“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”― James Baldwin
A Message from the MnMN Network Council
The MnMN’s Network Council exists to provide guidance, support, and advocacy for the work and aspirations of MnMN. It has a critical role in the development of this emerging organization, bringing to bear on MnMN’s development member ideas, wisdom, connections in and knowledge of multifaith communities, expertise, and passion for this work. It meets about six times a year, and is headed by Anse Dr. Tamara Gray. If you are a faith leader and want to be involved in our Network Council, please express interest to Dr. Gray at ikram@rabata.org
At the latest Network Council Meeting, Shaykh Kariye spoke about the interplay between faith and action, and the necessity of making oneself vulnerable in order to affect change, especially in our current context of worry around the American political climate.
Watch below!
Shaykh Abdirahman Kariye is a Minnesota native, a humanitarian and an educator. Kariye has a B.A in Education from Highline College and an Islamic degree in Sharia from Al-Azhar University, and he is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Islamic University of Minnesota. He serves as Country Director for Helping Hand for Relief and Development, an international NGO, and holds the role of Imam/Community Engagement at Dar Al Farooq Center.
Save the Date for MnMN's annual Conference on November 14th, 2024!
From Our Partners
MNIPL: Summer Policy Series
Thursday, July 11th, 12-1pm , Zoom
Minnesota has made a commitment to being carbon-free in our electricity production, but many of us are still using natural gas to heat our homes. Despite the fact that there are more sustainable ways to keep our homes warm like heat pumps or electric heat, most of the policy and physical infrastructure in our state makes methane gas the norm.
Join us for a conversation about what it would take to get to clean heat by 2040! This webinar will cover:
Why a commitment to clean heat is just as important as our commitment to clean power
What obstacles we face in getting clean heat
How we can act on a state and local level to promote clean heat policies
Interfaith Action Partners with Instacart to Battle Food Insecurity
Summertime can disrupt eating patterns for children, especially those who rely on school meals as a source of nutrition. This summer, Instacart is making it easy to donate the exact food items for our Department of Indian Work food shelf through the Community Carts program, apartnership with Feeding America. In just a few taps you can help keep our children fed this summer.
Inter-Belief Conversation Cafe: Can "It" Happen Here?
Monday July 15th, 7:00-9:00pm, Zoom.
In Sinclair Lewis’ 1935 novel, It Can’t Happen Here, a populist demagogue President champions “the forgotten man” & “traditional American values,” foments fear, says he’ll restore “prosperity, patriotism, and greatness” through drastic economic measures and repressive social reform, outlaws dissent... Is “it” starting to sound familiar, regardless of which current political party you now support? On Monday 7/15, 7-9pm, we’ll share our diverse worldviews on whether “IT” – America’s worst fears – are “comin’ round the bend” or “riding into the sunset.” Meanwhile, our dialogue’s agreements of open-mindedness, acceptance, curiosity, discovery, sincerity, brevity, & confidentiality should provide us an objectively non-coercive way to talk “IT” over, and what might bring “IT” about! Join us at this month’s NEW zoom-link here.
IRG & Rabata: Islam 101 for the Community
July 20th, 10:00am, Rabata Cultural Center
Curious about Islam or know somebody who is? Invite them to the RCC for this monthly series on Islam focused on connecting people across faith lines to foster understanding and friendship every third Saturday.
More Events
The United Religion's Initiative is a global interfaith initiative that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.
We implement our mission through local and global initiatives that build the capacity of our member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles, to engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women’s and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights. Learn more here.
URI: Understanding and Eradicating Antisemitism
Monday, July 15th 11:00am-12:30pm CDT Register: https://bit.ly/urina-uea The steady growth of discrimination and hate crimes against Jewish community members is directly connected to centuries of stereotypes and misunderstandings. This space is an opportunity for all to learn from a diverse panel of members and community leaders who share their experiences and their work against antisemitism.
URI: Understanding and Eradicating Islamophobia
Thursday, July 18th 11:00am-12:30pm CDT Register: https://bit.ly/urina-uei The steady growth of discrimination and hate crimes against Muslim community members is directly connected to centuries of stereotypes and misunderstandings. This space is an opportunity for all to learn from a diverse panel of members and community leaders who share their experiences and their work against Islamophobia.
Braver Angels seeks to bridge the partisan divide in America and strengthen our democratic republic, and envisions an America with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation. Learn more here.
BA: All Area Walk and Talk Potluck Picnic
July 15th, 5:00-8:00pm, Lake Elmo Nature Preserve
Anyone in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and beyond are welcome. We’ve rented a shelter house, so we won’t be rained out. Bring a dish to share and drinks for you and yours. We’ll supply plates and cutlery. We'll plan to eat around 6 pm. Bring yard games if you want. Kids are welcome as there is a nearby playground. We’ll do a Walkie-Talkie exercise -- a short walk with someone you don't know and offer possible topics to discuss. Then, we'll come back together to share. We'll have a donations jar to help cover the rental cost, so if you bring a bit of cash to contribute that would be great.
Do you want to have better conversations with people you often disagree with about politics? Do you wish that family members and friends on the other political side would listen better to your views about politics? This workshop provides the not–so-secret sauce to help this happen.
In this Braver Angels workshop, you will gain skills for listening, understanding more fully, and sharing your perspectives in constructive ways–even when you disagree sharply. Sometimes you find more common ground than you thought possible. This is an interactive workshop, with discussion and a chance to practice the skills. Co-Facilitators: Jeff Thiemann, LOL member and Braver Angels Trained facilitator, and Pastor Karen Wight Hoogheem.
Friends for a Non Violent World People Camp 2024August 11-17, 2024. Northern Pines Retreat Center in Park Rapids. Early Bird Registration ends May 31st. People Camp is a unique, one week, intergenerational community living experience open to all. Register here. Learn more about People Camp here!
FNVW: 28th Annual Community Peace Celebration (Rescheduled) August 16th, 2024, 2-7pm Saint Paul . Get ready to spread the love and peace at the 28th Annual Community Peace Celebration on August 16th at Western Sculpture Park! Join us for a day filled with music, dance, delicious food, and uplifting stories of peace. Save the date and let's make this year's celebration the most memorable yet! Read more and register here.
India Association of Minnesota: India Fest 2024 August 17th, 11:00am-9:00pm, Minnesota State Capitol Grounds. Learn more here.
Transformative Family Dispute Mediation Training Program
August 19th -23rd, 9:00am-6:00pm, Adath Jeshurun Congregation, Minnetonka, facilitated by Dan Simon. A weekdays only opportunity that qualifies for court certification to practice in Minnesota under Minnesota Rule 114. Early bird pricing is $1,500 until June 1st, and $1,900 after. Read more about transformative meditation as an approach here. Register for the course here.
Bakken Center Mindfulness Programs:August 21, 2024, 12:00pm, Zoom Webinar, Free of Cost. This webinar led by Bakken Center Mindfulness and Wellbeing Instructor Mariann Johnson will provide an introduction to mindfulness meditation and will be particularly relevant to those new to the practice or simply curious about the possible benefits of a mindfulness practice. Participants will have an opportunity to practice a short mindfulness meditation, to share their experiences, and to ask questions. Examples will also be provided for practicing "everyday" mindfulness, at work and at home. The webinar will conclude with an overview of the Bakken Center's mindfulness resources and programming. Register here.
Jay Phillips Center, Co-Pilgrims on the Journey to Truth: Hinduism and Christianity in Dialogue Thursday, September 12, 12:00-1:10pm. Iverson Center for Faith, University of St. Thomas. How can dialogue across traditions deepen understanding of humanity's shared quest for truth? In this conversation between two scholar-practitioners, Fr. Yann Vagneux and Prof. Anantanand Rambachan, explore the intersections between Hindu and Christian traditions. Learn more here.
Jay Phillips Center, Author Talk with Colum McCann September 24th, 7:00pm, OEC Auditorium. Join us for a conversation with the award-winning author, Colum McCann, co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences, the Jay Phillips Center for Irish Studies. Apeirogon is a unique exploration of the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This book is named after a shape with a countably infinite number of sides, reflecting the myriad perspectives and stories within this conflict. At its core, the novel is centered around the true stories of two fathers— one Israeli and one Palestinian— whose daughters were killed in the conflict. Register here.
Resources and Opportunities
Flooding Relief Hotline
Call the hotline above if you need assistance with damage from the flooding in Minnesota, and pass the information along to your contacts!
Religion News Service (RNS) and Interfaith America (IA) are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2024-2025 RNS/IA Religion Journalism Fellowship. Applications will close on July 17, 2024.
Returning for its fourth year, the fellowship will run from September 2024 to May 2025.This fellowship serves to develop future religion news journalists by deepening their understanding of religious expression in individual lives and diverse communities. It also aims to develop skills specific to covering religion, belief, faith, and spirituality.
Retro Report is launching its inaugural Civic Engagement Challenge! Students, your voice matters! Spotlight civic issues you are passionate about to a national audience by joining Retro Report’s #CivicEngagementChallenge. Retro Report is teaming up with Civics Unplugged to invite students to create essays or videos that model civil discourse while exploring issues and places that people aren’t paying attention to, but need to. Judges will select 10 winners to receive $500.
The submission portal will open on this page on August 5, 2024.
"Waterville community comes together in effort to recover from devastating floods." CBS News. There are no off days when recovering from a natural disaster. "Everyday we're just chipping away, piece by piece, so that we can get this done," Amanda Sheridan, whose home was damaged from last month's flooding in Waterville, told WCCO News. Sheridan was among dozens of residents who lined up on Friday at the Waterville Area Community Flood Cleanup, a collective effort to properly collect and dispose of the mounting piles of debris. Read more here.
"Dragon Festival returns to Lake Phalen after four-year hiatus." Sahan Journal. The St. Paul festival, known for its dragon boat races, will return on July 13 with food trucks, a beer garden, and a cornhole competition.
A celebration of Asian culture that once drew thousands to the shores of St. Paul’s Lake Phalen each summer is back after a four-year hiatus.
Organizers say the Dragon Festival went dark due to board turnover, financial challenges and the anti-Asian climate during the pandemic. It’s back this year as a one-day festival with its traditional dragon boat races, lion dances and food vendors, along with new features, like a beer garden, to help offset the event’s cost. Read more here.
Submissions to the Newsletter
All are welcome to submit events and news for inclusion in our newsletter. To make a submission, please email us. Submissions for the next newsletter are due Friday, July 19th. MnMN Organizational Partners and Individual Members have first priority. If you are not yet an Organizational Partner or Individual Member, we encourage you to join us!
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IRG & Rabata: Islam 101 for the Community 
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