The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) was proud to present the 2023 James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards in front of a vibrant audience of almost 240 guests at the Tribeca Rooftop venue in downtown Manhattan on June 26, 2023. This year’s James Parks Morton Interfaith Award honorees were Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah; Dr. Uma Mysorekar, F.A.C.O.G., President of the Hindu Temple Society of North America; and Director Joshua Seftel and the creative team behind the Academy Award nominee documentary short Stranger at the Gate (special thanks to Bibi Bahrami and Richard A. McKinney, the films subjects and stars, for traveling to be with us that evening). We also proudly honored Faith Justice Heroes Adama Bah and Imam Omar Niass for being on the front line of faith leaders and activists welcoming our newest New Yorkers.
The evening’s spoken program was prefaced by group prayers delivered by: Jonathan Ammons, Associate Director Of Public And International Affairs at The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints – and recent ICNY ICLA graduate; Rabbi Hilly Haber, Director Of Social Justice Organizing And Education at Central Synagogue; and Rev. James A. Lynch, Vice President Of The Buddhist Council Of New York.
Many thanks to our award presenters ICNY Board Member Rev. Frederick A. Davie, ICNY Board Member Dr. Kusumita P. Pedersen, and Zeyba Rahman, Director of the Building Bridges Program at the Doris Duke Foundation. Thanks to the St. Philips Church Choir for their inspired performance, and to ICNY Board Members and Gala Co-Chairs Rev. Frederick A. Davie and Ruth Mesinger for their remarks, and to The Rt. Rev. Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of New York, who gave the closing blessing.
2023 Gala Highlights Photos:
(Photos by @CarolinaKroon – for personal use only)
2023 Gala Attendee Arrivals:
(Photos by Gabriele Gorden of Gabriele Gorden Photo – for personal use only)
James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards Gala Attendees
