At the recent IFYC Conference, Eboo Patel, Founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, spoke about World Faith, and specifically about the work happening in India under the World Faith’s National Director of India, Abdul Shakeel Basha.

A lot of people were at the IFYC Conference… That is why I am honored that Tikkun mentioned World Faith in their write-up of the conference.  For the full article, please visit the article on Tikkun’s website.

Ciao All!

Just a quick note that World Faith’s new Facebook page is up.  We will begin using our group less and less and promote through our Facebook page more as it’s easier to manage.

While I was at the IYFC conference this past week, I reflected on the myriad of ways that the Interfaith Youth Core, and it’s awesome staff, has supported me as an interfaith leader, and World Faith as an organization.

First of all, as a member of the Fellow Alliance, they gave the NYU chapter of World Faith funding for interfaith service programs on campus.

Starting with the Fellowship, they have flown me four times to Chicago for trainings, meetings, and other leadership development programs.  This training was wide in scope, including media engagement, dialogue training, and institutional and campus involvement.

I have had several media opportunities through IFYC, including being interviewed on Good Morning America, Chicago Public Radio, and an hour-long interview on the online radio show Embracing the Journey.

The contact network I have built both directly through IFYC, and as a product of the credibility of association with IFYC is immeasurable, but includes world-class leaders in the field, funders, and best of all, other activists who joined in the World Faith cause, including Joshua Stanton, Soofia Ahmed, Mustafa Abdullah, and Abdul Shakeel Basha, just to name a few.

Eboo has been a mentor to me since the end of my Fellowship, giving me insightful advice that I need to hear, when I need to hear it.  He has been a true advocate, putting me in touch with people who otherwise probably wouldn’t give me the time of day.  One of my favorite things is that Eboo can give me blunt criticism one moment (which I need and ask for), and yet gives World Faith shout-outs, further opening up possibilities.

The IFYC staff has played a vital role in our development in the previous few years.   They each rotate between being a friend, psychologist, ally, and advocate, often more at one time.  I probably email, call, or skype chat with an IYFC Staff member at least once a week, sometimes multiple times a week.  Despite my constant questions or requests, they still respond quickly and with patience that I myself may be incapable of.  This includes (but isn’t limited to)  Megan Hughes, Amber Hacker, Cassie Meyer, Erin Williams, Hannah McConnaughay, Hind Makki, Jenan Mohajir, Zeenat Rahman, Charles Levesque, and April Kunze.

For anyone who is following World Faith, please take a look at the Interfaith Youth Core.  I consider them a strong ally in the struggle for religious common action, and I hope that every World Faith leader is trained by IFYC in some capacity.  Be sure to check out the IFYC website.

Last night there was an interesting interview with Mustafa Barghouti and Anna Baltzer.  Mr. Barghouti was a candidate in the last Palestinian election, winning 18% of the vote on a democratic, non-violent platform.  Ms. Baltzer is a Jewish American activist who has worked extensively in Israel and Palestine.

While this isn’t a topic that World Faith is directly involved with at this point, there were several interesting things that can be noted in this interview.  First of all, Mr. Barghouti, when addressing non-voilence activism, referred to historical activists of varied faith traditions, such as Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi.  He also corrected John Stewart when John spoke in identity terms.  He Barghouti said, “This is not a Jewish issue, an Arab or Muslim issue, but a human issue.”

Also in the wider scope it was revealing.  Candid discourse on the Israel and Palestine peace process is infrequent in the American media.  It came to little surprised that when this discussion happened, that it wasn’t seen in political or polemic terms, but in shared religious values and common human dignity.

Check out the extended interview on Hulu, or go on the Daily Show Website!

I am quite excited about  the IFYC conference coming up next week in Evanston, Illinois.  I will be leading a workshop on using technologies, and I hope to post my presentation on here afterwards, or just a link to it.

Also, I want to challenge myself to keep up with my blogging that I have so horribly ignored for the greater part of this year.  Check in for updates!

Here’s a letter a received today from Shakeel, director of World Faith India, asking for volunteers.  Know anyone in New Delhi?

Dear Friends,

Due to heavy rain in the catchment areas of the Yamuna recently, 4,21,454 cusecs of water was released at Hathnikund on September 11. This has reached  Delhi by Saturday afternoon,  when the Yamuna water level breach the danger mark of 204.83m.

The state government has issued instructions for evacuation of those living in low-lying areas and arrangements are in place for rescue operations.

World faith India Initiatve Haq- A campaign for the homeless activist have been busy the whole day trying to evacuate people from low lying areas.  they have been concentrating on two locations one is in Usmanpura, Teesri Pustha and the other location is Lohawalli Pull near Yamuna bazaar.

At Usmanpura there are 6 tents set up by the DC and accommodating around 1000 to 1500 people. An at yamuna Bazaar there are around 8 tents set up by DC accomodating around 500 to 600 people.

Though the govt had announced all possible help, so far except evacuation ( at some places forcibly) and setting up of tents, nothing else has been offered to the displaced people.

The situation is quite grim. people had to leave their dwellings without taking any of their belongings. most of the people are in desperate need of cooked food, clothes and prevention medicine ( this because they feel that there will be an epidemic once the flood water recedes).

Haq with the help of IGSSS and Goonj is trying to organise food and other immediate needs of the flood affected people. But more help is needed, so if anybody wants to assist in the relief work they should get in touch with

Shakeel ( 0996810498), Lalit, Aman Biradari ( 09968365970), Akbar , Haq ( 09968770890),Bipin, IGSSS ( 09999046469)

Thanks and regards,
Shakeel

Shakeel is our awesome National Director of India.  Starting a few months ago, he has switched to running World Faith India full-time.  He sent me a letter explaining the work they are doing, so far with only $1,000 and I wanted to share it with all of you:

Dear Frank,

Just wanted to update you on recent events in India.

The funds has been transferred. that;s a great relief bcos my team was not able to go on streets for street contacts bcos of lack of money plus the non-formal education center we started was also in danger closing down. BIG THANKS for sending the funds. With this money we were able to buy some books and stationery for the children ( from ragpicking community) attending this education center.

Now we are having 7 members working actively for world faith India Chapter- Haq A Campaign for the rights of Homeless. Nobody is paid salary we all are working for it for free. the names are shakeel, akbar, nandlal, radheshyam, jaiprakash, zenab and lalit. we also have a working group of 21 members which met once a month.

That’s some update. Please let me know any developments from your side on the funding thing. The Indian Chapter is really growing in a very short time. Without any institutional support it will be difficult to sustain it for longer period.Now we need a office, a helpline to deal with crisis, some staff to handle emergencies arising at night, So there are many things where we are not able to intervene due to lack of funds.

Do keep me posted on any development.

thanks and regards,
Shakeel

Photos from informal school:

I will write my response later, but for now, see this:

In an interfaith movement, what are we fighting?  On one hand, there is the explicit mission statement of World Faith, which states we are countering “religiously inspired hatred, war, and division.”  So that is simple enough.  But this is perhaps only part of the story.

As with any organization with any message.  In order to “fight” an idea or societal ill, we have to mobilize against it.  This requires those who agree with the mission that take action.  This is where things get tricky.  While many or perhaps most people form most societies would agree with the basis of our mission statement, not many are willing to take a stand.  In fact I would say that over 90% of youths in religious diverse societies agree with our mission statement.  Yet, I would also venture to say that the religious extremism still holds the attention of the world because of their superior mobilization.

So then what must be done to mobilize those who remain inactive?  While not everyone needs to be a revolutionary, more people must take action, but sometimes it just reguires the right people, not the masses.  For instance, policy makers need to become aware of the importance of cross-religious understanding as a building block of national identity and as a safe guard from communal violence.  We still often times hear of conflict in the cosmic war sense… that “this is us versus them and we must win.”  Also, we need to engage the media, and not just intellectual media, but all media.  These concepts can be woven into pop culture, such as tv shows, movies, and music.  There are many examples of where this is true, but its a matter of sheer quantity.  Until more quality media content framing the story of religious becomes predominent, it will continue to be an uphill battle.  Thus, we don’t only fight the fear and anger that inspires communal violence, but the apathy that allows it to continue unchallenged.