Board members of The Interfaith Center (TIC) at Miami University went through a strategic planning process last Spring (‘22) with Alana Mueller Enterprises, LLC. The center was shut down for over two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team was wise to utilize this time for vision casting. What emerged was a three year strategic plan, and a new mission statement to unify people through relationship-building, dialogue, and social action. And now, almost all of their goals have been reached in less than one year!
They continued to offer programs online through the pandemic, which grew their Youtube channel to over 600 subscribers and expanded their reach to global audiences.
In August (‘22), they hired Dr. Kerri Cissna to serve as Executive Director of the center (a part-time, contractual role), in addition to her role as Visiting Assistant Professor at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University (where she teaches entrepreneurship classes). She raised a $5,000 Vote is Sacred grant from Interfaith America and attended their Leadership Institute during this first month on the job.
In September, as Miami welcomed students back to campus, TIC reopened to the public and has been offering educational programs in person and online regarding social justice issues, religious and humanistic perspectives, and a variety of community and mental health builders (drum circles, sound baths, and art therapy, etc.).
In November, Global Initiatives at Miami University invited 80 students to the center to learn about religious diversity, pluralism, speed faithing, and interfaith trivia. Four of these students resonated with the mission, and have thus been hired to serve as interns for The Interfaith Center. They organize programs at the center, host online zoom programs, create engaging marketing materials for social media channels, and invite friends to the center programs. Coming from different faith traditions and global perspectives, they bring diverse and creative ideas, hoping to address the current mental health epidemic and meaning crisis.
Please visit the TIC website to see upcoming events that include a monthly Kirtan or drum circle, a series called Painting Pathways to Progress empowering underrepresented voices to explore elected office (regardless of position and/or political affiliation), a variety of faith explorations, and a discernment retreat for those who don’t know what’s next.
TIC is currently looking to hire a program director to help execute our strategic plan, and work with the interns to run the center. This is an exciting time to step into this role, as momentum is building and their team is growing. There is a lot of potential to grow through online programs and in-person gatherings, and find partners to lease out office space.
They are looking to lease some empty office space in their beautiful building to groups or individuals who align with their organizational mission. They currently rent an office space to Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice, which has proven to be an amazing partnership! They are looking for people who need an affordable office space in a prime location (right on the edge of campus and uptown business district). They also have a parking lot! Please help to spread the word about their available office space, so that they can find the right tenants to join them!
And if you know anyone who wants to step into to lead this organization at the cusp of a lot of growth and expansion, please have them email TICprogramdirector@gmail.com.
Written by Dr. Kerri Cissna, Executive Director at The Interfaith Center
