The focus of the 2018 Day of Pluralism was to engage women leaders and highlight their influence in expanding local to global connections.
The Los Angeles Day of Religious Pluralism was founded in 2015 and was observed on April 17th, at the Los Angeles City Hall. The principal contributors and supporters were the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, the Aga Khan Council for the Western United States, the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion & Civic Culture, and I am Your Protector.
Among the close to 70 guests were representatives of other faiths and civil society organizations, local politicians, law enforcement officials, and dignitaries from several Consulates.
In her welcome address, Joumana Silyan-Saba, Director of the Mayor’s office of Public Safety that hosted the event, highlighted the role of faith groups, and particularly of women, in community development, and the importance of such collaborative meetings.
This was followed by the opening remarks by Rabbi Sharon Brous, the Founder and Senior Rabbi, IKAR, who provided her experiences of inter-faith group collaborations and its importance, particularly in the current environment.
Aziza Hasan the Executive Director of the New Ground: Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change assisted in breaking the ice by facilitating group activities relating to pluralism. She noted “that supporting the concept of pluralism which is etched our buildings, etched in our hearts and etched in our laws, and yet we do not feel that same pluralism today.”
The interactive lively activity involved each person in the group narrating their experiences when a complete stranger came to their assistance, when they were being bullied or placed in an uncomfortable situation due to factors such as their appearance, accent, timidness or clothing. This exercise helped connect the participants as there were many common experiences uncovered.
A panel discussion followed, which was moderated by Zohreen Adamjee, a reporter from television channel Fox 11, currently the only Muslim reporter in Los Angeles. The three prominent panelists each had very moving stories of their long and arduous journeys to the US, how they established themselves here, and established organizations to help communities, both locally and overseas, where they felt the need was most compelling and being unmet.
Panelist Tamar Benzaken Koosed, originally from Brazil, founded the Save the Syrian Children, with her husband, both grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Using the inspiration of “Never Again,” as their call to action, they purchase and supply containers of medical supplies for hospitals in in the harder hit regions of Syria.
Otas Otasowie, originally from Nigeria, is Director of Faith Based and Community Engagement, with the American Red Cross Los Angeles region, and is also the Bishop of Temple of Deliverance Ministries International. She works with faith and community organizations to develop strategic partnerships with the American Red Cross.
The third panelist, Meymuna Hussein-Cattam who, with her mother co-founded the Tiyya Foundation, dedicated to providing community support for the families of refugees, low-income immigrants, and displaced Americans in Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles region. Meymuna was born in an Ethiopian refugee camp in Somalia, due to the civil unrest in Ethiopia.
Brie Loskota, Director from the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, then provided a recap of the discussion and follow up actions that were being recommended based on the meeting.
Dr. Shaheen Kassim-Lakha, Director of the International Programs from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, noted the emerging resource opportunities and emphasized the underfunded and under-recognized space of religious pluralism, in addition to the work of interfaith groups. She added that donors generally tend to shy away from faith-based groups due to the fear of proselytizing, and cultural divides around certain traditions. Yet, individual and religious giving accounts for over 70% of all the philanthropy in the US, and philanthropists’ values are often informed by their religious traditions.
Closing remarks were made by Deputy Mayor Nina Hachigian, who most recently served as the US Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, referred to Los Angeles as “still a city that welcomes everyone. Today’s event is a perfect example of how LA continues to elevate global engagement around inclusive societies and pluralism.”
