Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy
Workshop Schedule and Curriculum
The 2024-2025 Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy will meet for a weekly series of workshops from November 2024 through March 2025. We will generally meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Most of our workshops will be held in person at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, at 130 Liberty Street, near the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. Some workshops will be held online in Zoom meetings.
Most workshops will include small-group conversations among fellows, and some will feature presentations from expert trainers. Light refreshments will be provided at in-person workshops, and dinner will be provided at in-person workshops during the month of Ramadan (March 2025).
Fellows will begin working on their community projects by April 2025, and will complete these projects by June 2025. We will hold a graduation ceremony in late June 2025 — more details closer to the date.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, fellows are expected to participate in all workshops, and other ICLA events. Full participation is essential to the success of the Leadership Academy, and to the multifaith community we are working to build.
Please note the schedule is subject to change.
Schedule and Curriculum
11/12 – Welcome to the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy (in person) Introductions, ice breakers, small group conversations, and an overview of the program.
11/19 – Faith-Based Visions of Justice and Models of Leadership (in person) Small group dialogues, sharing sacred texts and other sources that offer visions of justice and models of leadership.
11/26 – Civic Engagement and Religious Leadership (in person) What are the unique roles of religious leaders in civic life? Panel discussion with local religious leaders and civic officials.
12/3 – Virtual Tours and Peer Consulting (online) Presentations by fellows introducing their congregations and communities. Followed by small group peer-to-peer consulting, to support each other’s work.
12/10 – Understanding Your Leadership Style, Part 1 (in person) Discussion of our fellows’ unique gifts as faith community leaders. Led by social impact consultant and facilitator Archana Menon.
12/17 – Understanding Your Leadership Style, Part 2 (in person) Strengths and challenges of different leadership styles. Led by social impact consultant and facilitator Archana Menon.
12/24 & 12/31 – Winter Break, No Workshops
1/7 – Advocating for Policy Change in City Government (in person) Navigating the maze in City Hall and your local community. Who are the players, and where are the power centers? Led by staff from the Advocacy Institute.
1/14 – Building Power through Community Organizing (in person) Organizing 101, including distinctions between “organizing,” “advocacy,” and “service” models of social change. Led by staff from Metro IAF – New York.
1/21 – What Works in Community Organizing and Advocacy (in person) Successful models for organizing and advocacy, from faith-based and secular nonprofit organizations. Panel discussion with nonprofit leaders.
1/28 – Using Social Media for Social Justice (online) Strategies for creating change using digital tools. How can online campaigns lead to offline results? Panel discussion with staff from organizations that have created successful social media campaigns.
2/4 – Introducing the Community Project (in person) Discussion of community projects, and mini-grant proposals. Project brainstorming in small groups.
2/11 – Virtual Tours and Peer Consulting (online) Presentations by fellows introducing their congregations and communities. Followed by small group peer-to-peer consulting, to support each other’s work.
2/18 – Healing through Restorative Justice Circles (in person) Introduction to a powerful tool for community building, healing, and non-punitive responses to harm at the personal, neighborhood, and systemic levels. Led by staff from the Restorative Justice Initiative.
2/25 – Gender and Religious Leadership (in person) Highlighting the contributions of faith leaders of all gender identities, with a focus on the challenges faced by female leaders in male-dominated communities. Panel discussion with local religious leaders.
3/4 – Virtual Tours and Peer Consulting (online) Presentations by fellows introducing their congregations and communities. Followed by small group peer-to-peer consulting, to support each other’s work.
3/11 – Restorative Justice Circle and Iftar Dinner (in person) Build community through a restorative justice circle, and then celebrate the holy month of Ramadan with a festive meal, fellowship, and personal reflections.
3/18 – Community Project Planning (in person) Small group discussions of community projects and proposals. Opportunity to clarify your plans, get helpful advice, and explore possible collaborations with other fellows.
3/25 – Virtual Tours and Peer Consulting (online) Presentations by fellows introducing their congregations and communities. Followed by small group peer-to-peer consulting, to support each other’s work.
4/1 – Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Religious Diversity but Were Afraid to Ask (in person) Facilitated conversation among fellows, exploring questions about each other’s faith traditions.
4/8 – Launching Your Community Project (in person) Brainstorming with other fellows and ICNY staff, to develop concrete plans and a clear timetable to implement your project.
April – June – Community Projects Individual or collaborative work on community projects, with ongoing support from ICNY staff and each other, we’ll be there for you every step of the way!
4/27 – ICLA Spring Picnic! (Sunday afternoon, in person, in Prospect Park) Join all six cohorts of the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy, to build relationships across faith lines. Bring family and friends for a multifaith party in the park.
5/6 – Community Project Check in (online) small group meetings for project updates and troubleshooting.
5/20 – Community Project Check in (online) small group meetings for project updates and troubleshooting.
5/27 – Closing Reflections (in person) Reflect together on our work in the ICLA, and any work still to be done on community projects. Individual and collective program evaluation.
June, Date TBD – Graduation (in person) Invite your friends, family, and community to celebrate your accomplishments in the ICLA. Share lessons learned with your fellow New Yorkers.
