The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Women’s Networks Initiative

Made possible by generous funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Over the past five years, the Pluralism Project has initiated a series of consultations on Women's Religious Networks, bringing together women active as leaders in their religious or ethnic women's networks. Through these consultations, women have come to see powerful ways in which they share both problems and priorities. By providing this forum for discussion and engagement, the Pluralism Project has given voice to the women who are developing new forms of civic and religious leadership. In the ongoing work of this initiative, the Pluralism Project will build upon this foundation and expand our conversations to include secular women's organizations.

Research Reports

Women in Buddhism in the U.S.
Women Transcending Boundaries
Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority
Snapshots of Muslim Women's Leadership

Acting on Faith: Women’s New Religious Activism in America

In the spring of 2005, we premiered a documentary film produced and directed by one of our affiliates, Rachel Antell, and narrated by Dr. Diana L. Eck called Acting on Faith: Women's New Religious Activism in America. The film was developed out of the conversations that have taken place in our women's networks and features three networks participants: Dr. Shamita Das Dasgupta, co-founder of Manavi, Inc.; Dr. Leila Al-Marayati, spokesperson for Muslim Women's League; and Mushim Ikeda-Nash, former chairperson of the San Francisco Zen Center Board Committee on Diversity and Multiculturalism and diversity facilitator.

Study Guide: word document with active weblinks, pdf document

Bios

Events

Our first meeting was an opportunity to bring women from diverse religious and ethnic communities together at Harvard University to initiate substantive conversations.

Consultation on Women’s Networks in Multi-Religious America
April 28 & 29, 2001 at the Barker Center, Harvard University

The second consultation grew out of the crisis that minority religious communities were facing in the aftermath of September 11.

Women’s Networks in Multi-Religious America: After September 11
November 2, 2001 at The Harvard Club of New York City

The third consultation focused on public policy, as this was identified as a priority by many of the participants in previous consultations. The meeting was planned in conjunction with the Women and Public Policy Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Consultation on Women’s Networks in Multi-Religious America
April 27-29, 2002 at the Barker Center and the JFK School of Government, Harvard University

The fourth meeting added an international dimension to our series of interfaith conversations by uniting our women's networks members with a reunion of participants from the "Women, Religion and Social Change" conference held at Harvard University in June 1983.

Women, Religion & Social Change II
April 30 - May 4, 2003 at the Barker Center for the Humanities and the Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University

The fifth meeting, a press conference and public forum, brought together two additional interests of our participants: amplifying diverse religious women's voices and integrating secular women's organizations in our gatherings. Participants discussed issues of particular concern to women as the nation approached the 2004 presidential elections.

Religion and Politics 2004: Women’s Votes, Women’s Voices
September 13, 2004 at the Holeman Lounge, National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

Local Events

"Living Islam Out Loud: A Conversation with Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur," May 2, 2006

Announcement (PDF)
Guest Biographies (PDF)
Photographs

Panel Discussion: "Emerging Women's Leadership in the Muslim Community," March 2, 2006

Announcement
Guest Biographies (PDF)
Muslim Women's Leadership Around the World (PDF)
Photographs

Profiles

The following organizations are among those that have been active in our women's networks.

Asian American Support and Resource Agency, Woburn, MA

Committee on South Asian Women, College Station, TX

Ecumenical Women 2000+, New York, NY

grass/roots Women's Spirituality Center, Newton, MA

Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, New York, NY

Justice for Women Working Group, New York, NY

Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Silver Spring, MD

Manavi, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ

Muslim Women's League, Los Angeles, CA

National Council of Jewish Women, New York, NY

NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Washington, DC

North American Council for Muslim Women, Great Falls, VA

Religions for Peace, Women's Mobilization Program, New York, NY

Tirzah: Ecumenical Young Adult Women, New York, NY

United Methodist Women, New York, NY

Women and Public Policy Program, Cambridge, MA

Women of Reform Judaism, New York, NY

Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL

Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER), Silver Spring, MD

Women's Studies in Religion Program, Cambridge, MA

Other Profiles

JAM & All: JAM Women's Group
Sacred Circles Conferences at the Washington National Cathedral
SARAH: Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope

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