Youth

Metro Cincinnati Interfaith Youth

Inspired by The Interfaith Youth Core Conference in Chicago in October of 2007, youth in Cincinnati decided to bring home what they learned: so Metro Cincinnati Interfaith Youth was created. Since then, about twenty youth of different denominations, cultures, races, and parts of town have met regularly to talk with each other about various topics, socialize, and do service projects to give back to the Greater Cincinnati Community. The group is overseen by the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati and its coalition partners in faith.

In the 2009-2010 school year, we met twice a month, having one service project and one educational meeting per month.   We also took delegations of our youth to the Interfaith Youth Core’s October 2009 Conference in Chicago, “Leadership in a Religiously Diverse World”, and the Teenage Interfaith Diversity Education 2010 Conference in Boston in May.

The group is developing and growing, and this year we will be holding monthly events, led in part by our inspired teens.

Educational Meetings
Youth meet several times throughout the school year in various Cincinnati places of worship.  They have the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the host congregation and religion, and tour the facility.  They share dinner and have discussions on issues currently concerning the youth (religious, political, or social).
Past educational meetings include the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, St. Susanna Catholic Church, and the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati.

Service Projects
Throughout the year, Metro Cincinnati Interfaith Youth participate in many service projects, and once a year in the spring, they commit to a full day of service for Global Youth Service Day.  They learn about the needs of the Greater Cincinnati community, and have fun and get to know each other while sharing their time and energy to do good works.
Service projects range from feeding the homeless at the Drop Inn Center or helping a congregation with hosting homeless families as a part of Interfaith Hospitality Network, to cleaning a daycare, or gardening at the Cincinnati Zoo!

UPCOMING 2011 EVENTS:
February 21 - Visit to Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
March  - IHN Hosting
April - Global Youth Service Day
May 27-29 - Teenage Interfaith Diversity Education Conference in Boston
For full information or to RSVP youth for an event, contact the MARCC Office.

Metro Cincinnati Interfaith Youth is for any youth in Cincinnati in grades 9 through 12.  If you are interested in more information on Metro Cincinnati Interfaith Youth, we would love to talk to you and put you on the group’s mailing list. Use the form on the Contact page, with Metro Cincinnati Interfaith Youth in the subject line, or call the MARCC office at (513)721-4843.