Organization: TRI-FAITH INITIATIVE OF OMAHA INC
Mission: THE TRI-FAITH INITIATIVE FOSTERS EMPATHY, INVITES UNDERSTANDING, AND ADVANCES COMMON ACTION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF DIVERSE FAITHS THROUGH THE SHARED EFFORTS OF INTENTIONALLY CO-LOCATED CONGREGATIONS OF THE JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, AND MUSLIM FAITHS AND AN INTERFAITH CENTER ON ONE CAMPUS.
Activities: TRI-FAITH INITIATIVE'S VARIOUS PROGRAMMING FALLS WITHIN FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES, FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC NEEDS. GATHER: COMMUNITY BUILDING AND CONNECTIONS, ACT: ADVOCACY AND MATERIAL ACTIONS,LEARN: EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH RELIGIOUS LITERACY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SERVE: SERVING THE PUBLIC THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM. THIS YEAR, HUNDREDS OF ATTENDEES GATHERED AT OUR ANNUAL PICNIC, WHICH IS A SUMMER EVENT WITH FOOD, FAMILY GAMES, AND INTENTIONAAL CONVERSATIONS ON THE TRI-FAITH COMMONS. TRI-FAITH INITIATIVE ALSO PROMOTES SERVICE AND LEARNING TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS LITERACY.
THE TRI-FAITH GARDEN AND ORCHARDS BUILD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, BRING TOGETHER RELIGIOUS "OTHERS,- AND SERVE OUR LARGER COMMUNITY BY IMPROVING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH. THE PROJECT REDUCES FOOD INSECURITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS BY PROVIDING FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUIT FOR FAMILIES WHO COULND'T OTHERWISE AFFORD THEM. IT ALSO FEEDS HUNGRY FAMILIES BY SUPPLYING FRESH PRODUCE TO COUNTRYSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH COMMUNITY CUPBOARD, THE INTERCULTURAL SENIOR CENTER, CLARE MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH FOOD PANTRY, AND OTHERS.
WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE AND SHARE DIVERSE RELIGIOUS EXPRESSIONS. THIS EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION HELPS PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS GROW BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND SOCIALLY. ADULT EDUCATION LIKE ABRAHAM'S EXHIBIT AND THE BROOKS INSTITUTE BRINGS TOGETHER CLERGY LEADERS FOR LEARNING AND OPEN DIALOGUE ON THE COMMON GROUND AND DIVERSITY OF BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ACCROSS A VARIETY OF TIMELY TOPICS. WHEN LEADERS MODEL THE DIFFERENCE THEY WANT TO SEE, CONGREGATIONS FOLLOW. CONVERSATIONS, ART, AND FOOD BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CLERGY TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE DIFFICULT ASPECTS OF RELIGION. OFTEN, NEW IDEAS AREN'T STIMULATED SIMPLY THROUGH A LACK OF SAFE SPACE FOR COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS. RELIGION HAS OFTEN PLAYED A ROLE IN LIMITING PERSONAL IDENTITIES, BUT CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS ALLOW PEOPLE TO RECAPTURE OR REAFFIRM THEIR OWN UNIQUE IDENTITIES.
NTEE category: Religion-Related
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building