 | | | Dear Friend, Wishing you peace in this new year. Before looking ahead, there is much to share from last month, in particular that the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) received Episcopal Charities' Community Justice Award at their gala event in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on December 4th. I invite you to watch my acceptance on behalf of the Center here. Our citywide efforts with New York Interfaith Disaster Services and houses of worship to shelter newly arrived migrants took a big step forward in December with the help of FDNY. The Fire Department will now allow places willing to shelter 10-15 people to do so with alternative fire safety arrangements. Below, you will see the new flyer with this information Please fill it out if your congregation is interested in participating. Read this piece in the Staten Islander about why we do this work. Also, the Interfaith Center recently partnered with the Micah Table, Interfaith USA, and other Queens’ based organizations to stand together against Islamophobia and antisemitism in a press event entitled “From Hate To Hope.” There, local Rabbis, Imams, and Sikh representatives stood together to condemn local hatred and religious bigotry. In response, the Micah Table and ICNY co-lanched a letter condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia. Its not too late to sign on to “A Season and Time for Every Matter Under Heaven: A Multi-Faith Call to Healing and Consolation.” Finally, in case you missed our Meet the Staff video, please take a minute to witness our staff at work. To help them keep New York and the world safe for religious diversity, we are so grateful to all of you who contributed to our annual appeal. Sincerely, | |  | The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer ICNY Executive Director P.S. if you didn’t get a chance to contribute to our Appeal and still would like to, click here. | | | | | |  | Summer Institute for K-12 Teachers Religious Worlds of New York July 2024 Applications Due March 5 In today’s climate of religious bigotry and extremism, K-12 teachers can help promote understanding across faith lines. ICNY's Religious Worlds of New York summer institute gives teachers the tools they need to build a more inclusive society. Public, private, and faith-based school teachers are invited to apply for the next Religious Worlds institute – a three-week program, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, that helps teachers teach creatively and effectively about religious diversity. The institute will meet from July 8 to 26, 2024, on the campus of Union Theological Seminary. Participants receive a $2,850 stipend to help pay their travel, housing, and living expenses. Past participants describe the institute as “A tremendous experience that will enrich the teaching that takes place in classrooms across the country for decades to come.” (click here for many more evaluations) Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the religious worlds of New York! Teachers, please visit religiousworldsnyc.org to learn more and apply. Applications are due March 5. If you’re not a K-12 teacher yourself, please share this opportunity with teachers in your community – just click the following links for easy-to-share posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. | | | | | | | |  | Since 1997, the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) has made a positive and lasting improvement to the civic fabric of our city. And, starting today, our latest annual report is available online. Click this link to view our online-only annual report. There you will learn how ICNY: - Made regrants for shelter and migrant support to almost a dozen congregations and convened representatives of 30 different faith communities and nonprofits dedicated to this work;
- Launched The Covenant with New York State Council of Churches, calling on faith communities, non profits, businesses and government to shelter, house, educate, and provide legal assistance and expedited work authorization for the newest New Yorkers;
- Provided religious diversity training to two cohorts of 450+ NYPD equity employment and inclusion officers;
- Offered public library-based anti-gun violence trainings in the Bronx;
- Partnered with the Office of the UN Secretary General to off er prayers for peace at UN headquarters on April 14, 2023;
- Hosted our 40th Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat for Social Justice on housing in partnership with the Office of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander;
- Became an Anchor Partner of the new Perelman Performing Arts Center and hosted an arts and religion post-production panel with Bill T. Jones;
- Partnered with NYC and NYDIS to identify houses of worship who could provide overnight accommodations for arriving migrants.
With your support over the past year, ICNY addressed new waves of racial and religious prejudice with a blend of education, dialogue, organizing, and advocacy. We would be honored to have your support before year’s end, so that ICNY can continue to make street-level change in NYC. Please click here to make a tax-deductible gift and click here to visit ICNY’s 2023 annual report. | | | | | | | | New Expanded Options & Additional Funding: Houses of Worship & FBO Shelters for Asylum Seekers | |  |  | New York City has recently approved additional food funding and a 15-bed option for houses of worship (HOW) and faith-based organizations (FBO) seeking to partner with NYDIS to shelter asylum seekers that continue to arrive in NYC on a daily basis. - 19 Beds: These shelters are now approved for a $50,000 monthly funding which increases the food allowance. Sites are still required to have a Sprinkler System and Central Monitoring System
- 15 Beds: These shelters are now approved for a $47,500 monthly funding which increases the food allowance. Sites are not required to have a Sprinkler System or Central Monitoring System but are required to meet all other code requirements.
Our Outreach Team looks forward to working with you to determine your eligibility. As a reminder, this program provides a safe haven for migrants and asylum seekers in dire need – and represents a significant service to our community and cost savings to NYC. NYDIS will support you house of worship with training, all shelter supplies, a monthly allowance advance, and regular operational assistance onsite. | | | | | | | | OTHER EVENTS & ANNOUNCMENTS | |  | Community at the Crossing Dialogues on Divinity: A Conversation with Prof. Amy-Jill Levine Monday, January 15th, 6:30 P.M The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York On January 15 we will host noted Jewish scholar of the New Testament, Amy-Jill Levine, for our “Dialogues on Divinity” speaker series at the Cathedral. Amy-Jill will discuss with us how the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the New Testament of the Christian Bible raises necessary questions about neighbors and strangers, stereotypes and prejudice, complacency and challenge, even questions about history, colonialism and liberation. Click HERE or on the button below to register. The event is “pay what you can.” | | | |  | Apollo Apprentices Apollo Apprentices Presents: MLK Young Changemakers January 15th, 4:00 P.M. Apollo's Soundstage (Free) Tickets Available Jan. 2 This year’s MLK Young Changemakers: The Beloved Community explores the roots of Dr. King’s activism and the everyday faith that powered his vision of a beloved global community. The discussion will focus on issues of climate change, global migration and voting rights. Join us as the changemakers of tomorrow share their voices and resources to help the next generation become catalysts within their own beloved communities. With live performances and opportunities for direct action, this is THE space for youth on the National Day of Service. This event is curated by The Apollo’s Apprentices. | | | |  | Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute Mental Health for Techno-Sapiens: Spiritually-Informed Therapy for a (Dis) Connected World February 2nd, 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. Apollo's Soundstage In-person: Trinity Commons, Trinity Place, New York, NY Online: Zoom access provided with ticket purchase Join us for an enlightening HYBRID event at Trinity Commons, New York, NY, USA! In our (dis) connected world, it's crucial to prioritize our mental health. Discover how spiritually-informed psychotherapy can help techno-sapiens like us navigate the challenges of modern life. This conference provides 5 continuing education credits for NYS-licensed LMSWs/LCSWs/LMFTs/LMHCs/LCATs. Please be sure to include your license # with your registration. Learn more about the course clinical objectives, keynote and other guest speakers, and more via the registration link. | | | | The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) works to overcome prejudice, violence, and misunderstanding by activating the power of the city's grassroots religious and civic leaders and their communities. | | | | | |
