Launched in 2012, the program works toward a society where religious and non-religious people thrive.
Washington, DC, January 10, 2022—Today, the Aspen Institute announced that the Inclusive America Project will change its name to the Religion & Society Program. The change takes effect immediately.
“The Institute’s Religion & Society Program has done remarkable work over the past decade to help advance religious pluralism—a critical component of a free, just, and equitable society,” said Dan Porterfield, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute. “This new name reflects the Program’s growth and the important role it will continue to play in contributing to a truly inclusive world.”
The name change marks a new chapter for the Program as it enters its tenth year of working to promote religious pluralism. In collaboration with leaders in the field—including scholars, activists, philanthropists, and faith leaders—the Religion & Society program has helped strengthen the understanding of religion’s role in advancing equity and the common good and will continue to do so for years to come.
The Institute’s Religion & Society Program works toward a society where religious and non-religious people thrive, respecting and engaging together across beliefs through building the capacity of faith-based leaders, galvanizing philanthropic investment, and serving as a national knowledge hub that informs and connects leaders from various fields and worldviews.
“Religion plays a major role in so many of our social conflicts, and we have far too much tension along the lines of religious difference. But it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Simran Jeet Singh, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program. “We can learn to navigate difference and create the just and equitable society that we all deserve. We just have to be intentional about it — and that’s precisely what we hope to do through our work.”
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The world we live in today is multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-ethnic. The Religion & Society Program at the Aspen Institute believes there is value in those differences. We envision a society where religious and non-religious people thrive, respecting and engaging together across beliefs. Launched in 2012, the Religion & Society Program strives to strengthen the understanding of religion’s role in advancing equity and the common good. The Program focuses on bridging the gap between ideas and impact, building the capacity of faith-based leaders, galvanizing philanthropic investment, and serving as a national knowledge hub that informs and connects leaders from various fields and worldviews. By emphasizing network and community building, the Program is creating and amplifying connections that can break down barriers for generations to come.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.