Come one, come all

What you believe in, is something that should be embraced rather than hidden. The Interfaith Club is a safe space where any person, of any religion, can speak and share with others. In room 215, you can find the Interfaith Student Council meetings on Thursdays at 3 p.m.

The idea for this club was first a Muslim Student Association, but the founders, Bilal Mazhar and Anneesah Lawrence decided that a club revolving around every religion would be more inclusive. 

“Bilal and I wanted a safe space for Muslim students to come together and be able to talk about Islam, then for Non-Muslim students to have an opportunity to learn about it,” Lawrence said. “Shortly after, we decided that a club that focused on all faiths would be a better choice as far as inclusivity and total representation of the students at our school.” 

In school, there is a lot of censorship. There are rules to follow and things we are not allowed to speak about. The Interfaith Club is sort of like a loophole. It is a place where we can speak freely about ourselves and our beliefs.

“We are often told in school not to talk about politics or religion,” Lawrence said. “We wanted to open up a space for students not to be restricted from speaking about religion because for some it is an important part of who they are.”

During the meetings, the members speak on the trends and struggles that teens face. As they speak about that, they relate it back to their religions and how they deal with them. 

“We have a new student-chosen topic each week and so far we have spoken about things such as social media, opposite gender interaction, and similarities and differences as they pertain to the respective faiths present at our Interfaith Student Council,” Lawrence said. 

Another important aspect of this club is community service. They plan on holding a Winter Clothing Drive that will allow anyone to donate spare clothing for people in need. Dersheni Singh enjoys being a member of the club and thinks it is amazing to be a part of something.

“I think this is one of the best clubs our school has had yet; not only are we learning about different religions, but we are also practicing each of our religions by giving back to those in need,” Singh said. “I do not regret taking the initiative to be a part of making a difference in our community.”

The practicing religions in the Interfaith Club are Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. Ms. Farah is the supervisor for the Interfaith Student Council, but all meetings are student-led. The doors for the club are always wide open and if you ever want to talk about your beliefs, or even just listen to others, then you are welcome!