A question became a community resource

Interfaith Cincy grew out of the Edward B. Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University, whose mission included fostering interfaith dialogue beyond the classroom. Rabbinical students from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion were paired with Xavier theology students to conceive and complete a project together, so that dialogue would lead to something that benefitted the whole community.

One of those projects, led by Judie Kuhlman, a Xavier graduate student in Theology, Nathan Farb, a rabbinical student at HUC-JIR, and James Buchanan of the Brueggeman Center, began by asking: “What is the state of interfaith activity in Cincinnati?” They found passionate people serving their communities, and learned that every tradition cared about the same issues: poverty, refugees, immigration, the environment.

The website they built became “connective tissue” for the region. Through A Blessing to One Another, more than 50 grants have supported interfaith collaboration, and the monthly newsletter, managed for many years by Katie Sellers, became one of the backbones of interfaith relations in the area.

Support when life is disrupted

The Interfaith Center has long brought people together across difference to focus on shared values for social change. At a time when our communities are facing challenges of affordability and economic stability, we want to expand our support for our neighbors.

With support from the Center’s Board, the Mutual Aid Fund will provide cash assistance and other resources to people experiencing disruptions like housing and food insecurity, health and safety concerns, and other issues that affect their livelihoods, including students, faculty, staff, and community members on and off campus in Oxford and Butler County.