USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture's Avatar

USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture

@usccrcc

The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture advances the understanding of religion and society, and supports faith and community leaders in becoming full partners in the work of positive social change. https://crcc.usc.edu/

84
Followers
55
Following
293
Posts
10.12.2024
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture @usccrcc

Watch ABC7 Multi-Faith Gathering | Streamable Watch "ABC7 Multi-Faith Gathering" on Streamable.

Pastor Najuma Smith and her congregation was one of several co-sponsors so this event, which was the vision of our beloved Brother Umar Hakim.

streamable.com/2prcld?src=p...

13.03.2026 00:37 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
A Multi-Faith Response to the Current Constitutional Crisis YouTube video by The Guibord Center

Faith communities have a significant role to play in countering our current constitutional crisis. Listen to civil right attorney Connie Rice at an interfaith event yesterday:

www.youtube.com/live/WkDY7be...

12.03.2026 17:44 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Call for Submissions: Open City An open call for journalism on Asian immigrant and Muslim communities

Journalists, here's another call for pitches for religion reporting: Open City covers Asian immigrant and Muslim communities with an emphasis on social, racial, and gender justice issues.

aaww.org/call-for-sub...

11.03.2026 16:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Rinse, Repeat, Ramadan β€” KEN CHITWOOD Every year for the last several years, sometime between the last gray days of winter and the first real hints of summer, a familiar genre quietly bloomed across Western media. You’ve probably seen it...

Check out our friend Ken Chitwood's latest piece: Rinse, Repeat, #Ramadan

www.kenchitwood.com/blog/2026/2/...

11.03.2026 01:10 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
A Multi-Faith Response to the Current Constitutional Crisis YouTube video by The Guibord Center

This Wed, 3/11, our friends at MPAC invite you to join for a timely and urgent conversation on the moral and civic challenges posed by the current constitutional crisis and the role our faith traditions can play in responding.

Please join us on our live stream here:
www.youtube.com/live/WkDY7be...

09.03.2026 18:22 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

During the second 10 days of #Ramadan, American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute fellow, Chaplain Sondos Kholaki's Healing Heartwork series reminds us to focus on #repentance and #forgiveness.

dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/report/...

06.03.2026 16:25 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Opinion | One of the Bible’s Greatest Moral Revolutions

An example of compelling preaching in the NYTimes: A rabbi on the biblical imperative to love immigrants.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/o...

05.03.2026 22:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

Inglewood First United Methodist Church recently broke ground on 60 units of affordable housing. Rev. Victor Cyrus-Franklin shared at our last Economic Empowerment Forum how this project was years in the making.
πŸŽ‰ Congrats to everyone involved!

02.03.2026 18:14 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

During #Ramadan, American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute fellow, Chaplain Sondos Kholaki's Healing Heartwork series reminds us of the month's focus on #Mercy and #Compassion, centered around cultivating personal #afiyah (well-being) and #mentalhealth.

dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/report/...

28.02.2026 16:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Rev. Dr. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray Sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
Rev. Dr. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray Sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing" YouTube video by USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture

As we conclude the 100th year of #BlackHistoryMonth, listen to Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray sing the Black National Anthem shortly before his retirement in 2022. We miss you, Pastor Murray!

youtu.be/CwcgHtJUf24?...

27.02.2026 22:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Next Wed, Mar 4th 11am on Zoom

Join CRCC's webinar to learn about our new journalism fellowship - Stories of Change in American Religion - which will fund journalists to tell deeply reported stories in written or multimedia formats, including audio, video & photography.

usc.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

26.02.2026 03:17 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
A Guide to Religion in America: Finding Stories of Change - Center for Religion and Civic Culture USC Dornsife Site

CRCC invites journalists to propose story ideas for its β€œStories of Change in American Religion” initiative. This guide provides an overview of the state of religion in the US and introduce journalists to how scholars at CRCC think about religion and social change.

dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/a-guide...

24.02.2026 22:23 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
See It Live celebrates 100 Years of Black History Month | See It Live, Thursday February 12, 2026 YouTube video by Annenberg Media

In black communities, the church is much more than just a place of worship. The Reverend Dr. Najuma Smith shares her thoughts on the importance of activism in the church.
#BlackHistoryMonth

Watch USC Annenberg Media TV News interview here:
www.youtube.com/live/lP0VDp9...

24.02.2026 02:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

CRCC's new Stories of Change in American Religion initiative is a joint journalism and academic venture to capture stories of leaders and communities that are adapting structures, creating new approaches or evolving their spiritual beliefs and practices.

Learn more: dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/stories...

21.02.2026 00:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

On this first Friday of #Ramadan, CRCC extends heartfelt greetings to our friends observing this holy month!

#RamadanMubarak
#JummahMubarak

20.02.2026 18:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Stories of Change in American Religion - Center for Religion and Civic Culture USC Dornsife Site

CRCC’s storytelling initiative is a joint journalism and academic venture to capture stories of leaders and communities that are adapting structures, creating new approaches or evolving their spiritual beliefs and practices.

Learn more: dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/stories...

20.02.2026 06:16 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Video thumbnail

This week marks the beginning of #Ramadan, #Lent and the #LunarNewYear! CRCC’s @revjuju.bsky.social and Soraya Ahyaudin tell ABC7 News that the calendar is telling us to pay attention... while each tradition is unique, we all have more in common than we think.

18.02.2026 21:19 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Blessings for the Season from USC's USC’s Office of Religious & Spiritual Life!

17.02.2026 23:51 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
'I am somebody!': Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader who ran for presidency, dies at 84 β€˜I don’t think Jesse Jackson saw his political life as something different from his call from God as a preacher,’ said the Rev. Valerie Bridgeman.

We honor the memory of Rev. Jesse Jackson today.

We recall Rev. Murray's stories of how Rev. Jackson visited FAME Church-LA and collaborated with the local faith community on issues of social and economic justice for the Black community in Los Angeles.

religionnews.com/2026/02/17/j...

17.02.2026 19:10 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
LAPL photo caption reads: "Giant Chinese New Year parade dragon in front of the Garnier Building after a performance. The dragon's orb is at frame left and an offering table at the center foreground holds teacups and dishes with food."

LAPL photo caption reads: "Giant Chinese New Year parade dragon in front of the Garnier Building after a performance. The dragon's orb is at frame left and an offering table at the center foreground holds teacups and dishes with food."

Happy #LunarNewYear! Photo from the Lunar New Year parade in Los Angeles (circa 1890s) via @lapubliclibrary.bsky.social. tessa2.lapl.org/digital/coll...

The 127th Annual Golden Dragon Parade takes place in #LAChinatown on Saturday at 1pm: www.lachinesechamber.org/events/2026/...

17.02.2026 18:42 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

In partnership with CRCC, the Mental Health and the Church Initiative is offering 2 additional rounds of coaching this year (April/Sept).

This is your opportunity to take part in a transformative process, so be sure to fill out the interest form TODAY: biolapsy.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

17.02.2026 16:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
This doctor couldn't save one Palestinian toddler. Now he hopes to save all Gazan children. DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) β€”Β A 53-year-old Kuwaiti-born and US-trained doctor is the unlikely visionary who has won the support of Israeli authorities for a sprawling new philanthropic enterprise in the Gaza ...

Inspired by his first visit to Gaza over 2 years ago, Dr. David Hasan, a Duke University neurosurgeon, is now building one of the most ambitious Palestinian-Israeli humanitarian undertakings in Gaza, begun as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold. religionnews.com/2026/02/02/h...

16.02.2026 23:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
6-7 Trends to Watch in Religion and Society in 2026Β  - Center for Religion and Civic Culture Contradictions are inherent in societal trends. CRCC looks at the up, down and sideways movement across our 10 years of trend analysis.

Ken Chitwood reflects on CRCC's 6 to 7 Trends to Watch in Religion and Society in 2026:

dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...

13.02.2026 23:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
From Headlines To Trendlines Religion News In A World Of Chaos In a world of relentless headlines demanding our outrage, true understanding of religion's role comes from tracking deeper trends.

"As the viral popularity of Canadian PM Mark Carney’s special address at Davos suggested, we are living in a global context shaped by increasing geopolitical rivalry, re-entrenched nationalism, rising migration, technological competition and cultural polarization."

www.patheos.com/articles/fro...

13.02.2026 23:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.

Trend #7: We thought Pope Francis’ message of hope and love would win out over Trump’s violent rhetoric... One group’s hope might be another group’s fear.

dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...

12.02.2026 17:28 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
There Is No Religious Revival | ARC: Religion, Politics, Et Cetera The Harvard Catholic Center wrapped up 2025 with huge news: the number of potential converts coming through its doors had doubled from the previous year. According to The Wall Street Journal β€œFree Exp...

As we said in our 2026 trends piece, β€œthere is no religious revival.”

arcmag.org/there-is-no-...

11.02.2026 16:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.

Trend #6: Themes of healing and wellness emerged in activist circles. Now, β€œMake America Healthy Again” is the movement that guides our national health policies.

dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...

10.02.2026 16:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image
09.02.2026 21:17 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This year CRCC was honored to host the Muslim Campus Life Summit at @usc.edu. MCL brings together higher education professionals dedicated to improving their campuses for Muslim students.

09.02.2026 21:17 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
If I wasn’t Methodist, I might be Buddhist (RNS) β€” My Methodist heart was 'strangely warmed' in the dead of winter in North Carolina by a stalwart group of Buddhist monks walking for peace.

Our Compelling Preaching participant Michael Christensen reflects on β€œpeace scrolling” stories about the Buddhist monks walking for peace.

religionnews.com/2026/01/30/i...

07.02.2026 03:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0