Born out of the diverse initiatives and networks that followed the L.A. riots, CRCC has been connected to all types of religious communities, before “interfaith” was cool. Coalition of faith leaders came together to address the social divides and ills that led to the conflagrations in 1992.
All religious traditions engage in the public square, and they also have their unique rituals, beliefs and approaches to prayer. Moreover, there’s often disagreements among adherents within each religion about the best way to practice their tradition and engage in political and social issues. Explore trends within a wide variety of groups—from Islam to evangelicalism to religious “nones”—on their respective topic pages, or check out trends that cross groups, such as creativity and innovation or prayer and meditation.
Topics
ArticleThe Fight for Black Lives is a Spiritual MovementThis article was originally published in the Berkley Forum as an editorial response to “Religion and Racial Justice: The George Floyd Protests.” A circle of flowers forms a sanctuary honoring the space …Topics: Creativity and Innovation, Engaged Spirituality, Race and Culture
ArticleRNS: Indian Priest Warner D’Souza Makes The Kitchen His Pulpit Amidst the PandemicThis 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 …Topics: Asia, Catholics and Catholicism, COVID, Engaged Spirituality, Religious Leadership
ArticleAshin Issariya: Leading the Charge Against Militant BuddhismThis 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 …Topics: Asia, Buddhists and Buddhism, Engaged Spirituality, Religious Leadership, Religious Pluralism, Spiritual Exemplars, Violence
CRCC in the NewsKCET on Rev. Cecil ‘Chip’ Murray: The Reverend Who Led the Rebuilding of South L.A. After the 1992 RiotsIn 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 …Topics: Black Church, CMCCE, Protests and Uprisings, Race and Culture, Religious Leadership, Southern California, Violence
CRCC in the NewsNBCLA’s Virtual Town Hall: Najuma Smith-Pollard on Fighting for Real Reform and Solutions Against RacismRev. 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 …Topics: Black Church, CMCCE, Race and Culture, Religious Leadership
CRCC in the NewsReligion News Service: Richard Flory on Young Adults Leaving ReligionYoung adults are leaving organized religion in high numbers. Religion News Service spoke with co-authors Melinda Lundquist Denton and CRCC’s Richard Flory on the findings in their new book about the changing …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Millennials, Population Trends
ArticleJean Gakwandi: Rwanda Ministry Brings Genocide Survivors HopeThis article was originally published in Christianity Today, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It was raining ferociously, causing the women and orphans to move away from the …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Engaged Spirituality, Genocide, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence- VideoFaith & Politics: Leadership in the Time of COVID-19
ArticleDr. Mohammed Elgazzar: Saving Lives Across the Battle LinesThis article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — the city of learned philosophers and a once-great library, named after …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Healthcare, Middle East and North Africa, Muslims and Islam, Spiritual Exemplars, Violence
ArticleThe Moroccan School Training Women Imams To Combat ExtremismThis 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 …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Gender, Middle East and North Africa, Muslims and Islam, Religious Leadership, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa
ArticleImam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye: From Enemies to Friends Building PeaceThis 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, …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Interfaith/Multifaith Movements, International Affairs and Policy, Religious Extremism, Religious Leadership, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence
ArticleImam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye: Bringing Peace to Warring Nigerian CommunitiesThis 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 …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Engaged Spirituality, Interfaith/Multifaith Movements, Muslims and Islam, Religious Extremism, Religious Leadership, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence
“Students in mindfulness classes may think they’re seeking therapeutic answers from secularized Eastern traditions, but their practices are authentically American too. Perhaps it’s this implicit knowledge that makes mindfulness so enchanting to spiritual seekers today.”
—Nalika Gajaweera,
“Mindfulness is as American as Apple Pie”
CRCC Experts
To schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact CRCC:
crcc@usc.edu or 213-743-1611
Sumaya AbubakerProject ManagerSumaya Abubaker manages leadership and civic engagement programming for minority faith communities.
Tobin BelzerContributing FellowTobin Belzer is an applied sociologist who develops research and program evaluations to support the work of non-profit organizations and philanthropists.
Brad ChristersonContributing FellowBrad Christenson is a sociologist who has written extensively in the areas of religion, race, ethnicity, and globalization.
Donald Cook IIContributing FellowRev. Donald Cook II combines his expertise in church management with ministry and social justice initiatives to help faith organizations improve their communities.
Hebah FarragAssistant Director of ResearchHebah Farrag manages the center’s research and evaluation projects while engaging in research focused on religion, social change and new spiritualties.
Richard FlorySenior Director of Research and EvaluationRichard Flory is a sociologist whose work focuses on religion and urban life, religious and cultural change, and youth and young adults.
Nalika GajaweeraResearch AssociateNalika Gajaweera is a cultural anthropologist specialized in Buddhism, transnationalism and ethics, with an area expertise in South Asia.
Rev. Frank Jackson, Jr.Contributing FellowRev. Frank Jackson, Jr. couples his experience in business and investment with his passion for community development.
Andrew JohnsonPast FellowAndrew Johnson is a sociologist who studies religion on the margins of society, with specific interests in religious practice inside of prison, Latin American Pentecostalism and religion in the city.
Brie LoskotaExecutive DirectorBrie Loskota researches how religions change and make change in the world, and works to build the capacity of religious communities around the globe.
Juan MartínezPast FellowJuan Martinez studies the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity and transnational mission among U.S. Latinos.
Tarra McNallyAssistant Director of EvaluationTarra McNally is an anthropologist specializing in evaluation and global health.
Lori MeeksLori Meeks studies the social and cultural history of Buddhism in Japan, particularly related to the role of women.
Donald E. MillerDirector of Strategic InitiativesDonald Miller focuses on global religious trends, genocides of the 20th century, and the role of religious NGOs in addressing issues of moral concern.
Jon MillerSenior Research AssociateJon Miller is a comparative sociologist and director of the international mission photography archive.