User:InterfaithallianceDC/Sandbox



The Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. A national grassroots organization headquartered in Washington, DC, The Interfaith Alliance and its partner organization, The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, boasts a national membership of more than 185,000 from 75 different faith traditions, as well as those of no faith tradition.

Mission
The Interfaith Alliance is an interfaith organization which celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism.

The Interfaith Alliance believes:
 * That religious freedom is a foundation for American democracy.
 * That individual rights and matters of personal conscience must be held sacred.
 * That religious and political extremists are a threat to individual liberty and democracy.
 * That celebrating religious and cultural difference is the way to achieve a vibrant community.

History
The Interfaith Alliance was created in 1994 to celebrate religious freedom and to challenge the bigotry and hatred arising from religious and political extremism infiltrating American politics. Today, The Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country made up of 75 faith traditions, as well as those of no faith tradition.

Leadership
Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy leads the national nonpartisan grassroots and educational organizations, The Interfaith Alliance and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation and serves as the Pastor for Preaching and Worship at Northminster (Baptist) Church in Monroe, Louisiana. Rev. Gaddy is the host of State of Belief, a weekly radio show by The Interfaith Alliance that is carried on Air America Radio. State of Belief is based on the proposition that religion has a positive and healing role to play in the life of the nation. Rev Gaddy is one of 20 international religious leaders on the Council of 100 Leaders, a group created by the World Economic Forum to improve dialogue and understanding between the Western and Islamic worlds.

Rev. Gaddy received his undergraduate degree from Union University in Tennessee and his doctoral degree and Divinity training from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Brand Reintroduction
The new logo is the most apparent, but by no means the only aspect of Interfaith Alliance's new identity. In this changing political climate, it has taken a careful look at how it represents itself in the world and has re-branded to align itself more closely with its day-to-day work &mdash; protecting faith and freedom. Interfaith Alliance's message and image have been sharpened to better reflect this mission.

Protecting Faith and Freedom
The Interfaith Alliance is equally committed to protecting the integrity of both religion and democracy in America. It champions religious freedom by respecting individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism and build common ground.

The Circle Mosaic Logo
The circle mosaic logo was introduced in May of 2008 as a way to better visually represent the vibrant community and cultural differences that make the Interfaith Alliance what it is. The circle is a universal symbol of unity. The mosaic speaks to the desire to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to protect religious liberty and the boundaries between religion and government.

LEADD Summer Camp
LEADD is a week-long summer program that empowers high school students to become informed and engaged citizens in our religiously diverse nation.

Each year LEADD brings together thirty to forty diverse high school students from across the country. The participants, "LEADDers," learn about religious liberty and pluralism from educators and public policy experts. After leaving, LEADD alumni carry out their action plans to advance democracy and diversity in their communities.

LEADD 2008 to be held in the Nation's Capitol area (Chevy Chase, MD) July 27th - August 3rd 2008. Applications are Available Online

State of Belief Radio Show
State of Belief is a radio show hosted by the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, which airs on Saturdays at 10 o'clock, and Sundays at 7 o'clock (Eastern Time), usually lasting for an hour.

State of Belief is based on the proposition that religion has a positive and healing role to play in the life of the nation. The show explains and explores that role by illustrating the vast diversity of beliefs in America &mdash; the most religiously diverse country in the world &mdash; while exposing and critiquing both the political manipulation of religion for partisan purposes and the religious manipulation of government for sectarian purposes.

Each week, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy offers listeners critical analysis of the news of religion and politics, and seeks to provide listeners with an understanding and appreciation of religious liberty. Rev. Gaddy tackles politics with the firm belief that the best way to secure freedom for religion in America is to secure freedom from religion. State of Belief illustrates how the Religious Right is wrong &mdash; wrong for America and bad for religion.

Through interviews with celebrities and newsmakers and field reports from around the country, State of Belief explores the intersection of religion with politics, culture, media, and activism, and promotes diverse religious voices in a religiously pluralistic world.