Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy
Interfaith Center Staff and Training Partners
The Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy is led by ICNY program staff:
Hanadi Doleh is ICNY’s Director of Community Partnerships, and co-director of the ICLA. Hanadi has spent her adult life working in and for New York’s Muslim and interfaith communities. She earned a BA in Political Science and MA in International Relations from Brooklyn College, and her academic work has informed her social justice activism on behalf of Muslim Americans and other underrepresented communities. Following completion of her MA, Hanadi worked for seven years at the Park51 Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan, then joined the staff at ICNY in 2018. In June of 2019 Hanadi was honored by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer for her contributions to the civic life of New York, and in December of 2019 she received a Community Empowerment Award from the Muslim Democratic Club of New York.
Dr. Henry Goldschmidt is ICNY’s Director of Programs, and co-director of the ICLA. Henry is a cultural anthropologist, community educator, interfaith organizer, and scholar of religion. In his work at ICNY, he creates and facilitates programs for religious and civic leaders, K-12 teachers, social workers, and others. Henry received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and taught religious studies and cultural anthropology at Wesleyan University and elsewhere before joining the ICNY staff in 2010. He is the author of Race and Religion among the Chosen Peoples of Crown Heights, as well as other scholarly and popular publications on American religious diversity and K-12 religious studies pedagogy. He is a life-long, fanatic New Yorker, and lives in Brooklyn with his wife and children.
Some ICLA workshops are led by expert trainers from leading nonprofits, including:
The Advocacy Institute is committed to supporting the legislative advocacy of social justice and movement-building organizations in New York City and State, by developing talent, building networks, and providing tools and information to support successful legislative advocacy. AI produces powerful trainings, creative visual aids, and cutting-edge, interactive resources making it possible for organizations to become self-reliant in navigating key government contacts. Throughout, they build a collaborative community to learn from and support each other’s work.
Coro New York Leadership Center is NYC’s premier leadership training organization. For students and executives, activists and entrepreneurs who want to learn how New York City works so that they can make it better, Coro delivers the skills, knowledge, and network to lead change. Participants become leaders and influencers, developing innovative solutions to public issues, incorporating different points of view in their decision-making, and inspiring others to lead change.
Metro IAF New York is a local affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the path-breaking community organizing network founded in 1940 by Saul Alinsky and others. Since 1979, Metro IAF has been organizing to improve our city and region – holding public and private sector leaders accountable to deliver results for the people of New York. Metro IAF is made up of seven independent organizations, each of which is composed dues paying member institutions, including congregations and non-profit organizations. These organizations work independently to improve their neighborhoods, and work collectively to improve the City.
Other workshops feature panel discussions with diverse religious leaders, social activists, and civic officials. Past panels have included speakers from the following agencies and organizations:
Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus
Center for Community Leadership, Jewish Community Relations Council
NYC Commission on Human Rights
NYC Center for Faith and Community Partnerships
NYC Civic Engagement Commission
