The Interfaith Spirit of Service in Action, Washington , D.C .

This summer, Service For Peace is joining the Points of Light Foundation's Faith Initiative and other partners to create a dynamic and exciting program in the interfaith spirit of service. Youth and adults from D.C. and the surrounding areas will engage in community service, reflection, and celebration through a series of events beginning in July and culminating at the Faith Institute Day in August. We expect to be joined on occasion by volunteers from around the country and even from overseas, including a multicultural youth group from Jerusalem . Our hopes are that this program will be a continuation of existing community service efforts, all part of the larger Seasons of Service calendar.

Volunteers are needed NOW to help plan the various service and celebration events that will take place in Washington DC and the surrounding communities, and to help recruit and prepare volunteers for the Summer Interface program. There's also work to do in linking this initiative with other summer volunteer programs in the DC area, including of course the 4 th Summer of Service ® and numerous local activities. If you feel you can help, please email to Mike Balcomb at Service For Peace or Annah Abbetti at the Points Of Light.

Key Dates for the Calendar

Part I. The Kick-off event: July 6 th , evening

Host: Washington Times/Points of Light Foundation.

This evening will bring together hundreds of youth and adults to pledge to a summer of community service. A lively forum of discussion and debate will be facilitated by local community leaders to engage the volunteers in the vision of the summer. Participants will be encouraged to reflect upon their faith traditions and how their beliefs motivate their service to others. A visiting Israeli/Palestinian group will share a special performance to demonstrate the essence of interfaith cooperation and understanding.

Part II. The Service Days: July 7 th , 16 th , and 26 th

Hosts: Individual planning committees working with their youth and adults

The month of July will include three service days where young people and adults join together in DC community projects and activities. There will be an interfaith planning committee for each service day, and as a result, the projects will intentionally mix up faiths, congregations, youth, and adults-a vibrant mix of faiths, cultures, and traditions. Each day will include both work on a specific project and reflection time perhaps ending with a brief celebration, awards or certificates, and a sense of personal commitment to each other and the team. It is our hope that volunteers will participate in more than one service day and that the three planning committees will communicate to share volunteers and resources.

Part III. 2 nd Annual National Faith and Community Service Institute Day, August 3rd

Host: Points of Light Foundation at the Washington Convention Center

The first part of the Faith Day will be a celebration of the service of the young people and adults who let their faith motivate them to change the city through InterFace . Activities will include performances and presentations. The afternoon will involve the greater picture of the interfaith movement-from city to nation-and challenge leaders to explore the questions, " Does true interfaith volunteerism exist in America ? What are promising practices and the real potential of interfaith service collaborations in addressing human need ?" This full-day workshop will include unique presentations of different faith traditions, a launching of the interfaith seasons of service calendar, the distribution of FASTEN state FBCI awards and much more.

Below are some of the partnering organizations involved in this energetic summer program. If you have an organization that would like to join in, either in planning or volunteering, please send an email to Annah Abetti.

• All Dulles Area Muslim Society
• Corporation for National and Community Service
• Hope Worldwide
• Jewish Philanthropy Institute
• Masjid Mohammed
• Muslim Student Network
• New Hastinapura Temple
• Service For Peace
• SPARK Partnership for Service
• United Religions Initiative
• Washington Times
• We Care America

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