Ongoing Interfaith Efforts
These groups are engaged in ongoing efforts in interfaith cooperation
and understanding or to counter anti-Muslim prejudice.
I compiled this list in 2011 as part of my efforts in interfaith healing during the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. I have not been actively maintaining it, so it is undoubtedly incomplete and out of date, but hopefully it’s still useful anyay.
AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
NE NV NJ NY NC ND OH OK OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WDC WA WI WY Nationwide
Interfaith Mission Service (Huntsville)
Interfaith Council of Anchorage
Arizona Interfaith Movement – Building bridges of respect, understanding and support among diverse people of faith through education, dialogue, service and the implementation of the Golden Rule.
Interfaith Alliance of Tucson – Email Ruth Davis at jbdavis2(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)cox.net
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona – Phone: 602-241-2115, Email: info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)isb-az.org">info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)isb-az.org
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Phoenix
Interfaith Alliance of Arkansas (Little Rock) – Email: Stephen Copley at scopley438(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com">scopley438(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com
Institute of Interfaith Dialog – Little Rock, Fayetteville
Council on American-Islamic Relations – Chapters: Greater Los Angeles, Sacramento Valley, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Bay Area
Marin Interfaith Council – Brings religious leaders and members of various faith communities together for study and celebration throughout the year.
San Francisco Interfaith Council – Bringing people of different faith traditions together, bringing spiritual comfort at times of crisis, building understanding among various religious traditions, celebrating our diversity and coordinating services to the citizens of San Francisco.
Interfaith Center at the Presidio (San Francisco) – Welcomes, serves and celebrates the diverse spiritual wisdom and faith traditions of the Bay Area and is networked with interfaith groups locally and globally. The Center’s core activities: providing hospitality at the Interfaith Presidio Chapel; developing local and global connections; and creating interfaith learning environments and resources. See their Bay Area Interreligious Calendar.
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County has more than 100 congregations and organizations as members including a wide range of faith traditions. Its programs include Health and Faith in Action, Social Justice, Finance, Spirituality, Youth and Education.
Interfaith Space helps to explore and develop places and gatherings where people can meet one another across the usual boundaries of religion and culture. They publish a monthly calendar of interfaith opportunities in the south bay area.
Islamic Speakers Bureau of the San Francisco Bay Area – Phone: 408-296-7312, Email: Scheduler(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)ing.org">Scheduler(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)ing.org
Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SiVIC) builds interreligious harmony and understanding so as to promote a just and compassionate society in Silicon Valley.
Central California
Peace Center of Nevada County. Sponsors of 9/11 Worldwide Peace Concert and Rally.
Interfaith Alliance of Central California
Interfaith Alliance of Kern County – Email Aaron Steenbergen at skytrain36(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)bak.rr.com" target="_blank">skytrain36(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)bak.rr.com
Southern California
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (Los Angeles) – Supporting the work of faith leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, Jewish and other spiritual faiths and traditions who say religious communities must stop blessing war and violence.
South Coast Interfaith Council (South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach area of Los Angeles and West Orange counties) – Promoting mutual understanding, respect, appreciation and cooperation among people of faith through extending hospitality, offering educational opportunities, providing moral leadership, sharing in service and working for justice.
Jewish-Muslim Dialogue (Los Angeles) – Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and others who want to hear each other’s stories.
Islamic Speakers Bureau of San Diego – Phone: 858-752-8788, Email: tlazzouni(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)netzero.net">tlazzouni(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)netzero.net
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
InterFaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Hartford
Interfaith Resource Center (Delaware & Maryland)
Council on American-Islamic Relations – Chapters: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando
Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta
Interfaith Cultural Organization
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Atlanta
Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice
South West InterFaith Team (SWIFT) – An alliance of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic congregations in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
Organization of Islamic Speakers Midwest
Interfaith Alliance of Central Illinois – Email Linda Foreman at minister(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)peoriauuchurch.org">unitypia(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)sbc.global.net
Champaign-Urbana Interfaith Alliance – Email Colleen Vojak at vojak(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)illinois.edu" target="_blank">vojak(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)illinois.edu
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago
Interfaith Action of Evanston – Bringing together communities of faith and spirit to serve people who are hungry and homeless and to express shared values through action and interfaith dialogue.
International Interfaith Initiative
United Religious Community of St. Joseph County (South Bend) – Encourages religious cooperation and understanding, effects constructive changes in society and serves as an advocate for those seeking help to meet life’s basic needs.
Des Moines Area Religious Council – Providing a common means of responding to basic human needs and, in so doing, offering a context for interfaith dialogue, education, fellowship and support.
Muslim Public Affairs Council, Iowa – Contact shamsghoneim(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mchsi.com" target="_blank">Shams Ghoneim
Consultation of Religious Communities, Iowa City
The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council – Growing a sustainable, pervasive culture of knowledge, respect, appreciation and trust among people of all faiths and religious traditions.
Institute of Interfaith Dialogue
Interfaith Alliance of Southeast Kansas – Email Gene Garman at ggarman(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)sunnetworks.net">ggarman(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)sunnetworks.net
Inter-Faith Ministries (Wichita) – Building interreligious understanding, promoting justice, relieving misery and reconciling the estranged.
Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass (Lexington) – Email Cynthia Cain, c.p.cain(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)insightbb.com" target="_blank">c.p.cain(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)insightbb.com
Interfaith Alliance of Lexington – Email Mike Ward at obxward(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com">obxward(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com
Kentucky Islamic Resource Group – Phone: 859-219-0703; Email: speakers(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)kyirg.org">speakers(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)kyirg.org
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Lexington
Kentuckiana Interfaith Community (Louisville) – One of the first truly interfaith agencies in the country. Promoting education and advocacy on hunger, peace and justice, both locally and worldwide.
Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge – Pursuing unity, justice and peace through interfaith cooperation.
Interfaith Resource Center (Maryland & Delaware)
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
Massachusetts Interfaith Alliance – Email Sam Starobin at starobin(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)alum.mit.edu">starobin(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)alum.mit.edu
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Boston
Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (Newton) – Mobilizing congregations and communities across economic, religious, racial and ethnic boundries so they can work more effectively for a just society.
Islamic Education & Resources Network (Michigan & Ohio)
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Southfield
Engage Minnesota works to make Muslim voices and perspectives heard in local media outlets. Also on Facebook.
Friends for a Non-Violent World
Interfaith Bridging Initiative a project of the Mall Area Religious Council and the Minnesota chapter of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
Interfaith Minnesota Online network sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches
Islamic Resource Group aims to eliminate stereotyping through educational programs
Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning – presents programs on two college campuses and in the Twin Cities community
maiimpls(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com" target="ext">Minneapolis Area Interfaith Initiative (MAII) unites individuals and faith communities in the Minneapolis area in learning about other religious traditions, increasing interfaith understanding and building personal relationships across faiths. E-mail MAII (link above) to learn more or to get notice of their events.
Muslim American Society of Minnesota seeks to promote understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims
Muslim-Christian Dialogue Center at the University of St. Thomas
Muslim Youth of Minnesota – provides programs for Muslim youth and outreach and education about Islam to the wider community
Spirit in the House – Presents programs about diversity in spirituality, and how we experience it through the arts
St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN)
Twin Cities Interfaith Network – Umbrella organization that includes MAII, SPIN, and the Minnesota Council of Churches
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Twin Cities
Institute of Interfaith Dialog – Jackson and Starville
Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Manchester
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Nebraska – Phone: 402-690-2056; Email: gm_harms(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)islamicsbn.org">gm_harms(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)islamicsbn.org
Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Las Vegas
Islamic Center of Passaic County regularly invites Christians to worship at the center.
Council on American-Islamic Relations, South Plainfield
Interfaith Center of New York seeks to make New York City and the world safe for religious differences.
The Dialogue Project works in communities in the New York City area where Palestinian and other Arab and Muslim immigrants live alongside Israelis and Jewish Americans, to build trust among people affected by conflict in the MIddle East.
Interfaith Alliance of New York State
Interfaith Alliance of Rochester
Long Island Chapter of Interfaith Alliance
Council on American-Islamic Relations, New York City
Dutchess County Interfaith Council – Weaving the thread of community by honoring the diversity of religious expression.
Interfaith Works of Central New York (Syracuse) – Through education, service and dialogue, affirms the dignity of each person and every faith community and works to create relationships and understanding.
Network of Religious Communities (Buffalo)
Center for Interfaith Projects
Interfaith Mediation Center of Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum at Antioch University
Tours & Talks, Education & Outreach Program, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
Islamic Education & Resources Network (Ohio & Michigan)
Interfaith Alliance of Greater Cincinnati – Email Dr. Richard Bozian, rcbozian(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)hotmail.com">rcbozian(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)hotmail.com
Interfaith Alliance of Greater Cleveland – Email Professor Azaad Khaira, ASIABIZCOMMS(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com">AmericanSikhCo(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com
Council on American-Islamic Relations – Chapters: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus
Interfaith Association of Central Ohio
InterAct Cleveland – Promotes mutual understanding and appreciation of diverse religious beliefs and practices, as well as discovery of the values and beliefs shared by many faith traditions.
Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati – Forgoing the luxury of separate ways when a common path can be found.
MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio – Draws together diverse faiths, in mutual respect, friendship, cooperation and service.
Institute of Interfaith Dialog – Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Stillwater
Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma
Tulsa Interfaith Alliance – Email Brian Cross, educrux(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com">educrux(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Oklahoma City
Interfaith Council of Greater Portland – Impelled by the ground of all being to restore wholeness to the one human family and all of creation. Organized for the affirmation, education and mutual protection of religion and religious freedom.
Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia and Religious Leaders Council
Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania
Council on American-Islamic Relations – Chapters: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg (info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)harrisburg.cair.com" target="_blank">Contact)
South Hills Interfaith Ministries (Pittsburgh) – Focusing on suburban poverty, refugee assistance and interfaith dialogue.
South Carolina Dialogue Foundation
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Columbia
Interfaith Alliance of Middle Tennessee – Email Dan Rosemergy: danrosemergy(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)bellsouth.net">danrosemergy(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)bellsouth.net
Interfaith Action of Central Texas – Cultivates peace and respect through interfaith dialogue, service and celebration.
Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston – Bringing people of diverse faith traditions together for dialogue, collaboration and service, as a demonstration of shared beliefs.
Institute of Interfaith Dialogue – Houston (HQ), Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, College Station, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Lubbock
Council on American-Islamic Relations – Chapters: Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio
Interfaith Works (Ogden) – Honoring diversity, seeking to live out a common voice in response to human suffering.
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Utah – Phone: 801-694-7788, Email: speakers_utah(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)yahoo.com">speakers_utah(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)yahoo.com
Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable
Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond
Aldersgate United Methodist Church shares its building with the Alexandria chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America.
InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU) at Georgetown University
Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society
The Interfaith Youth Action Group is a pilot initiative in the Washington, D.C. area that empowers high school students from diverse backgrounds to become leaders in interfaith dialogue and service.
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Seattle
Interfaith Works (Olympia)
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Milwaukee – Phone: 262-780-5190, Email: isbmilwaukee(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)yahoo.com">isbmilwaukee(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)yahoo.com
Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee
Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council
Nationwide & International
Abrahamic Family Reunion offers ways to use psychological and spiritual approaches in reconciling conflicts among Jews, Christians and Muslims in the U.S.
Abrahamic Alliance International works to unite Jews, Christians, and Muslims for active peacebuilding and relief of extreme poverty.
Abraham’s Path (Masar Ibrahim al Khalil) is a route of walking and cultural tourism which follows the footsteps of Abraham or Ibrahim through the Middle East. By retracing this journey, the Masar (‘Path’ in Arabic) provides a place of meeting and connection for people of all faiths and cultures, inviting us to remember our common origins, to respect our cultural differences, and to recognize our shared humanity. The Masar also serves as a catalyst for sustainable tourism and economic development; a platform for the energy and idealism of young people; and a focus for positive media highlighting the rich culture and hospitable people of the Middle East.
American Muslim – Dedicated to the promotion of peace, justice and reconciliation for all humanity.
Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement (USC) – Promoting dialogue, understanding and grassroots, congregational and academic partnerships among the oldest and the newest of the Abrahamic faiths while generating a contemporary understanding in this understudied area and creating new tools for interfaith communities locally, nationally and beyond.
Change the Story is an on-line resource aimed at transforming harmful stereotypes about Muslims that persist in society.
Cordoba Initiative – A multi-national, multi-faith organization dedicated to improving understanding and building trust among people of all cultures and faith traditions.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) works with interfaith communities around the U.S. to help enhance understanding between Muslims and people of other faiths. CAIR can offer speakers for events related to Islam or to offer Islamic perspectives on a variety of topics. Chapters exist in over 30 cities in 19 states.
Fellowship of Reconciliation promotes peaceful relations between nations and religions. Founded in 1914.
Interfaith Alliance (National Office) – Equally committed to protecting the integrity of both religion and democracy in America. Championing religious freedom by respecting individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism and build common ground.
Interfaith Story connects interfaith story circles in several U.S. cities.
Interfaith Youth Core – An interfaith youth movement using service as the bridge.
Islamic Society of North America – Building bridges of understanding and cooperation within the diversity that is Islam in America, ISNA is now extending those bridges to include all people of faith within North America.
IslamiCity’s mission is to share with the world an understanding of Islam and Muslims and promote peace, justice and harmony for all people.
Jewish Fast for Gaza – Giving voice to the Zionist ideal and the Jewish religious tradition of human rights. RHR champions the cause of the poor in Israel, supported the rights of Israel’s minorities and Palestinians, worked to stop the abuse of foreign workers, endeavored to guarantee the upkeep of Israel’s public health care system, promoted the equal status of women, helped Ethiopian Jews, battled trafficking in women and more.
JewishMuslimDirectory.org is a web-based directory of U.S. organizations engaged in Jewish-Muslim dialogue.
LibForAll Foundation – An informal global network of like-minded civil and religious organizations, individual opinion leaders and supporters, to promote the culture of liberty and tolerance worldwide.
Muslim American Society – Seeks to better the individual and in turn the greater society by imparting Islamic knowledge, promoting community service, engaging in political activism and more.
Muslims for Progressive Values – An inclusive community rooted in the traditional Qur’anic ideals of human dignity and social justice.
Muslima Media Watch – A forum where Muslim women can critique how their images appear in the media and popular culture.
Muslim Peace Fellowship – Founded in 1994, the first Muslim organization specifically devoted to the theory and practice of Islamic nonviolence. Part membership group, part think tank and part movement builder, MPF is a gathering of peace and justice-oriented Muslims of all backgrounds dedicated to making the beauty of Islam evident in the world.
Muslim Public Affairs Council – Seeks to establish a vibrant Muslim American community that will enrich American society through promoting the Islamic values of mercy, justice, peace, human dignity, freedom and equality for all.
Muslim Reform Movement Organization – Seeking to revitalize Islam as a dynamic and viable religion, in tune with the realities of the post-modern world, by extrapolating the Universal Truths revealed to Mankind in the Quran and studying the Quranic principles and ideals in a contemporary context.
Muslim Women’s League – Working to implement the values of Islam and thereby reclaim the status of women as free, equal and vital contributors to society.
My Best Friend is Muslim – An online story-telling center for people of other backgrounds to tell stories about Muslims to help break down stereotypes.
My Faith My Voice – A grassroots effort by American Muslims from across the country looking to present their voice on issues affecting Muslims and Islam in America.
My Fellow American is an online film and social media project that calls upon concerned Americans to spread a message that Muslims are our fellow Americans. It asks people of other backgrounds to pledge, and share a real life story about a Muslim friend, neighbor, or colleague that they admire.
National Council of Churches USA, Interfaith Relations Commission
National Religious Campaign Against Torture – NRCAT and the “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” initiative are compiling information on groups working to address anti-Muslim sentiment. (Religious leaders issue “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” statement, standing with American Muslims during House hearings)
Network of Spiritual Progressives – Welcoming people of every faith and all people of good will. Putting spiritual values into practice by lifting up our voices and working together to make love and caring the new bottom line in our personal, civic and political lives.
North American Interfaith Network – A non-profit association of interfaith organizations and agencies in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
Odyssey Networks is the nation’s largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to promoting tolerance, peace and social justice through the production and distribution of media.
Pluralism Project at Harvard University – Documents the contours of our multi-religious society, explores new forms of interfaith engagement, studies the impact of religious diversity in civic life and contextualizes these findings within a global framework.
Rabbis for Human Rights – North America – An organization of rabbis from all streams of Judaism that acts on the Jewish imperative to respect and protect the human rights of all people. They partner with Rabbis for Human Rights-Israel in efforts to protect the human rights of Jews, Palestinians and all others living in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. In North America, they partner with a range of Jewish, interfaith and secular organizations that share their commitment to human rights.
Resources for LGBTIQ Muslims and Allies – Online resources for Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, and their partners, family and friends.
Shomer Shalom Network for Jewish Nonviolence – An organization of Jews who follow a path of nonviolence based on Jewish principles of religious engagement.
Tanenbaum is a non-sectarian organization offering programs aimed at helping Christians, Jews, and Muslims to treat each other with dignity and respect.
The Tony Blair Faith Foundation aims to promote respect and understanding about the world’s major religions and show how faith is a powerful force for good in the modern world. (Also see suggestions from the Foundation on how you can “start something.”)
United Church of Christ, Massachusetts Conference, offers 9/11 Tenth Anniversary – Worship Resources & Interfaith Actions
United Muslim-Christian Forum – Recognizes similarities between Muslims and Christians, diminishes differences and seeks a new solid foundation of joint respect.
United Religions Initiative – Promoting enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, ending religiously motivated violence, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
United States Institute of Peace – Provides analysis, training and tools that prevent and end conflicts, promotes stability and professionalizes the field of peacebuilding.
U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project – Its goals are to create a coherent, broad-based and bipartisan strategy and set of recommendations to improve relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world; and communicate and advocate this strategy in ways that shift U.S. public opinion and contribute to changes in U.S. policies, and public and private action.
Women Against Islamophobia & Racism – A collective of educators, parents and community activists from different ethnic, racial and religious communities that formed in response to the alarming growth of anti-Muslim sentiment and actions across the U.S. They aim to challenge Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia and connect struggles of identity-based discrimination.
World Faith | The Interfaith Service Network – Countering religious extremism and strife by demonstrating how faith can inform work for unity and peace, rather than hate, war and division. Chapters in Boston, New York City, Chicago and Winston-Salem, plus the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
20,000 Dialogues uses films to facilitate dialogue about Muslims and Islam, promoting pluralism and engagement.