The Interfaith Center of New York is pleased to announce that another recipient of this year’s 13th annual James Parks Morton Interfaith Award will be The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Founder and President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Rev. Jackson is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Over the past forty years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. On August 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Reverend Jackson
the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Reverend Jackson has been called the “Conscience of the Nation” and “the Great Unifier,” challenging America to be inclusive and to establish just and humane priorities for the benefit of all. He is known for bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, culture, class, gender and belief.
Born on October 8, 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jesse Jackson graduated from the public schools in
Greenville and then enrolled in the University of Illinois on a football scholarship. He later transferred to North
Carolina A&T State University and graduated in 1964. He began his theological studies at Chicago Theological
Seminary but deferred his studies when he began working full time in the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was ordained on June 30, 1968 by Rev. Clay Evans and received his earned Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000.
The James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards will be presented at a gala taking place Monday, June 8th at Tribeca Rooftop beginning at 6:30 for cocktails and followed by a three-course dinner. Tickets range in price from $275 for nonprofit/religious organizations to $1,000 for premiere seating and can be purchased here. The net proceeds of the gala support ICNY’s purposeful educational programs, social service projects, and advocacy linking religious communities in meaningful engagement. For more information, kindly contact Ellen Greeley at Ellen@interfaithcenter.org or 212.870.3511.
