Faiths Act

Our community
Is unique and wonderful
We are so grateful.
- A Haiku by Rachel and Nina
 

We’ve always deeply valued community.

In the Buddhist tradition, one of the three gems in which we take refuge is the 'sangha', meaning 'the community'. From the Jewish tradition, communities (kehillot) are not only a comfort, but a requirement for many major rituals such as the reading of the Torah, public worship, and the seven benedictions at a wedding must be done in the presence of a minyan, or community of at least ten. Communities enhance our lives.
 
Known for being a progressive hub and very diverse, San Francisco has a reputation for being a unique community. But an aspect of San Francisco that is often ignored is just how involved and engaged the residents actually are in communal life. It seems everyone wants to be a part of the community, and something exists for everyone, no matter their individual interest.

We’ve had the privilege of starting to get to know the community in our quest to create an Interfaith Young Adult Network. We’ve met non-profit leaders doing incredible work to solve global issues.  We’ve met civil rights leaders, bringing human dignity to every citizen. We’ve also met with various young adults, who care deeply about faith and making an impact on the world. We feel that a large part of our job this year is to bring all these unique and wonderful aspects of the community together. As our faith traditions remind us, we are stronger when the community works together.

San Francisco is not often considered a religious city – even thought of as secular at times! But as we continue our work as Faiths Act Fellows, we see that San Francisco is home to hundreds of religious communities. We know young adults who are grounded in their faith traditions and we know individuals who are not religious but are curious about the role of religion in a globalising world. Religion is definitely a part of San Francisco’s multicultural identity, and we are very proud to be a part of this community.

We have lots of love for San Francisco and the Bay Area, and we hope that we can help this community grow and continue to thrive.

Nina Pine and Rachel Finn, Faiths Act Fellows