Global Peace Festival USA launched “The American Youth Leadership Series” on Friday, October 16, with an event in Washington, DC. The series explores contemporary issues of American public life in the context of America’s founding vision and principles. The first event featured a talk by Rebecca Cataldi, program manager at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) and founder of the American-Islamic Friendship Project. The event focused on the principles that have united the American people and how those principles can serve as a basis for cooperation between America and the world.

Ms. Cataldi followed as the main speaker and described her experiences working to improve relations between America and the Muslim world. Working with ICRD to provide teacher-training for madrasas in Pakistan has given her insight into how a common ground can be found between Americans and the Muslim world. When engaged in a spirit of respect and faith, she found that Muslim leaders who were previously skeptical, responded positively. Ms. Cataldi stated that faith has been central to the founding of both America and the countries of the Muslim world and is therefore central to resolving conflicts between the two. “Where conversations about politics have divided us,” she said, “conversations about faith have brought us together.”

The final speaker, Becky Gitonga, DC program director for Service for Peace, emphasized the importance of service in creating a common ground for cooperation of diverse peoples. She encouraged everyone to participate in the upcoming Martin Luther King Day of Service. The session closed with comments and questions from the audience.