WIHW Interfaith Breakfast Showcases Chicago Interfaith in Action
It was a chilly morning in the city of Chicago when faith leaders, interfaith activists and people of faith and conscience convened for a special event hosted by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in observance of the 2019 UN World Interfaith Harmony Week on Friday, February 8th.
The Interfaith Breakfast Celebrating UN World Interfaith Harmony Week celebrated organizations and individuals dedicated to fostering interfaith harmony in the Chicagoland area.
Imam Kareem Irfan, Shayda Safapour, Balwant Hansra, Susan Pudelek, and Joshua Basofin offered brief reflections of the work of the Parliament and shared prayers from their faith perspectives.
The program featured community partners like Faith In Place, Arise Chicago, Sacred Space International, Spiritual Playdate, and the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago who shared the mission of their organizations and highlighted the ways in which the interfaith harmony is alive and active in the city during the Chicago Interfaith Harmony in Action panel.
What We Learned!
- Faith In Place - Rev. Brian Sauder, the Executive Director of Faith In Place, shared information on their Advocacy Day 2019 where people across the State of Illinois will gather to educate legislators about important environmental issues.
- Arise Chicago - Did you know that in one week $7.3 million wages are stolen from workers in Cook County? Rev. C.J. Hawkin, the Executive Director of Arise Chicago, shared moving reflections of the power of faith leaders in the labor movement.
- Sacred Space International - Suzanne Morgan, Founder & President, of SSI has been a long time partner of the Parliament. We were excited to hear that Chicago will be hosting another Sharing Sacred Spaces program for those wanting to get involved. Internship opportunities will also be offered through SSI!
- Spiritual Playdate - Edwina Cowell, Founder & CVO, of Spiritual Playdate shared the exciting interfaith resources available for children and exciting initiatives coming for teens.
- Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago - Nisan Chavkin, Executive Director of Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, shared with attendees the importance of fostering community relationships and the history of the Council in Chicago. Our favorite quote of the day, “ If the first time you are exchanging business cards and contact information is in the middle of a crisis, you have failed in your process of preparation.”
The breakfast also marked the launch of the Parliament's Chicagoland Interfaith for Good Donation Drive, attendees brought in donation items and were encouraged to join the donation drive in their communities.
Chicago is considered by many to be the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement. The Parliament’s Interfaith Breakfast was a great opportunity to reflect on the 125 years of the movement’s history in the city, the work being done in the name of interfaith harmony, and all the work that stills needs to be done in our communities.
Attached PDF FileImages for this event
