The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement presents Phillip A. Washington, CEO of Metro, in conversation with the Murray Center’s Najuma Smith-Pollard and Frank Jackson, Jr. Find out how Washington has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and why he sees faith communities as essential partners in his work.

EventCritical Conversations: Public Transportation in a Pandemic
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Archive
Joy Comes in the Morning: The Prophetic Social Witness of Rev. Cecil L. Murray
“Joy Comes in the Morning” is a workbook with 14 sermons delivered by the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray at First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles. It is part of the ...

Event
Passing the Mantle 2.0: The Murray Legacy
After decades of ministry, the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray spent his “retirement” sharing his model of leadership and vision of Christian social ethics to a new generation of faith leaders. ...

Announcement
Thriving Congregations: A Series on Leadership
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture supports faith leaders as they seek to reimagine their ministries and help their congregations thrive in a time of significant religious and social change. This series ...

Event
How Then Shall We Live? A Conversation Series
“How Then Shall We Live?” is a series of conversations that examines critical issues shaping how humanity lives together today: the environment, polarization and artificial intelligence. Experts will share their perspectives on ...

Commentary
Community involvement a great way to overcome divisions
This commentary was originally published in the San Diego Union Tribune by a participant in the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s Compelling Preaching program. By Anastasia G. McAteer Regardless of ...

Article
Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism
This article is originally published by republished from The Conversation. Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most popular and enduring of the 1980s televangelists, died on July 1, 2025, but his legacy lives. ...
Diane Winston

Commentary
We’re still fighting for migrants’ dignity in Los Angeles
This article was originally published on Religion News Service, by staff and participants in the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s Compelling Preaching program. By Susan Goldberg, Najuma Smith, Soraya Ahyaudin, Guillermo Torres and Tanny Jiraprapasuke LOS ...
Najuma Smith and Soraya Ahyaudin

Tools
Preaching Beyond the Walls of the Congregation: How Faith Leaders Can Use Media
Congregations are often on the frontlines of significant social issues, from poverty to immigration to polarization. Clergy’s moral leadership on these issues is grounded in both their spiritual traditions and the lived ...