Interfaith America (Formerly Interfaith Youth Core [1]) is a Chicago-based non-profit founded in 2002 by Eboo Patel.[2] The organization’s stated mission is to inspire, equip, and connect leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity.[3] Today it operates with approximately 60 full-time staff[4] and a $15-million+ budget.[5]
It has worked on five continents and with over 200 college campuses domestically.[6]
History
editInterfaith America (originally called Interfaith Youth Core) officially launched its operations at the 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town, South Africa, under the direction of Patel and organizers Anastasia White and Jeff Pinzino.[7] At the time, Patel was finishing up his doctorate in the sociology of religion at Oxford University, so Pinzino spearheaded much of IFYC’s early organizational growth.[8] Upon completing his doctorate in 2002, Patel took over as executive director. A $35,000 grant from the Ford Foundation enabled IFYC to run its first conference of interfaith leaders and teach a graduate-level course on the methodology of interfaith work.[9] Since then, the organization has coordinated the Chicago Youth Council, a group of eight student interfaith leaders, Days of Interfaith Youth Service, and the Fellows Alliance, a year-long fellowship that trained student interfaith leaders on individual campuses.[10] Patel discuses the genesis of IFYC in-depth in his memoir, Acts of Faith[11]
In 2022, the organization officially rebranded as Interfaith America, expanding their mission from an exclusive focus on Higher Education to working in broader sectors such as healthcare, business, and government.[12]
Interfaith Leaders for Social Action
editIn September 2011, IFYC launched recruitment for its Interfaith Leaders for Social Action (ILSA) program.[13] Through partnerships with NGOs in four different cities in India, ILSA trained 50 interfaith leaders, whose work will address social issues like child labor and domestic violence.[13] The program receives support from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor—Office of International Religious Freedom.[13]
References
edit- ^ Patel, Eboo (2022-03-23). "From Interfaith Youth Core to Interfaith America". Interfaith America. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (2011-06-14). "An Effort to Foster Tolerance in Religion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ "Mission & Vision". Interfaith America. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Team". Interfaith America. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Release, Press (2023-06-01). "Interfaith America Receives $12.5 Million Gift from Stead Family Foundation". Interfaith America. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ "Reports and Financials". Interfaith America. Interfaith America. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Patel (2007), pp. 114–119
- ^ Patel (2007), p. 156
- ^ Patel (2007), p. 160
- ^ Patel (2007), pp. 168–170
- ^ Patel (2007), Chapter 8, "Building the Interfaith Youth Core", pp. 151–174
- ^ Patel, Eboo. "From Interfaith Youth Core to Interfaith America". Interfaith America. Interfaith America. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "International Projects." Interfaith Youth Core. Accessed September 21, 2011. http://www.ifyc.org/content/international-projects Archived 2011-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
edit- Patel, Eboo (2007). Acts of Faith: the Story of an American Muslim, in the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. Boston, MA: Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807006313.