Guest Post
Act Now
Guest Post By: Reverend Richard H. Coleman, Pastor of Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church. There is a torturous irony between the current American culture that allows persistent violence against African Americans…
Resources
There are many resources locally, nationally and internationally that can help us all do better and find our places in this important work. Our focus is on supporting and equipping interfaith leaders to join together to amplify efforts leading to equity, justice, compassion, understanding, and empathy. We recognize that people orient differently to religion, spirituality and worldviews, so leaders may include people from any spiritual home background with an interest in interfaith or inter-belief work committed to championing these values in the world.
In this section you will find resources to support and inform your work. You can access volunteer and paid job opportunities, a religious holidays calendar, news and commentary, links to library material, and resources on networking as well as links to organizations that regularly conduct trainings. We share these resources in the spirit of collaborative learning and not as an endorsement of any particular organization or position.
These are not meant to be an exhaustive list, rather a place to get started. Do you have a resource you think we should add? Let us know.
Volunteer and Job Opportunities
Religious Holidays Calendar
News and Commentary
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We Can’t Breathe
Join us as we respond to this historical moment. In light of the murder of George Floyd and countless police killings of Black and Brown people, the world is reassessing the role of both police and society at large in addressing racism…
Taking Heart: A Virtual Interfaith Community Gathering During Ramadan
The Taking Heart Open Houses program has been bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together for food and conversation for 15 years…
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Learning Opportunities
Library
- Pluralism Project/Harvard University
- United Religions Initiative – Resource Library
- The Interfaith Center (University of Miami in Ohio)
- Sent to us by our colleagues at the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, this in-depth report outlines how to spot communications that divide and fuel hate and violence and how to craft communications that promote inclusion, dignity and respect. While focused on COVID 19, it has universal application. Find it here.
Networks Approach
- Network Weaver: During the twenty-first century, activity will increasingly take place in self-organizing, system shifting networks. The Network Weaver website offers resources and discussion space for those who want to better understand network approaches to transformation and improve their skills in facilitating this transition. They also have free and low-cost literature and documents here. You can subscribe to their e-newsletter here.
- Network Weaver Handbook: The Network Weaver Handbook is a practical guide for people interested in catalyzing a new network or enhancing an existing one. Each chapter contains a short section describing key concepts, case studies, and many activities. Following each chapter is a resource section with readings, handouts, checklists, and worksheets. You can easily duplicate these and distribute to people in your network. The handbook is 398 pages and spiral bound.
- Connecting to Change the World: Harnessing the Power of Networks for Social Impact. Island Press, 2014: Written by Peter Plastrik, John Cleveland and Madeleine Taylor, this book explores common network design issues in depth and offers practical advice on how to handle them from start up to evaluation. Successful networks are designed—they don’t just happen. Knowing a network’s essential design issues—and how to make and when to change design choices—is a crucial part of the practice of building effective social-impact networks.
- Net Gains: A Handbook for Network Builders Seeking Social Change: The handbook by Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor provides practical advice based on the experiences of network builders, case studies of networks small and large, local and international, and emerging scientific knowledge about “connectivity.” It is intended to join, complement, and spur other efforts to capture and make widely available what is being learned in the business, government, and civic sectors about why and how to use networks, rather than solitary organizations, to generate large-scale impact.
Support/Equip
MnMN seeks to provide access to leadership development for leaders in faith and interfaith communities and groups in Minnesota. Opportunities can be found in the following ways:
- Mutual support and sharing of best practices in convenings and communities of practice as peers connect and agree to meet periodically. See “Convenings” for currently functioning such groups, or email MnMN to express interest in meeting with others around a common interest or need.
- MnMN will continually announce through social media and regular digital communications workshops, seminars, training or consultation available as they arise. See “Events” and “Social Media Stream” for such information. Also email us with workshops or training that you become aware of that may be of interest to others.
- There are regularly a variety of workshops and training available from the following centers and organizations. Let us know if you know of others.
- From Interfaith Youth Core, We Are Each Other’s equips young people to engage in acts of interfaith cooperation, antiracism, and service with their communities.
- United Religions Initiative video – This video celebrates Memorable Moments in our global community and is really inspiring! Please consider using it as part of an internet gathering or send it to your colleagues. Dialogue questions are included.
- If you don’t see or find something that fits your need, please email us. We will see what can be found or developed.
Fundraising, Giving Money and Volunteering
- The One Fund is a partnership of Transform Minnesota, Hope United CDC, and the Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation to support the work of local African American churches and ministries. The One Fund is hosted at the National Christian Foundation – Twin Cities. The web site provides opportunities to give and it has grant guidelines for those churches or organization needing financial assistance.
- The Minneapolis Interfaith Relief Fund (MIRF) has been established by the downtown interfaith congregations in response to requests for financial support following the police killing of George Floyd. Funds will be disbursed to agencies and partners in communities of color and in the indigenous community that are working directly with those most affected. Westminster Presbyterian Church is fiscal sponsor.
- Looking for general volunteer opportunities in the community? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has created the JustServe website that connects you with local organizations primarily serving the poor.