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Home > News > An Inspirational NYC Program Strengthens Mutual Understanding Through Social Service

An Inspirational NYC Program Strengthens Mutual Understanding Through Social Service




(Jan 20, 2012) In 2010, a two-year pilot program was launched in New York City by the local Muslim and Catholic communities to cross the bridge from interfaith dialogue to action.  With support from the GHR Foundation, the Interfaith Center of New York brought together social service providers, clergy, lay leaders, and community members for two years of shared projects focusing on providing social services to community members in need and upholding the shared traditions in Islam and Catholicism of social justice, serving the needs of the poor, and providing help to those in need.

Yesterday, ISNA National Director Dr. Sayyid Syeed joined leaders from some of the local NYC organizations involved in the project and national leaders to reflect on its successes, bumps along the way, and how to bring this local success across the nation through support from national organizations, such as ISNA, the United States of Conference Bishops, the Islamic Circle of North America, and others.

"When we join hands to take action in our communities, there is a much greater impact not only in our communities but also towards the goal of creating mutual understanding and putting an end to discrimination everywhere," stated Dr. Syeed.

Some of these joint projects included:
  • Strengthening the capacity of food pantry staff and volunteers by Catholic Charities and the Muslim Women's Institute
  • Developing an interfaith youth-run food drive and clean-up of houses of worship by the Miraj Islamic School and Catholic Teen Federation
  • Working to provide resources to immigrants and developing an Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration through Harlem parishes and mosques 
"We hope the work of the Muslim and Catholic communities across NYC will serve as an inspiration to all communities across the nation and as a testament to the power of action to promote mutual understanding," stated Dr. Syeed.

ISNA is currently working with its national interfaith partners in Shoulder-to-Shoulder  to implement a grassroots strategy that will provide resources and best practices for ending anti-Muslim sentiment to local communities across the nation.  Tell us about the great interfaith work your community has done to end anti-Muslim sentiment by going to the Shoulder-to-Shoulder webpage.

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