Multifaith Leadership Workshop - Saturday, May 6

Tuesday, July 17, 7:00 - 8:00 pm; Virtual The Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown is hosting a Bible study series about "Decolonizing Church Music: Decolonizing Jesus Liberating Ourselves and the Church" on Tuesday, July 17, at 7:00 p.m. She will peel bak the familiar colonial layers that have overshadowed the gospel message to reveal the radiance of Jesus and his ministry. A link for the event will be provided to those who register. 

Have you looked on the internet for basic information about another religion but weren’t sure where to go? The Institute for Islamic Christian Jewish Studies (ICJS) now offers help. The new ICJS web page, Faith Inside & Out: Exploring Judaism, Christianity, & Islam , is a collection of curated resources assembled by ICJS scholars, program staff, and communications team to help you explore the beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Faith Inside & Out links to online resources created by faith practitioners themselves, (the insiders’ view). It also includes perspectives that look at religion from outside the tradition. This page is ideal for educators, dialogue groups, and anyone seeking to explore faith beyond stereotypes.

Saturday, July 12; 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Turkish American Society of Minnesota, 6565 Oakley Drive NE, Fridley The Turkish American Society of Minnesota (TASMN) invites everyone to its Community Sale and Turkish Bake Sale on Saturday, July 12. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a vibrant day of community, culture, and delicious homemade Turkish treats.

Saturday, August 2, 10:00 - 11:30 am; Eden Prairie School's Valley View Building, 11840 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie The PeopleFest! Committee invites all interested people to a meaningful morning of learning and connection as we explore the rich traditions of religious holidays across different faiths in our community. A panel discussion will feature guest speakers from Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, each sharing insights into significant holidays within their traditions, the values behind them, and how they are celebrated. Whether you're curious about the stories behind various holy days or interested in fostering greater cultural understanding, this session offers a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and celebrate the diversity within our community. All are welcome!

Friday, June 20, 3:00 p.m.; Lake George, St. Cloud The Saint Cloud Diocese will host World Refugee Day under the theme "Solidarity with Refugees." Participants will gather to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who’ve been forced to flee their homes — families who’ve lost everything and still rise every morning to build new lives with hope, dignity, and quiet strength. In today’s political climate, the theme couldn’t be more urgent. When refugees and immigrants are treated like threats, we must respond with humanity. When fear is loud, our love must be louder. There will be music, dance, food, and powerful stories — but most importantly, there will be people, together, choosing to build a welcoming city and state for all. 

Tuesday, June 17, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Say Their Names Cemetery , 711 East 37th Street, Minneapolis Ten years ago a young white supremacist man was welcomed into a Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. After about an hour, he opened fire, killing Clementia Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Daniel Simmons, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Susie Jackson, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson. The event is hosted by Calvary Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.

It began with an explosion of rhythm, poetry, and soul. The Schoenecker Center Performance Hall erupted into life as Meet You at the Crossroads opened with welcoming remarks from University of St. Thomas President Rob Vischer , who invited the audience to expand their understanding of “neighbor” through the parable of the Good Samaritan and then brought Somali blues into dynamic conversation with Black gospel-style music. With voices soaring and drums pulsing, the evening opened not with silence, but with celebration. At the heart of it stood two master storytellers: Somali author and poet Ahmed Ismail Yusuf and music legend J.D. Steele Muslim and Christian, Somali and African American, elder and youth, their presence embodied the very spirit of the festival: a harmony forged not through sameness, but through the beauty of shared humanity. A highpoint of the concert featured a young boy from the MacPhail Community Youth Choir delivering a stirring solo of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” drawing the audience to its feet in a moment that was as tender as it was electric. Curated by David Jordan Harris with the Jay Phillips Center and co-produced by Beck Lee and the Cultural Fluency Initiative – with support from the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Music, Film, and Creative Enterprise, Scene Setters, the Encountering Islam Initiative of the Theology Department, and the Chapel Arts Series – the sold-out performance launched the 2025 Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival with a profound sense of awe, welcome, and shared tears. With a waitlist that had to be closed and a crowd that rose more than once in standing ovation, the evening set the tone for what was to come: bold, embodied, and unapologetically plural. 

EMBLEM (Emerging Muslim Bridgebuilding Leaders Engaging the Midwest) is a grant opportunity for Muslim student leaders and their allies to build bridges across difference, grow as interfaith leaders, and design projects that support community cooperation. Projects will engage multiple religious communities in building meaningful relationships. Projects will be unique to the needs of each community, representing colleges and universities across the Midwest. Funding will range up to $5,000. Interfaith dialogue is important for peacemaking, civic engagement, and connecting neighbors. The equity vision of this opportunity recognizes Midwest schools and Muslim interfaith leaders as historically underrepresented and underfunded groups essential to interfaith organizing. Together, we can energize Muslim bridge-building efforts. This regional opportunity is organized by the Interfaith Institute of Augsburg University, with funding provided by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations .

Saturdays, June 7 - July 12, 10:30 - 11:30 am; George Floyd Square, 38th Avenue and Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis In a world rife with systemic injustice, “cutting through the noise” has never been more critical. Let us come together with a commitment to justice to embody peace and bear witness in shared public places. Each week, a facilitator representing a unique religious or non-religious perspective will provide reflections on the value of collective, quiet spiritual practice as a means to counter violence and oppression. Attendees will be invited to pray, reflect, meditate according to their own faith tradition, or simply rest in the sights, sounds, and feelings of the present moment. People of all and no faiths are invited to participate! With a hope for deepening wellness, this six-week series will introduce and practice “retreat” in real time and space, … right where we are! Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown and Rev. Ben Connelly are facilitators. Weekly guest presenters include Rev. Terri Burnor, Ameera Khan, Rev. John Lee, and Chris Stedman representing a diverse array of religious and non-religious perspectives. To support this offering, we suggest a donation of $10 per event. No one will be turned away. More information: benconelly70@gmail.com