This week, August 31st – September 6th, has been officially designated Interfaith Week by the White House and Corporation for National and Community Service, as a national celebration of interfaith service through
United We Serve. In anticipation of Interfaith Week, service projects have been bubbling up around the country, with literally thousands of days of interfaith service taking place this summer.
United We Serve, an initiative of the White House coordinated by the Corporation for National & Community Service, is a nationwide service initiative that is helping to meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn.
President Obama has asked the country to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. President Obama set the stage for interfaith work’s critical role in this effort in Cairo on June 4, saying,
Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews…Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between people lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a national disaster.
Interfaith Youth Core will be celebrating Interfaith Week by highlighting the great work of Chicago interfaith partners to visitor John Kelly, Strategic Adviser from the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Corporation for National and Community Service, as well as continuing to support interfaith service in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis/St. Paul, and the Bay Area.
In Washington, D.C. partners including the Salvation Army, ML Resources LLC, and 9/11 Unity Walk have come together to plan interfaith service to alleviate hunger every day of Interfaith Week, culminating in a dinner and food drive called Fast 2 Feed this Thursday, September 3rd, at which Interfaith Youth Core staff member Hannah McConnaughay will be a featured speaker.
This is our time to celebrate interfaith service, and its role in building up the United States of America. Share your story of service, your ideas, or get support on our Bridge-builders site. The United We Serve campaign ends on September 11th – but the call to serve will continue. Serve.gov will remain as a place for you to advertise your activities, find interfaith service opportunities, and share your story of how interfaith service changed you. Make sure to participate, and share your story of interfaith service with the world.
Best,
Eboo Patel
Founder and Executive Director
Interfaith Youth Core
