Impact

A Message From the Executive Director

Dear Change-makers and community members,

As a stakeholder in the NewGround community, we wanted to share with you some of the amazing successes NewGround has accomplished over the past few years to champion change. The upcoming U.S. presidential election has generated a drastic rise in social division. As NewGround  launches our fall programming and prepares for this December’s first ever virtualized Trailblazer Talks, we are also working diligently to confront the tide of phobia and promote pluralism.

On September 24, 2015, I was appointed to the White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. I joined community leaders from across the nation in making recommendations for improved relationships between faith-based organizations and the government. It is an exciting new endeavor for myself and for NewGround.

Over 18 million people have viewed the new Buzzfeed video, “I’m Muslim, But I’m Not…,” featuring Change-makers such as Saaliha Khan and Tom Earl, our own former NewGround staff members, and Marwa Abdelghani, our former Muslims and Jews Inspiring Change (MAJIC) advisory board member. The video is a vehicle for change — celebrating the many faces of Muslim Americans across Los Angeles.

Harvard University’s Pluralism Project Director Diana Eck praised NewGround in the 17th issue of the Journal on Inter-Religious Studies.  A piece on the transformative power of relationships written by NewGround is also published in the issue, while the Jewish Journal and Alt Muslimah ran our thought piece on resolving differences, co-authored by Andrea Hodos, an alumna of our Professional Fellowship program, and myself.

Our Change-maker initiatives, such as the Sardari & Morady StoryTwo Faiths One Prayer, and 72 Virgin Mocktails, among many others, have reached over 150,000 people locally and globally amplifying our message of pluralism.

We invite you to explore more about our change-makers in action right here on our website, www.mjnewground.org, and continue the conversation on social media @MJNewGround to see how we #BreakNewGround together.

With gratitude,

Aziza Hasan

Executive Director

March 12, 2024

Sign Up To Host A NewGround Iftar!

Instead of convening our traditional large and celebratory Iftar this year, we are encouraging you to gather with people you care about and to be there for one […]
March 12, 2024

Join NewGround and Nefesh for an Iftar at St. Paul’s Commons (space limited) on March 21st, 6:15pm

During this time of grief we will join together to learn, pray, and break our fasts. We will uplift stories of Gazans and stories of Israelis, […]
February 9, 2024

Conversation with Academics and Activists Omar Dajani and Mira Sucharov on March 25 at 12 PM

March 25: We also will have a conversation with academics and activists Omar Dajani and Mira Sucharov on March 25 at 12 PM. Omar Dajani served as […]
February 9, 2024

“The Wall Between” – A Conversation with the Authors, Feb 22nd!

The conversation continues on Feb 22, 4 PM PST. Join us on Zoom as we discuss The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know about Each […]
December 22, 2023

Community of Practice all-day sessions Feb 28th and 29th. Registration Required! Applications due Jan. 29th.

Thank you for your interest in the NewGround Facilitation Skills Training 2024 aimed at building participants capacity for communicating across differences. Together we shall build a community […]
December 22, 2023

Join us for part 2 of the Community Resilience Workshop on Jan 11th

We are grateful for Part I training with the Trauma Resource Institute. The evening focused on skills that are helpful in the middle of crisis when […]
December 12, 2023

Save the Date! 2024 Trailblazer on Jan 28th

Join us at the Skirball Cultural Center for the annual Trailblazer Awards on January 28th, 2024 at 11:15 AM! Doors open for registration at 10:30 AM.
December 12, 2023

Interfaith Leadership Panel at the Holocaust Museum of LA Dec 14th, 6:30pm

Please join us and The Holocaust Museum of LA for a community conversation featuring panelists Jordanna Gessler, Aziza Hasan, and Joumana Silyan-Saba. The event is taking […]
November 16, 2023

Nov. 21st Panel: Addressing Islamophobia & Antisemitism Together

On Nov 21st from 12:00pm – 1:30pm EASTERN TIME, Andrea will be speaking on a panel convened by Shoulder to Shoulder to discuss how we can […]
November 16, 2023

IMAN’s Interfaith Festival Nov. 19th, 2023

Please Join Us at the IMAN Center on Sunday, November 19th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Dr. Namazikhah of the IMAN Center has brought together interfaith leaders […]
November 9, 2023

Guibord Center “Conversations From Your Spiritual Core” Event Nov. 13th, 2023

The Guibord Center – Religion Inside Out is holding a “Conversations From Your Spiritual Core” workshop to help individuals have more meaningful and intentional conversations about […]
November 9, 2023

PBS News with Andrea Hodos and Tasneem Noor

Our fellowship facilitators, Andrea & Tasneem, were interviewed for a story on PBS News Weekend about how Muslim and Jewish faith groups are coming together. Our […]
November 9, 2023

New York Times Profile: Friendship Tested by War

Kurt Streeter of The New York Times wrote an in-depth profile of Aziza Hasan & Andrea Hodos, their friendship, and how that friendship has been tested […]
November 1, 2023

UCLA Vigil for Peace

UCLA Professor of History David Myers organized a Vigil for Peace on Wednesday, Nov 1, to honor the lives of those lost in Israel and Palestine. […]
October 13, 2023

The Grief is Too Large to Hold Alone: Message on Israel and Gaza

What could I say that would ever be enough? How much more violence will we see? How many innocent people will be killed and injured? The […]
July 18, 2023

Apply for MAJIC; Deadline August 6

Apply HERE.  NewGround is proud to convene MAJIC (Muslims and Jews Inspiring Change): a high school leadership council. This leadership training program offers a select group of […]
July 18, 2023

Apply for the NewGround Fellowship; Deadline Sept 1

Apply HERE. The NewGround Professional Change-Maker Program provides the expertise and relationships needed to transform Muslim-Jewish relations and work on issues of shared concern. This experience is […]
June 2, 2023

Community of Practice Facilitator Training on June 4!

The 2023 NewGround Facilitation Skills Retreat is aimed at building participants’ capacity for communicating across differences. You will have a hands-on experience of having constructive communication […]
May 12, 2023

May 16: Addressing the Roots of Antisemitism within Marginalized Communitiies

Get your free ticket to this panel discussion at the Japanese American National Museum
May 10, 2023

Project Day at Islah LA on Sunday, May 21st!

RSVP Form HERE.  On Sunday, May, 21st from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm NewGround will be holding a project day, beautifying the Islah LA campus! Join us […]