Navigating Interfaith in Tumultuous Times Fellowship

PUBLIC SESSION June 29

We are currently experiencing a pandemic of toxic polarization. This highly contagious trend of dismissing the moral judgment of those with different viewpoints is tearing apart our social fabric. While we would never assume someone of a different religion lacks moral integrity, we often see those who disagree with our politics as monsters or fools.

We stand a better chance of finding our way if we do not dismiss our opponents’ capacity for moral reasoning. We stand a better chance of moving their hearts if we assume they have one. What happens if we listen to understand instead of to rebut? If we admit our own uncertainties? If our faith makes us brave enough to broach differences that matter?

The InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary is offering an exceptional opportunity for a small group of rising religious leaders and social media influencers to engage one another, building their skills in navigating difference and tackling difficult conversations. Fellows work closely with expert facilitators/coaches.

This initiative includes 4 virtual sessions with the selected cohort for community building, skill-building, and coaching, followed by a virtual public session to share reflections on the learning process, model constructive engagement in difficult conversations, and build bridges.

Please join us on June 29 at 7 pm for this virtual public session.

Cohort Members

Fauzia Hashmi

Fauzia Hashmi is a Muslim chaplain with a recently completed MDiv, dedicated to compassionate spiritual care across diverse faith and cultural contexts. She supports individuals and families through illness, grief, and ethical decision-making while fostering understanding in moments of difference. She committed to bridge-building through deep listening, dignity, and meaningful dialogue.

Facebook – Fauzia Hashmi

Victoria Utoh Palm

Victoria Utoh Palm (she/her) just completed her first year of MDiv coursework at CTS. She is passionate about justice, community, and understanding. Victoria resides in northern New Jersey with her husband and is currently a dedicated professional committed to meaningful work in both Talent Management and Education.

@revvicky

Jimmy Paton

Jimmy Paton is an award-winning social practice artist and M.Div. student at Chicago Theological Seminary with a concentration in Chaplaincy Studies. A self-described bible-thumping humanist and post-Pentecostal mystic, he creates immersive installations that blend technology, social commentary, and spirituality, exploring how art can create pathways for spiritual care.

Instagram – @jspaton
LinkedIn – @Jimmy-Paton
YouTube – @jspaton
Facebook – @jspaton

Dani Patrick

Dani Patrick is a queer, nonbinary person of faith who recently earned an MA in Religious Studies with a concentration in LGBTQ+ Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a parent and advocate, they are deeply committed to fostering inclusion and affirmation for LGBTQ+ people within faith spaces and beyond. Their work centers on uplifting marginalized voices and reimagining more just, expansive communities.

Tiktok – @stainedglassqueer
Facebook – @itsmedanipatrick

Nosayba Mahmoud

Nosayba Mahmoud is a movement and community chaplain, organizer, and social justice advocate rooted in a lifelong commitment to dignity, collective care, and spiritual integrity. As an Egyptian American shaped by migration, state violence, loss, and resilience, her work lives at the intersection of faith and healing. She accompanies activists, organizers, political prisoners and their families, and communities navigating grief, crisis, and transformation, particularly those impacted by incarceration, displacement, and systemic harm, while honoring the sacred work of witnessing and storytelling.

Grounded in Islamic traditions of mercy, justice, and presence, Nosayba approaches chaplaincy as a form of prophetic presence, holding space for complexity, cultivating belonging, and tending to the sacred within human struggle. She brings a reflective, curious, and deeply relational approach to building communities rooted in care, accountability, and collective healing.

@nosaybamahmoud

Anaya Walker

Anaya Walker embraced Islam at the age of 18 and began a lifelong pursuit of sacred knowledge. Her studies have taken her from Istanbul, where she studied Islamic sciences, to Sudan, where she advanced her Arabic studies. With a background in Psychology and as a Master’s candidate in Islamic Chaplaincy at Bayan Islamic Graduate School, she integrates academic rigor with compassionate spiritual care. Anaya is passionate about women’s education, interfaith dialogue, and creating transformative spaces that nurture resilience, faith, and community flourishing.

Instagram – anaya_walks8
TikTok – anaya_walks8