Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu’s ongoing research on Catholics, Muslims, and the New Pluralist Citizenship in Southern California

Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu is a Research Fellow in the ongoing project on Catholics, Muslims, and the New Pluralist Citizenship in the U.S, Canada, Netherlands, and France.  The project is sponsored by the Kroc Institute for Peace at Notre Dame University and CURA.
Ahmet has been carrying out research on inter-faith relations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties since July 2013.  From March 9 through 15th, Bob Hefner visited Ahmet and met with some of the many extraordinary Muslim, Catholic, and secular leaders active in interfaith affairs in southern California.

Southern California has the largest Catholic archdiocese in the United States, and, under the leadership of Rt. Rev Archimandrite Alexei Smith, it also has one of the most remarkable and active offices for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs.  The Los Angeles and Orange Counties also has one of the oldest and largest Muslim communities in the United States; its network of Muslim schools, councils, and inter-faith programs, as well as its Shura Council, are among the most dynamic in North America.   Ahmet has also been active in the African American Muslim community, also among the oldest and largest in the United States.

Ahmet and Bob's visit to the New Horizons Islamic school in Pasadena, California. New Horizons is an award-winning elementary and middle school, active in inter-faith affairs, and recognized as a "Blue Ribbon School" by the U.S. Department of Education. Left to right: Ms. Amira Al-Sarraf, School Head and Middle-School Director; Ms. Kim Budge, Lower School Director; Ms. Nahid Ansari, Technology Director and Assistant Middle School Director; Bob and Ahmet.
Ahmet and Bob’s visit to the New Horizons Islamic school in Pasadena, California. New Horizons is an award-winning elementary and middle school, active in inter-faith affairs, and recognized as a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education.
Left to right: Ms. Amira Al-Sarraf, School Head and Middle-School Director; Ms. Kim Budge, Lower School Director; Ms. Nahid Ansari, Technology Director and Assistant Middle School Director; Bob and Ahmet.

 

 

Imam Jihad Saafir and Ahmet. Imam Jihad Saafir is imam at the Masjid Ibaadillah in Los Angeles, a Muslim chaplain at the California Institution for Women, and a graduate of the M.A. program in Muslim Leadership at the Bayan Calaremont College at Claremont Lincoln University. He is also the founding director of ISLAH (renewal) LA, an extraordinary effort to bring together a mosque, school, and community learning center together to promote social and religious revitalization in South Los Angeles.
Imam Jihad Saafir and Ahmet. Imam Jihad Saafir is imam at the Masjid Ibaadillah in Los Angeles, a Muslim chaplain at the California Institution for Women, and a graduate of the M.A. program in Muslim Leadership at the Bayan Calaremont College at Claremont Lincoln University. He is also the founding director of ISLAH (renewal) LA, an extraordinary effort to bring together a mosque, school, and community learning center together to promote social and religious revitalization in South Los Angeles.
Bob with the Rt. Rev Archimandrite Alexei Smith. A leader in the interfaith community, Father Alexei Smith is President of the Southern California Ecumenical Council; Director of the LA Archdiocese's Ecumenical and Interfaith Office; and Pastor at the Saint Andrew Russian Greek Catholic Church.
Bob with the Rt. Rev Archimandrite Alexei Smith. A leader in the interfaith community, Father Alexei Smith is President of the Southern California Ecumenical Council; Director of the LA Archdiocese’s Ecumenical and Interfaith Office; and Pastor at the Saint Andrew Russian Greek Catholic Church.

Share this:

View all posts