Dear Friends,
This month, we keep in mind those celebrating a new year and those embarking on new beginnings.
September saw the opening of the General Assembly, lots of gridlock traffic, and UN Conference on Migration in New York. At the same time, I had the chance to visit two contrasting refugee camps in and outside Athens, Greece. At one of the government shelters in the old airport of Athens, families had set up tents inside the old arrival and departure lounges and cooked meals outside on the crumbling cement balcony. Children didn’t have transportation or the right vaccines to join Greek schools and international NGOs provided food and basic healthcare.
The government camp struck a sharp contrast with #CITYPLAZA, a building for refugees in a self-run converted hotel in a bustling part of the city organized by activists who took over an abandoned hotel and worked with about 200 families to manage the day-to-day functioning of the community. Donations of medicine and food from around Europe stocked the shelves and the children attended local schools. The power of a strong civil society was on display and you can be part of it. Finally, I visited the Sikh Gurdwara of Athens Guru Nanak Darbar that offered food and hospitality to Syrian and Afghan refugees escaping from war in their countries. This effort was part of a wider humanitarian effort of the United Sikhs on behalf of refugees in Europe.
Back at home, the Interfaith Center of New York is delighted to introduce three new members of our Board of Directors:
Baba Antonio Mondesire: http://antoniomondesire.com/
Jim Venturi: http://archpaper.com/2016/05/jim-venturi-rethinknyc/
The Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool https://www.dioceseny.org/bishop-glasspool/ (representing The Rt. Rev. Andrew Dietsche, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, see https://www.dioceseny.org/the-diocese/our-bishops/bishop-dietsche/)
The organization is strengthened by their leadership.
Also, faith leaders are welcome to join the NYC Voter Registration weekend of faith. You are invited to partner with the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit and NYC Votes for the Voter Registration Weekend of Faith, October 7-9. Hundreds of faith leaders across New York City will be speaking at their houses of worship about the importance of voting and signing people up after the service.
Finally, ICNY has a new website. It’s the same address www.interfaithcenter.org but with a new design that works well on tablets and smart phones. The site provides easier access to news and information on our programs. We hope you’ll check it out!
Our newsletter for October is available here.
Best Wishes,
Rev. Chloe Breyer
Executive Director
The Interfaith Center of New York
