Archive
RNS: Indian Priest Warner D’Souza Makes The Kitchen His Pulpit Amidst the Pandemic
This article was originally published in Religion News Service with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. MUMBAI, India (RNS) — From his kitchen in a suburb of North Mumbai, 50-year-old Catholic …
Ashin Issariya: Leading the Charge Against Militant Buddhism
This article was originally published in New Statesman, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. January is the cool, dry season of traveling sermons in Myanmar, where members of …
Virtual Town Hall: Najuma Smith-Pollard, Congressman Adam Schiff, and Faith Leaders on the “Quadruple-threat Crises”
Los Angeles-area faith leaders joined Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) for a Zoom town hall. Moderated by Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, the interfaith leaders …
Building Back Better: A Multi-faith Town Hall with Rep. Adam Schiff
As we work towards coronavirus recovery, communities across America are beginning to envision what it could look like to not just return to the way things were, but to build back better. …
Religious Responsibilities in Confronting Police Brutality
June 10, 2020 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT Location: Online Zoom Webinar Throughout the United States and in cities across the world thousands have joined protests over the murder of George …
KCET on Rev. Cecil ‘Chip’ Murray: The Reverend Who Led the Rebuilding of South L.A. After the 1992 Riots
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, the United States has been gripped by fury over the nation’s persistent racism and police brutality. The unrest is reminiscent of the 1992 Los Angeles …
NBCLA’s Virtual Town Hall: Najuma Smith-Pollard on Fighting for Real Reform and Solutions Against Racism
Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager for the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, participated as a panelist for NBCLA’s Virtual Town Hall, “The Time is Now: Rooting Out Racism.” The conversation …
Critical Conversations on Activism, Online and Off
With so many Americans across the country seeking to get their voices heard both in the streets and on social media this week, CRCC is hosting a conversation about what it means …
Six Principles for Engaging Faith Communities
Partnerships with community groups strengthens governmental response to critical social issue, from homelessness to disaster response. Public agencies often turn to faith leaders to support their initiatives, and yet doing so often …
Ten Tips for Government Engagement with Religious Communities
Religious organizations can be essential partners in creating positive change in their communities. Governmental agencies often work with faith leaders because they are influential and well-connected to the people they serve. Their …
Faith & Politics: Leadership in the Time of COVID-19
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement’s hosts a conversation with two of its alumni about how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring: Dr. Michael Fisher, Greater Zion Church …
The Moroccan School Training Women Imams To Combat Extremism
This article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It supplements Priyadarshini Sen’s profile of Ahmed Toufiq. RABAT, Morocco — Wearing an embroidered …
Imam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye: From Enemies to Friends Building Peace
This article was originally published in Ripples Nigeria, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Of its 60 years of existence as an independent state, Africa’s most populous country, …
Imam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye: Bringing Peace to Warring Nigerian Communities
This article was originally published in Premium Times, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. For the greater part of May 2, 2004, 40-year-old Amina Abubakar endured nine-month-old pregnancy …
Religious Leadership in the Face of COVID-19: A Multifaith Discussion
In this multifaith discussion, Los Angeles-area religious leaders discuss the challenges—personal and professional—of guiding a community through pandemic. What do the religious spring holidays tell us about this moment? What is the …
Jacques Mourad: The Syrian Catholic Priest Who Stayed
This article was originally published as the cover story of the March 2, 2020 issue of America Magazine, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It became clear that …
Ahmed Toufiq: The Quiet Sufi Behinds Morocco’s Islamic Affairs
This article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. In the cavernous dining room of an artist-friend, Ahmed Toufiq quickly eats a fresh …
Can Religion Help Survivors Regain Their Humanity? A Reflection on the Rwandan Genocide
The following article originally appear in Tui Motu InterIslands Magazine, a New Zealand publication. One of the first survivors that I interviewed in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide told me that his …
KPCC, U.S. News, Teen Vogue & RNS: CRCC on Community in the Face of COVID-19
In the wake of COVID-19, communities across the world are undergoing immense changes and facing great uncertainties. Brie Loskota appeared on KPCC’s Take Two to discuss how communities should respond during these …
Securing Faith Communities in the Era of Mass Shootings – Keynote Address
Brie Loskota was the keynote speaker at the Faith Communities Security Summit, hosted by Biola University on March 3, 2020. Loskota is a board member of the LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation, one …