Natasha Duarte is a project director at Upturn. Based in Washington, D.C., Upturn advances equity and justice in the design, governance and use of technology.

Mike Ghouse is an Indian-American public speaker, author and interfaith activist who regularly writes on pluralism, human rights and religious freedom. Ghouse has officiated religious, secular and interfaith weddings in every combination with Atheists, Buddhists, Christian, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslims, Sikhs, and others. Since 2010, he has officiated over 500 weddings.

Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington provides a wide range of services for seniors and their family members, as well as intergenerational programs that build bridges between young students and older adults.

Palwasha L. Kakar is the interim director for religion and inclusive societies at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Kakar joined USIP after four years with the Asia Foundation, where she was the Afghanistan director for women’s empowerment and development. Before that, Kakar led the Gender Mainstreaming and Civil Society Unit in the United Nations Development […]

The Office of International Religious Freedom promotes universal respect for freedom of religion or belief for all as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy. It monitors religiously motivated abuses, harassment and discrimination worldwide, recommending, developing and implementing policies and programs to address these concerns. Contact Isaac Six, senior official in the office, or Mariah […]

Hind Kabawat is director of interfaith peacebuilding at George Mason University’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. Kabawat has directed the center’s Syria work since 2004 and has trained hundreds of Syrians in multifaith collaboration and civil society development.

The International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance is a network of like-minded countries fully committed to advancing freedom of religion or belief around the world. Currently 37 countries have joined the alliance, which is led by a four-member steering committee.

Elizabeth K. Cassidy is senior strategic adviser at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Her substantive expertise includes the International Religious Freedom Act, international organization issues, international and comparative law issues, and refugee and asylum policy.

Shaarik Zafar has worked at the intersection of some of the most critical foreign and domestic policy challenges facing the United States. He is the former special representative to Muslim communities at the U.S. Department of State and former special counsel for post-9/11 national origin discrimination at the U.S. Department of Justice. Zafar currently works […]