it's important to acknowledge real risks, it's also worth remembering that we often make assumptions about what others believe or how extreme their views may be.Sometimes curiosity reveals opportunities for connection, understanding, and cooperation that we didn't expect.Explore this question and others in our new Frequently Asked Questions About Pluralism resource: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-pluralism/

Interfaith America is proud to partner with the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation's largest public university system, to launch a new pluralism initiative spanning 10 campuses across New York. Over the next 18 months, senior leaders from participating institutions will develop and implement campus-specific strategies that foster mutual respect, build meaningful relationships across differences, and advance shared goals.Each campus will receive support and funding to strengthen pluralism through leadership, curriculum and scholarship, capacity building, and co-curricular engagement.Partnering Campus: Participating CampusesBinghamton University Buffalo State University Stony Brook University SUNY Brockport SUNY Cortland SUNY New Paltz SUNY Oneonta SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Purchase SUNY Rockland Community CollegeRead more about the initiative: