Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

Walking the Walk

Suburban West Group

The Suburban West group was comprised of high school students from five congregations: one synagogue, one church, one Catholic school and two mosques. Students from these communities gathered 13 times over the year to engage in meaningful conversation with one another, to share ritual objects from their traditions, to engage in environmental conservation work, and to reflect on their program experiences through poetry and collage.

Group Leader

Nicole Diroff, Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

Student Group Leaders

Brian Brodsky
Halima Freudberg
Ananas Mustafa

Highlights of the 2007-2008 Year:

• “Speed faithing” – The youth conversed with clergy; small groups of students rotated around to talk to each religious leader, to become acquainted and to ask questions.
• Group Retreat on MLK Day – In addition to engaging in community service and interfaith activities, the youth-planned  retreat included  lunch time, nap time, and recess, where everyone showed off their “Guitar Hero” skills.
• Volunteering at LM Conservancy – The youth worked to rid streams of pollution, resulting in mounds of trash bags filled to the brim.  They also learned about the environment and related their discussions to how water is used and its meaning in various religious traditions.

Service Learning Partner

Lower Merion Conservancy

The Lower Merion Conservancy protects and enhances quality of life through preserving open space, the natural environment, and the rich history of the area. The Conservancy completes this mission by advocating for preservation of land, educating people of local history, and engaging volunteers in service learning that teaches people about important environmental issues. Specific service learning opportunities include saving streams, saving forests, and saving species.

Congregational Partners:

Our shared values mini-retreats were hosted by the five Suburban West partner congregations. As part of hosting, the religious leaders from each congregation took the group on a tour of their buildings and worship spaces. We saw stained glass windows and a new organ at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, the Torah scrolls at Main Line Reform and the prayer space at the Foundation for Islamic Education. There never seemed to be enough time for these tours because everyone had so many questions!

Our Congregational Partners were:

Archbishop John Carroll High School, Radnor

The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, Philadelphia

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr

Foundation for Islamic Education, Villanova

Main Line Reform Temple, Wynnewood

Photo Gallery of the 2007-08 Southwest Philadelphia Group

Highlights from the 2006-2007