“Pluralism allows for respectful disagreement without letting that disagreement define the relationship.”As immigrant communities across the country navigate fear, uncertainty, and loss, people of different faith traditions are choosing to show up for one another.In a new article for RNS, Mary Ellen Giess reflects on how communities in Springfield, Ohio are putting shared humanity into practice through acts of compassion, solidarity, and care.Read the full story:

Twenty-five years ago, Americans experienced unimaginable loss. Many also experienced what happens when fear turns neighbors into strangers.Drawing on her own memories of 9/11 and its aftermath, Kiran Kaur Gill reflects on what she witnessed as a Sikh American and why the meaning of solidarity extends beyond shared grief.Read Sikh Reflections on Unity and Division in America, 25 Years After 9/11:

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Muslims in America are more visible in public life, politics, media, and culture. Yet visibility is not the same as belonging.Todd Green argues that while some forms of post-9/11 discrimination have receded, Islamophobia has not disappeared. It has adapted, continuing to shape political rhetoric, public policy, and the experiences of Muslim communities across the country.As America reflects on the legacy of 9/11, this piece challenges us to consider what it means to build a society that replaces suspicion with curiosity and sees religious diversity as a civic strength.Read:

Communities across the country are already bridging differences to meet real needs. The Building Interfaith America Emerging Leaders Grants are designed to help turn those efforts into lasting impact.Grantees will receive funding, coaching, convenings, storytelling support, and access to a community of leaders working across lines of difference to strengthen their communities.This year, we're especially interested in hearing from leaders in healthcare, K-12 education, business, and rural communities. If you're bringing people together to address challenges and create opportunities, we encourage you to apply.Applications close October 2, 2026.Apply now: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/grants/building-interfaith-america-emerging-leader-grants/

When fear and uncertainty disrupted daily life in the Twin Cities, community organizations responded with care, courage, and compassion.In a new IA Today story, meet leaders from the University YMCA, Bethel University, the Oromo Community of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Council of Churches who created spaces of safety, healing, and belonging during a difficult season.As one community leader reflected: "Love seems to have the longer reach."Read the story:

Some days, enough is enough.In this month’s Sacred Pause, Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque offers a reminder many of us need to hear: there is a difference between commitment and depletion.The people most likely to burn out are often the ones who care the most. The ones who keep showing up. Keep explaining. Keep trying to bridge divides.But there comes a moment when your body, your mind, and your spirit tell you the truth. Enough for today.Listening to that truth is not weakness. It is wisdom.A pause is sometimes the very thing that allows us to keep showing up tomorrow.

Civic pluralism is increasingly recognized as an essential skill for navigating a diverse democracy. The 2026-28 Engaging Difference in General Education (EDGE) Grants will support six colleges and universities with up to $20,000 and cohort-based learning to establish Civic Pluralism as a core competency of undergraduate education.Over an 18-month grant period, participating institutions will:• Develop student learning outcomes for Civic Pluralism • Advance formal curricular adoption through institutional governance processes • Pilot implementation in high-reach courses or pathways • Build assessment tools, faculty-development resources, and sustainability plans • Join a national learning cohort of higher education leadersIf your institution is ready to embed civic pluralism into the undergraduate experience, we encourage you to apply.Application deadline: October 31, 2026Apply now: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/grants/edge/

Join Simran Jeet Singh and filmmaker Jack Gordon for a behind-the-scenes look at Undivided, a documentary series that explores how the fight for freedom has been shaped by America's diverse religious communities.Moderated by Interfaith America's Ali Khaleel, this conversation will cover the making of the series, the importance of religious literacy, and how storytelling can deepen our understanding of one another.📅 September 15, 2026 🕛 12:00 PM CT 💻 OnlineReserve your spot today: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/events/religion-on-film-behind-the-scenes-of-the-undivided-docuseries/

Earlier this summer, Black church leaders gathered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to discuss the role of Historically Black Protestant Churches in America's past, present, and future.One theme emerged clearly throughout the conversation: the Black church has long engaged in the work of pluralism, partnership, and service, helping communities navigate challenges while advancing the promise of democracy.Watch the video and read more about the convening: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/black-church-leaders-gather-discuss-democracy-in-americas-250th-year/