Partner Cities in the Inspired to Serve Pilot Project

 


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The Inspired to Serve pilot project came to life in the innovative approaches that emerged in the four partner cities, supported with subgrants, technical assistance, training, tools, and peer learning facilitated by the national partners.

Each developed a model to support interfaith service-learning that fit the strengths of the host organizations, the interests and priorities of the participating youth and faith communities, and the history and dynamics of each city. Below is an overview of each city.

Chicago, Illinois

IFYC

Host Organization: Interfaith Youth Core

Chicago is the birthplace of the interfaith youth service-learning movement and the Interfaith Days of Youth Service. The Inspired to Serve project sought to seed new, grassroots networks of faith-based organizations to engage in interfaith service-learning across the city. Coordinators provided technical assistance and training for each local partnership or network. Learn more . . .

New Orleans, Louisiana

Host Organization: InterFaith Works

The New Orleans interfaith service-learning initiative was born in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as a strategy for engaging young people from diverse faith traditions as change agents and community builders in the midst of the devastation of their city. InterFaith Works collaborated with a wide range of community-based youth development and community service-learning efforts to begin rebuilding the city's infrastructure with young people as active voices at the table for priority setting, funding, and uniting the city. Learn more . . .

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ICGP

Host Organization: The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

The Inspired to Serve partner city in Philadelphia developed a interfaith service-learning program called Walking the Walk, which teenagers with experiences, skills and resources necessary to live in a diverse world, deepen their own identities, and break through walls that distance and divide them from people of other religious, cultural and economic backgrounds. Each year, groups of 15 to 20 high school youth selected from diverse neighboring congregations gathered 13 times during the school year for interfaith engagement, service-learning, community building, and creative reflection. Each group is led by a group leader, three student alumni of the program and an artist-in-residence. The Walking the Walk curriculum is available for use in other cities. Learn more . . .

St. Paul, Minnesota

SPACC

Host Organization: St. Paul Area Council of Churches

The St. Paul pilot city organized the Twin Cities Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition, which uses interfaith service-learning and dialogue to develop youth leaders who are agents for change in their faith and civic communities. The coalition is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Youth of all religions and unaffiliated youth are invited to participate and build positive relationships across religious and other barriers that divide through a variety of coalition activities, including the Interfaith Youth Day of Service. Learn more . . .