Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

Walking the Walk

Philadelphia Group - 2007

The Philadelphia group was comprised of high school students from five congregations: one synagogue, two churches, and two mosques. Students from these communities gathered 13 times over the year to engage in meaningful conversation with one another, work with children and mothers at People’s Emergency Center (PEC), write poetry, and attend conflict resolution trainings.

Group Leaders:

Shakira Abdul-Ali and Rachael Packer.

In 2007 – 2008, Margie Scharf of the Interfaith Center, will be leading this group.

Highlights of the year included:

• Visiting the houses of worship of the five congregational partners to see and hear the recitation of the Torah and Qur’ān, to eat Middle Eastern food, and to peer into the baptismal font;
• Preparing meals for homebound elderly at Sukkat Shalom/Peace Shelter/Darus Salaam, an event hosted by Seasons of Service;
• Sorting food at the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day;
• Making baby blankets with mothers living at People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and, on a separate occasion, for babies of incarcerated women;
• Making crafts and assisting children with homework at an after-school program at PEC.

Service Learning Partner:

People’s Emergency Center (PEC), West Philadelphia

PEC is the oldest and most comprehensive service agency serving homeless women, children, and teens in Pennsylvania. Since 1972, PEC has helped thousands of abused, abandoned and homeless women to rebuild lives of dignity through programs that help them to help themselves.

Congregational Partners:

The Congregational Partners serve a number of functions for the group, including:

• Recruiting participating youth for the year-long program;
• Providing a mentor who accompanies the youth and offers guidance and assistance;
• Hosting at least one session and providing a tour of the worship space.

The five Congregational Partners for the Philadelphia group are:

Al Aqsa Islamic Society School, North Philadelphia

Beth Am Israel, Penn Valley

Quba Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies, West Philadelphia

West Catholic High School, West Philadelphia

White Rock Baptist Church, West Philadelphia

In pairs, students discussed meaningful objects and symbols of their religious traditions and then wrote poems about what their partners shared.

View the Photo Gallery of the 2006-07 Philadelphia Group.