Our Mission

Interfaith Action seeks to develop a healthy pluralistic culture in the Town of Sharon, Massachusetts and to be a resource to other cities and towns interested in collaborating to strengthen to bonds of civil society.

Pluralism affirms and accepts diversity to promote understanding and enrichment of our daily lives and community.  A healthy pluralistic community encourages people from diverse communities to learn about each other, respectfully share ideas and beliefs, and act together to serve the common good.

Interfaith Action, Inc. is acknowledged by the Pluralism Project at Harvard University to be exemplary in terms of our youth leadership and community building programs.  See what they have to say about us in the Pluralism Project’s profile on IFA Here

Vision

Interfaith Action envisions a world in which young people from different religious, ethnic, and racial communities join together to solve local problems. Interacting with compassion, cooperation, and hope, youth leaders create a culture of pluralism, inspiring adults through their example.

Strategy

• Through training and education, Interfaith Action develops new and young leaders who are capable of reaching across religious, ethnic, and racial barriers to serve their communities and to educate others about the importance of developing a pluralistic society. 
• Through community organizing, Interfaith Action formulates a sustainable town-wide policy that supports pluralism, educates the community, and aggressively addresses instances of discrimination and violence. 
• Through community programming, Interfaith Action brings together all diverse sections of our community to engage in interfaith dialogue and learning, to develop friendship across differences, and to celebrate together. 
• Through evaluating and disseminating best practices, Interfaith Action is a resource to other cities and towns.

Programs

Interfaith Action programs encourage participants to:
* Engage in interfaith learning and dialogue where they reflect upon and share their beliefs.
* Build connections between individuals and communities.
* Act together to serve the community.
* Develop their leadership potential.

Beliefs

Interfaith Action’s programs are founded on the following principles: 

Teens and young adults are capable of providing strong leadership to bring communities together when given the skills and opportunities.

Individuals strengthen their own identities and understanding of others when encouraged to share their beliefs and listen deeply to the beliefs of others.

Different communities can treat each other with respect and hope, not fear and mistrust.

It is hard to hate or stereotype people when you hear their personal stories and learn about them as human beings.

The Interfaith Action, Inc. Board of Directors

Janet Penn: President
David Blocker: Clerk
Arnie Freedman: Treasurer
Larry Wells
Tanweer Zaidi
Saber Salaam
Michael Garber
Youth Members: Daniel Resnick and Aleena Zaidi
Click here to read about our Board Members.

The Interfaith Action, Inc. Board of Advisors

Interfaith Action’s Board of Advisors is comprised of families within our community who not only have made significant and generous monetary contributions in support of Interfaith Action, Inc., but they also have committed to continue to support IFA at a very high level.  We simply could not carry on our work without their strong and consistent financial backing.
Board of Advisors Members:
Jeanne-Marie and David Brookfield
Reema and Amitabh Chandra
Judy and Marc Ehrlich
Lois and Arnie Freedman
Eileen and Gary Garber
Kathy and Ed Hershfield
Lyn Keithline and Saber Salam
Judy and Joe Ludwig
Dr. Robina Matyal and Dr. Feroze Mahmood
Elisabeth and Robert McGregor
Drs. Punam and Sanjeet Narang
Janet Penn and Dr. Mark Finklestein
Drs. Nitzan and Murray Resnick
Carol and Dr. Joseph Rothenstein
Ellen and David Schoenfield
Nalini and Raj Sharma