About Interfaith Philadelphia

Christian, Muslim, Baháʼí, Jewish, Buddhist, and beyond, Interfaith Philadelphia is led by a diverse team and Board of Directors from various religious, ethnic, and racial communities. Our leaders draw on their experience in interfaith relations and diversity work across civic, governmental, community, and educational settings to advance our mission.

Our holistic approach engages the head, heart, and hands through teaching, dialogue, and service. Through our signature programs (Youth Initiatives, Leadership Institute, and Religious Networks) we aim to create communities of hope and reconciliation in workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. We unite religious leaders, congregants, and youth to learn to value and respect the “other” while strengthening their own religious identities.

We work strategically across workplaces, congregations, schools, and neighborhoods, based on the social-ecological model. We believe change requires impacting multiple levels of influence. We define social change as increased harmony, focusing on changing attitudes and increasing knowledge at the individual level, building bridges at the community level, and creating a new public narrative at the societal level. 

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Our Mission

In order to promote social harmony and inter-religious understanding, Interfaith Philadelphia equips individuals and communities for interfaith engagement, builds collaborative relationships, and stands in solidarity with our diverse neighbors.
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Our Vision

Since our founding in 2004, Interfaith Philadelphia has challenged Philadelphians to dare to understand one another. Our bold vision is to have our region reflect the vibrancy of a religiously diverse democracy, one in which all people are valued, distinctive traditions are welcomed, and people of diverse backgrounds collaborate to shape a just and compassionate society.

Dare To Understand

Our tagline, Dare to Understand, is both a statement of fact and a call to action, encapsulating so much of what makes our work unique. It conveys a sense of the courage required to participate and engage in interfaith work, the fear of the “other” felt by so many, and the need to overcome such fears. It challenges us to be bold in learning about one another, to dare to listen sincerely to the crying needs of our time, and to work together to contribute to the good of our region. Not only is our tagline a call for a deeper understanding of the “other,” but it is also an invitation to continued self-discovery and appreciation of one’s own heritage.
About Us

Build Authentic Relationships of Mutual Trust and Solidarity

We hold interfaith relations as a priority for our community and sustain urgency around the importance and need for interfaith engagement. We serve as an avenue for collaboration and for the building of mutual support. We also serve as a central “connector” for religious, community and civic leaders, able to facilitate strategic introductions and essential conversations. We function as our region’s expert voice for this work among diverse audiences and sectors, fostering honest conversation and effective communication, managing shared data collection and analysis, and (when needed) mediating conflicts.

Strategic Priorities

With a focus on long-term, enduring impact, our initiatives incorporate the following critical components:​

Equip Individuals with Competencies for Interfaith Engagement

We provide individuals with interfaith experiences, skills and knowledge that will increase understanding and improve attitudes. We help people embrace our region’s rich religious diversity and enhance their comfortable engagement across difference. We serve to be a point of entry for those curious to learn about different faiths and traditions, including those who orient around religion differently - from orthodox or evangelical, to secular or atheist. The skills we teach are transferable: Developing genuine curiosity can extend to ways we engage others in political and social discourse as well. We are committed to being the region’s expert resource for programming in diverse settings on the subject of interfaith understanding.

Advance Interfaith Understanding in the Public Sphere

We want Philadelphia to be known as a place where diversity is celebrated and religion is critical to that conversation. We want to approach our work in the public sphere with greater intentionality and emphasis, both to play a significant role in shaping public discourse, while also developing sophisticated responses to emergent issues. Our efforts strive to touch diverse audiences and ensure that our impact is greater than a single event, program or crisis. Our tagline, Dare to Understand, challenges us to be bold in learning about one another, to dare to listen sincerely to the crying needs of our time, and to work together to contribute to the good of our region.