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

October 30, 2024

NG Book Club: Albert Memmi’s “The Pillar of Salt” on Dec. 16th at 11:30AM PST

The Albert Memmi Book Club conversation has been moved to December 16, 11:30 AM PST. We will watch a short documentary about Albert Memmi's legacy, and then speak with two scholars about his work and impact.
October 22, 2024

Oct. 27th Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom West Coast Conference & Workshop

Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom's annual conference is on Sunday , Oct 27th! Plus, an elgant pre-conference meet and greet on Saturday evening, Oct. 26th at PM.
October 18, 2024

NewGround Book Club: A Conversation with Sandy Tolan, Oct 28th

Join the conversation with author Sandy Tolan on October 28, 5 PM PST!
October 7, 2024

Moments for Mourning: Remembering Sacred Lives

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
October 7, 2024

Essay in Zócalo Public Square by Aziza and Andrea 

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
October 7, 2024

Take Heart Now Online Series: Aziza Hasan and Andrea Hodos

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
October 3, 2024

Rosh Hashana Message From Aziza Hasan – Wishing Everyone Shana Tova!

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
September 21, 2024

NewGround Book Club: A Conversation with Ibtisam Barakat, Nov 18th

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
September 21, 2024

NewGround Book Club: A Conversation with Stephanie Saldaña, Sept.30th

Join the conversation with author Stephanie Saldaña on September 30th, 2024!
September 21, 2024

CCEJ United Against Hate Webinar Sep. 24th, 1pm PT

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
August 28, 2024

Aziza Hasan Will Speak at the Reclaiming Our Freedom Event, Aug 28th, 6:30PST

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
July 9, 2024

NewGround Represents at Day of Religious Pluralism

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
July 3, 2024

Aziza speaks at UCLA’s Symposium on Hate

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
July 3, 2024

Aziza Hasan speaks at the 9th Annual Interfaith Solidarity March!

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
June 20, 2024

Applications and Nominations for the NewGround Professional Fellowship Are Now Open! Deadline September 29th

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
June 11, 2024

Spectrum News Profile with Andrea Hodos and Tasneem Noor

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
June 11, 2024

2024-2025 MAJIC Applications Are Open! Deadline July 5th

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
June 11, 2024

NewGround Symposium hosted by the Professional Fellows

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
May 3, 2024

NewGround Featured On ABC News

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!
April 23, 2024

MAJIC Graduation!

Watch this short video featuring our MAJICians and Habitat for Humanity!