Multifaith Leadership Training Program 

September-November 2024. Seminar will meet six times over Zoom for 75 minutes every other week. 

The Minnesota Multifaith Network in partnership with the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas is conducting a joint Multifaith Leadership Training. Participants will be non-students from Minnesota to join student Interfaith Fellows from St. Thomas and other Minnesota colleges. 

Eligibility: Persons under the age of 35 interested in developing transferable dialogue skills for leadership and for strengthening multifaith relations in the broader community.  No prior experience is expected.

Content:  Topics include dialogue, interfaith dialogue, identity, key tools of dialogical communication, the righting reflex and motivational interviewing, courage and vulnerability for leadership, and empathy in religiously diverse contexts (e.g., DEI, workplace, public life). Topics subject to change.

Stipend:  Accepted participants receive an all-inclusive honorarium ($400 each) to put towards attending the six online sessions and travel/lodging for the in-person workshop.

Apply by May 15th! Contact jkilps@mnmultifaith.org for any questions or more information. 

^✳️⛳MnMN's Inaugural Charity Golf Scramble!^⛳✳️ Register Now!

June 12, 2024, 4-6:45pm , Brookland Golf Park. Registration open now!

Join us for a lovely evening of relationship building and networking while enjoying a 9-hole round of golf at family friendly Brookland Golf Park.

We will begin our afternoon with a shotgun start at 4:00 pm. Each hole will be played in groups of four. After rounds have been played, mulligans taken, and fun had by all, we will gather at the connecting Capitol Park Pavillion for a box dinner, games and awards. 

All funds raised will benefit the work of ALL those who make up the Minnesota Multifaith Network - those individuals and organizations dedicating their time and talents to connecting and equipping people of all faith traditions working for a more just and loving Minnesota. This event was inspired and organized with the help of Laila Franklin, MnMN's Intern from the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at University of St. Thomas.

If you have any questions, please contact organizers Laila Franklin laila.franklin@stthomas.edu or Lee Burdge leecburdge@gmail.com

From Our Partners

Interfaith Just Peacemaking: Muslim and Christian Resources for Restorative Justice

Annual Terence Nichols Memorial Symposium featuring Najeeba Syeed
Wednesday, Apr 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m., University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus

Drawing on Muslim and Christian perspectives, Professor Syeed will explore the concept of interfaith just peacemaking and share examples of restorative peace building and justice in violent conflicts that seek a third way to resolve controversies, instead of violence or inaction. Sponsored by the Encountering Islam Initiative in the Theology Department in collaboration with the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies. Click here for optional registration and for more information.

Interfaith Action: Power-Up Free Legal Clinic

April 18th, 12:30 - 3:00 pm, Progressive Baptist Church, 1505 Burns Ave, St Paul, MN 55106 (or you can call 651-222-5863 starting at 12:30 pm) Interfaith Action's Power-Up program provides free legal assistance and practical educational opportunities and resources that help people build economic mobility. Our free legal clinic is available twice every month (on Thursday afternoons).

Interfaith Action: Faithful Hospitality 
Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul. We are looking for overnight shelter host volunteers to provide warmth and hospitality to guests. Overnight hosts are on duty 7pm-7am weekdays and 7pm-8am weekends. Details and shareable resources can be found on our website: https://interfaithaction.org/what-we-do/projecthome/faithful-hospitality. Ready to sign up? Please fill out our volunteer form HERE. On the online volunteer form, please indicate your interest in Faithful Hospitality at the bottom.

JRLC: Multi-Faith Day of Prayer and Action

Thursday, April 18th at Christ  on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, 8-11:15 am: Breakfast at 8:00, Programming at 8:30.

"We hope you can join us in St. Paul on April 18 for a day of connection and advocacy. This event focuses on faith community leaders. We define “faith leaders” as clergy, community organizers, faith organization leadership, actively engaged congregants, and congregational leadership and staff. Does that sound like you? Please join us! Our goal is to provide an opportunity for faith community leaders to reconnect over their shared values and work together on advocating for social justice at the Capitol. Reach out to leah@jrlc.org with any questions."

Wisdom Ways: Morning Altars Class

April 20th, 9:30am-12:15pm, Outside Carondelet Center

"We will begin by centering ourselves in nature with awareness, playfulness, and appreciation. We will explore the interconnectedness of nature, beauty, mindfulness and art as ritual by creating soul circle mandalas (Morning Altars) with organic material found in nature.  We will use Day Schildkret's Morning Altars 7-Step process to nourish our spirit through, nature, art and ritual."
If you are interested in learning more,  you can look into Day Schildkret's Book "Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit Through Nature, Art, and Ritual" 

IPL: Common Ground, A Conversation about Regenerative Agriculture

Wednesday, April 24. 11am - 12pm. Zoom.

Our friends at the National Interfaith Power and Light are hosting a conversation with Gabe Brown, Regenerative Farmer and featured voice in Common Ground, winner of the Tribeca Festival. Directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, Common Ground explores how regenerative agriculture can help heal the soil, our health, and the planet.

Rev. Susan Hendershot, IPL President, and Rev. Broderick McBride, IPL Program Manager, will join Gabe for an in-depth conversation regarding the feature film. Register here!

MNIPL: Be the Spark Spring 2024 Series 
Session 1: Wednesday, April 24th, Noon-1 CDT and continues on Wednesdays every other week. 

Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light present a five session series of conversation and training that will help you grow your capacity to organize, build your skills through connection with other passionate people, and help you inspire others into climate justice work. 

Hindu Society of MN: Tamil New Year Celebration

April 28th, 10:30am to 1:00pm, Hindu Society of Minnesota, 10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove

Join for religious, cultural, educational, and spiritual activities in Maple Grove, MN! Puthandu, also known as Tamil New Year, is the first day of year on the Tamil calendar and traditionally celebrated as a festival by Tamil People across the world. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai.

MUUSJA: Supporting Abuse Survivors in Congregational Communities 

Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-8:00pm, Online via Zoom 

Facilitated by Rebecca Donley, this workshop by the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance help us all build up our toolbox for supporting survivors of abuse, so we can create a larger pool of skilled advocates ready to hold space for survivors and their families.

International Day of Living Together in Peace

Saturday, May 11, 12:00 - 3:00 pm, Casperson Park, Lakeville, MN

All are welcome to attend this free event! Learn more about the history of the International Day of Living Together in Peace! We hope to see you there!

Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council's Festival of Nations

Saturday, May 18, 1:00 - 7:00 pm, 400 Union St, St Peter, MN 56082

Save the date for the 2nd Annual St. Peter Festival of Nations! Brought to you by the Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council and community partners.
Johnson Hall and Nicollet County Fairgrounds for both indoor and outdoor festivities. All are welcome, always. Stay tuned for all the details, performances, foods, arts, music, vendors, international fair, and more!

More Events

• MARS, 2024 Annual Summit: Rebuilding Community- Developing Alternative Ways to Resolve Conflict April 25, 8:30am-4:00pm, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids. Mediation and Restorative Services is excited to present timely topics in conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative practice, industry-leading speakers, stellar networking opportunities, broaden your horizon by collecting and sharing information, cultivate and catalyze sustained learning for professional development and CLE opportunities. Learn more. Register here

• ICJS: Reparations through an Interreligious Lens Thursday April 25th, 12:00-1:00pm ET, Zoom. Representatives from three congregations—Cathedral of the Incarnation, Hinenu Baltimore, and St. Matthew United Methodist Church—participated in the ICJS Congregational Leaders Fellowship and collectively established an interreligious working group that studied reparations. Through thorough examination of their respective religious backgrounds, alongside analyses of past political examples, the representatives collaboratively developed a comprehensive guide. During this panel discussion, representatives from these congregations will introduce their guide and help congregations explore the concept of reparations. Register here.
• 2024 Annual Summit: Rebuilding Community- Developing Alternative Ways to Resolve Conflict April 25, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids Mediation and Restorative Services (MARS) is excited to present timely topics in conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative practice, industry-leading speakers, stellar networking opportunities, broaden your horizon by collecting and sharing information, cultivate and catalyze sustained learning for professional development and CLE opportunities. Learn more. Register here.
• Big View Community Engagement: Sparking Individual & Systemic Change Tuesday, April 30th, 9:00am-3:30pm, Timberlake Lodge, Grand Rapids, $80. Join us on April 30th for Urgency of Awareness: Creating an Inclusive Environment for Diverse Populations, a full day workshop with Jodi Pfarr. Jodi Pfarr is a nationally recognized motivational speaker who began her work with Ruby Payne, then went independent many years ago to build Jodi Pfarr Consulting. If you haven't been to a Jodi Pfarr workshop you are missing out! Registration: In person or by mail at 811 NE 4^th Street, Grand Rapids. Questions: Contact Amy Blomquist at 218-212-2810 or Amyb@kootasca.org
• Policy Fellowship at Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs Deadline to apply is open until Friday, May 31st, 2024 at 11:59 pm CST.  The Policy Fellows program is one of the country’s most respected public affairs leadership experiences for emerging and mid-career professionals. The nine-month program is unmatched in its interaction with public officials, leadership training, diversity of participants and perspectives, and opportunity to undertake important projects that benefit the wider community. Apply here.

Mark Your Calendars

• Minnesota Orchestra and University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing Thursday May 9th, 2024 The Music and Mindfulness series explores the intersection of music and mindfulness while allowing audience members to experience performances by Minnesota Orchestra musicians in an intimate and engaging setting. This year, each evening of the series will highlight one of the foundational aspects of mindfulness: intention, attention and attitude. The interplay of music and mindfulness will be explored through Orchestra performances, informative presentations, brief guided meditations and discussion. Learn more. 
• Wisdom Ways: Annual Summer Solstice Festival June 21, 2024. Join us for food trucks, music, community, and more! If you are interested in tabling at the Summer Solstice Festival, please enter your information here. If you are interested in volunteering at the festival please complete the form here.

In the News

• Minnesota Muslims leaders see uptick in conversions, including many since Gaza war began. Sahan Journal, April 9th, 2024. While the number of people converting to Islam isn’t tracked, some Twin Cities mosques have seen a noticeable increase, especially in the last six months. “It’s really tapping into the humanity of people,” one local imam said, of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Read more.