Meet Ibrahim Anli, Executive Director of the Rumi Forum, writer, teacher, convener, and interfaith champion and innovator. Ibrahim brings a deep curiosity, robust spirituality, strong intellect, and joyful openness to shaping interfaith engagement that engages all and cultivates a better world. Originally from Turkey, Ibrahim now lives in Haymarket, VA, and works in Washington, DC.

Meet Rev. Abi Foerster, Pastor of Community of Faith United Methodist Church in Herndon, VA. Shaped by her faith and own experiences as a child, and then as minister and parent, Pastor Abi brings an expansive ethic of inclusion to her work. Deeply committed to young people, she is currently launching a new initiative to engage young people across faith lines to develop their own capacities as inclusive leaders.

Meet Rabbi Esther Lederman, Director of Congregational Innovation & Leadership at the Union for Reform Judaism. As a former congregational rabbi herself, Esther helps Jewish communities re-imagine their congregational life so they can adapt and thrive in an era of significant change and contribute to creating a better world.

Meet Rev. Cynthia Johnson-Oliver, preacher, poet, and public servant. Cynthia is founder of the FaithJustice Foundation, as well as the Bishop Joseph Johnson History Project, which she created to tell the story of her grandfather, the first African American to graduate from Vanderbilt University, and his role in civil rights history. Cynthia carries on her grandfather’s legacy not just by sharing his story but through her deep dedication to social justice in our time.

We are thrilled to announce the In[HEIR]itance Project as the winner of the innoFaith award, given as part of Soularize Live in October 2021. The In[HEIR]itance Project—co-founded by Jon Adam Ross, Chantal Pavageaux, and Ariel Warmflash—uses participatory artmaking as a way to lower barriers to relationship. They build bridges in communities, create space for difficult conversations, and open pathways for change in one of the most creative models we’ve seen for interfaith engagement toward social impact.

Meet Vipin Thekk, Senior Director at Ashoka and amazingly curious, spiritual, reflective, and energetic human. From Krishna to Integral Theory to evolution to the Bodhisattva vow, buckle up for this one, folks. We can always count on Vipin to take us on a stimulating ride through head, heart, and spirit.