Introducing Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul

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Faith-based organization announces new name and expanded vision

Saint Paul, Minn. – May 5, 2015 – Interfaith Action of Great Saint Paul (formerly Saint Paul Area Council of Churches) announced its new name at its Annual Assembly. More than 175 people from faith-based and community organizations attended the event, held at Mount Zion Temple.

The name change comes in response to the organization’s expanded vision for more partnerships across multiple, diverse faith communities, while continuing to provide high impact social services.

For over 100 years, the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches harnessed the powerful capacity of mostly Christian congregations in addressing critical issues in Saint Paul. Today, we have grown to include more diverse faith traditions, beyond Saint Paul’s borders, and beyond traditional social services. We aspire to increase this growth even more; as such, the old name no longer reflects our mission.

“We are proud of our history, but as we move forward, we want to develop an even stronger presence across multiple and diverse faith communities,” said Art Berman, Interim Executive Director. “We are rebranding ourselves as an interfaith organization, one that welcomes inclusion of diverse faiths that share common values, and that is focused on community action and impact.”

Notably, the name change was announced at Mount Zion Temple. “Announcing our new interfaith identity in a Jewish community is symbolic,” Berman added. “As our long-term neighbor and supporter, Mount Zion exemplifies the power of partnering across diverse traditions to share ideas and effectively address community challenges.”

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul operates five distinct programs that directly address profound community needs:

  • Department of Indian Work: Empowering American Indian youth and families through cultural education and health enrichment.
  • Project Home: Transforming communities of faith into emergency shelters for families in need.
  • Project Spirit: Fostering cultural awareness and academic excellence for African-American youth.
  • Farm-Faith Project: Gardening as a vehicle for building community health and connections.
  • Interfaith Youth Connection: Inspiring interfaith dialogue and service learning for young people.

To learn more about Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul, contact us at 651-646-8805 or visit www.interfaithaction.org.

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul unites the people, resources and voices of the faith community to build a more just, safe and livable East Metro community for all. We share a belief in a common purpose: to relieve the effects of poverty and address its causes though the transformative work of thousands of volunteers. We believe taking action can profoundly change lives: not only for those in need, but also for those who want to make a difference. Although our name will change, our mission remains the same – and it is as important as ever: To unite the people, resources and voices of the faith community in building a more just, safe and livable East Metro for all.

Contact:

Kristin Vanevenhoven
Communications Specialist
651-789-3844
kvanevenhoven@interfaithaction.org