“Leaders of faith have often served as the lone and courageous voices for dignity, human rights, and peace, and I’m so grateful to learn about the Interfaith Center of New York.”
— Donna Lieberman, Executive Director, NYCLU
As a new fiscal sponsor and long-time partner, ICNY has entered into a closer collaboration with the Micah Institute to increase both entities’ ability to work more effectively within the religiously diverse communities of New York City on issues of justice and equity. The Micah Institute was established in 2010 at New York Theological Seminary (NYTS) as a faculty initiative under the direction of Rev. Dr. Peter G. Heltzel (pictured above, center), who is Associate Professor of Theology. Inspired by the Hebrew prophet Micah’s call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8), the Institute seeks to educate and equip faith leaders to fight poverty and injustice. To this end, the Micah Institute offers workshops in faith-rooted organizing and advocacy, convenes an annual Faith-Rooted Organizing Conference, and provides opportunities for advocacy and community outreach through the Micah Faith Table. Now led by Executive Director Rev. Joel Gibson (pictured above, left), The Micah Institute seeks to transition from a primarily multidenominational Christian effort to a religiously diverse initiative for justice and equality in New York City.
This fall, ICNY launched its first-ever Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy, sponsored by Trinity Church Wall Street. ICNY is sponsoring 20 fellows to participate in bimonthly evening workshops on civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing. All fellows receive stipends and as well as small grants for community projects. Workshops are led by ICNY staff and our expert training partners, including: the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Center for Faith and Community Partnerships, Center for Court Innovation, Legal Hand, Faith in New York, CUNY-CLEAR, and the New York City Police Department.
To help us continue to build partnerships like these, please consider making a donation to ICNY today: https://interfaithcenter.org/donation/
Donna Lieberman (pictured above, right), Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, was the keynote speaker at the 33rd Rabbi Marshall Meyer Retreat for Social Justice last spring titled “Hospitality in a Time of Hate,” which was attended by over 100 people representing 15 religious faiths. The Rabbi Marshall Meyer Retreat for Social Justice is the oldest of our ICNY programs, and over the years has successfully convened over a thousand participants from dozens of faith communities in New York City.
