young people reaching across differences
A Day of Interfaith Youth Service
Each year the Interfaith Youth Core sponsors Days of Interfaith Youth Service that take place around the world. This event is an opportunity to bridge the faith divide through service and strengthen a pluralistic society.
In 2008, on July 20, we co-sponsored the first such day in San Francisco. Forty-eight people from five different faith traditions joined at Mountain Lake Park in the Presidio to remove overgrown plants and other debris. After lunch we engaged in small group dialogue about the value of service as expressed in a variety of texts.
On August 16, 2009, our third project involved coastal restoration at Half Moon Bay State Beach, where we supported a longstanding effort to remove invasive plant species resulting from human settlement. The participants from nine different faith communities created a digital video collage expressing their faith through visual metaphors. You can see this beautiful piece here.
In collaboration with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, we participated in the annual CROP Hunger Walk on October 18. The day included volunteer support for the walk as well as the filming of interviews with participants about what inspires them to reach out to their neighbors.
Our next project is planned for June 26 in the East Bay, in connection with hunger issues and food justice. Stay in touch for details!
to get more involved. Youth groups, young adult groups, campus groups, and individuals are all welcome. We know what kind of world we want to live in. Are we willing to create it? Here in the Bay Area, we have the opportunity to build a culture of listening across differences. You can be a part of it!
