Sponors: Fairfax County NAACP, All Dulles Area Muslim Society, Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and Vicinity, Temple Rodef Shalom, Virginia Poor People's Campaign - A National Call for Moral Revival.

Houses of worship are perhaps the most important community institutions in Fairfax County, and nationwide. They are also often a key source of community engagement in social justice issues. When acts of hate and bigotry occur, the house of worship is likely to be a first responder. More than that, with clergy and lay leadership, they are also where different faith communities may reach out to each other and stand together in solidarity. How can we ensure that the faith community response to such events is not only reactive, but also proactive?

OBJECTIVES

• To share experiences about faith communities’ responses to acts of hate and bigotry in Fairfax County
• To develop consensus on a concrete framework and procedures for interfaith community preparation and response, through houses of worship, concerning acts of hate and bigotry in the Fairfax County community.

PANELISTS

• Imam Syed Omair, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS)
• Andrea Miller, Virginia Tri-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign
• Rev. Michelle Thomas, Holy and Whole Life Changing Ministries, and President, Loudon County NAACP
• Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe, Temple Rodef Shalom
• Rev. Angela Martin, Itinerant Elder, A.M.E. Church, and Maryland Tri-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign
• Dr. Randall Robinson, Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Falls Church
• Ramona Carroll, Interfaith Coordinator, Fairfax County Government
• Stuart Scott, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• Ronald Halber, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington