Interfaith Center of New York
Encyclopedia
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) is a secular educational non-profit organization founded in 1997 by the Very Reverend James Parks Morton
. ICNY programs work to connect religious leaders and their communities with civil organizations and each other.
after his retirement from 25 years as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. According to its Certificate of Incorporation, ICNY was organized "for the purpose of promoting interfaith dialogue and harmony among all of the world's religions and the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising there from."
The idea to found the center arose out of the increasing religious diversity Rev. Morton saw in New York City, and his desire to utilize the network of religious leaders he had cultivated during his tenure at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
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Interfaith Award, named in honor of The Interfaith Center of New York’s founder, recognizes individuals or organizations that exemplify an outstanding commitment to promoting human development and peace. Recipients are honored for their lifetime achievements and contributions towards increasing respect and mutual understanding among people of different faiths, ethnicities, and cultural traditions. The JPM Interfaith Award is given at an annual gala fundraiser.
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James Parks Morton
Reverend James Parks Morton is a retired Episcopal priest and founder of the Interfaith Center of New York.- Cathedral of St. John the Divine :Rev. Parks Morton was Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for 25 years...
. ICNY programs work to connect religious leaders and their communities with civil organizations and each other.
Founding
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) was founded in 1997 by the Very Reverend James Parks MortonJames Parks Morton
Reverend James Parks Morton is a retired Episcopal priest and founder of the Interfaith Center of New York.- Cathedral of St. John the Divine :Rev. Parks Morton was Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for 25 years...
after his retirement from 25 years as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. According to its Certificate of Incorporation, ICNY was organized "for the purpose of promoting interfaith dialogue and harmony among all of the world's religions and the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising there from."
The idea to found the center arose out of the increasing religious diversity Rev. Morton saw in New York City, and his desire to utilize the network of religious leaders he had cultivated during his tenure at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York, is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
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Programs
- Education Programs focus on increasing knowledge and understanding about the religious diversity present in New York. Programs include workshops, panel discussions, and forums for teachers and students in various educational settings. The National Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the HumanitiesThe National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
sponsors a summer institute for K-12 teachers called Religious Worlds of New York. - Domestic Violence Training Programs work with religious leaders to educate and train them about domestic violence resources. Domestic violence programs are co-sponsored by CONNECT.
- Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat for Social Justice is a two day retreat convened for religious leaders on a specific topic. The retreat aims to provide indepth and specialized information for community leaders on topics that are relevant and helpful to them. Pas retreat topics have included: confronting hate crimes, religious freedom in bricks and mortar, and economic resliience in faith communities.
- Civic Connections offers forums, workshops, and collaborative projects regarding civic topics or institutions. ICNY collaborates with the New York Legal Assistance GroupNew York Legal Assistance GroupThe New York Legal Assistance Group is a non-profit law office that provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers. Through direct representation, impact and class action litigation, consultation and community education, NYLAG serves individuals and families residing in the five...
(NYLAG) to offer pro bono legal assistance to NYC residents. - Muslim - Catholic Initiative is a partnership with Catholic CharitiesCatholic CharitiesCatholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
and the Archdiocese of New York that unites Catholic and Muslim communities together for dialogue and mutually beneficial projects. - Prepare New York is a coalition of New York based interfaith organizations that organize Coffee Hour Conversations to encourage dialogue and understanding of religious pluralism surrounding the effects September 11, 2011 on residents of New York City. The coalition includes: the Interfaith Center of New York, Auburn SeminaryAuburn Theological SeminaryAuburn Theological Seminary was founded in 1818. Auburn Theological Seminary focuses on religious leadership development, movement-building, and research. Auburn is based in New York City and exists in covenant with the Presbyterian Church ....
and its Center for Multifaith Education, Intersections International, Odyssey Networks, Quest, and the Tanenbaum Center and its Religion and Diversity Education Program. September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows and 9/11 Communities for Common Ground serve as advisers to the coalition. - International Visiting Fellows Sister Cities Program is a three-year sister city program which aims to enrich the interfaith work and networks within each of the participating cities: New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Delegates from the participating cities share best-practices in the area of interfaith work and civic participation.
JPM Interfaith Award
The James Parks MortonJames Parks Morton
Reverend James Parks Morton is a retired Episcopal priest and founder of the Interfaith Center of New York.- Cathedral of St. John the Divine :Rev. Parks Morton was Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for 25 years...
Interfaith Award, named in honor of The Interfaith Center of New York’s founder, recognizes individuals or organizations that exemplify an outstanding commitment to promoting human development and peace. Recipients are honored for their lifetime achievements and contributions towards increasing respect and mutual understanding among people of different faiths, ethnicities, and cultural traditions. The JPM Interfaith Award is given at an annual gala fundraiser.
| Year | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Wynton Marsalis Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences... |
| 2010 | Phillip Glass |
| 2009 | Thomas Cahill Thomas Cahill Thomas Cahill is an American scholar and writer. He is best known for The Hinges of History series, a prospective seven-volume series in which the author recounts formative moments in Western civilization.-Biography:... The Hon. Judith S. Kaye |
| 2008 | Dr. Vartan Gregorian Vartan Gregorian Vartan Gregorian is an Armenian-American academic, serving as the president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. He is an ethnic Armenian, born in Iran.... Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje |
| 2007 | Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell Rev. Kyotaro Deguchi Nicholas D. Kristof Nicholas D. Kristof Nicholas Donabet Kristof is an American journalist, author, op-ed columnist, and a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes. He has written an op-ed column for The New York Times since November 2001 and is known for bringing to light human rights abuses in Asia and Africa, such as human trafficking and the... Steven Rockefeller Carl Sagan Carl Sagan Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books... Paul Winter Paul Winter Paul Winter is an American saxophonist , and is a six-time Grammy Award nominee.- Biography :Paul Winter attended Altoona Area High School and graduated in 1957... |
| 2006 | The Hon. Stephen Breyer Stephen Breyer Stephen Gerald Breyer is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, and known for his pragmatic approach to constitutional law, Breyer is generally associated with the more liberal side of the Court.... Dr. Mohamed El Baradei Richard Gere Richard Gere Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol... Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Daisy Khan Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) Mata Amritanandamayi Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī , primarily known simply as Amma ["Mother"], is a Hindu spiritual leader and guru, who is revered as a saint by her followers. She is widely respected for her humanitarian activities... |
| 2004 | Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City.... Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Ossie Davis Ossie Davis was an American film actor, director, poet, playwright, writer, and social activist.-Early years:... Judge Shirin Ebadi Shirin Ebadi Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. On 10 October 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's,... Philippe Petit Philippe Petit Philippe Petit is a French high-wire artist who gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, on 7 August 1974... Kathy O’ Donnell |
| 2003 | Daniel and Nina Libeskind Daniel Libeskind Daniel Libeskind, is an American architect, artist, and set designer of Polish-Jewish descent. Libeskind founded Studio Daniel Libeskind in 1989 with his wife, Nina, and is its principal design architect... Archbishop Desmond Tutu |
| 2002 | Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... Alan Slifka James Carroll Jim Carroll James Dennis "Jim" Carroll was an author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician. Carroll was best known for his 1978 autobiographical work The Basketball Diaries, which was made into the 1995 film of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Carroll.-Biography:Carroll was born to a... |
| 1997 | H. H. the Dalai Lama Mary Robinson Mary Robinson Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate... Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent... |
Events
The Interfaith Center organizes and co-sponsors many interfaith events throughout New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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Recent Events
- Lantern lighting ceremony in honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th.