Recognition Creates Examples
Honoring bridge builders gives communities visible models of courage, empathy, and responsible citizenship.
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Center for Pluralism
Presents the inaugural recognition
Capitol Hill · Washington, D.C.
National Pluralism Awards Honoring America’s Bridge Builders
In 2026, the Center for Pluralism recognized 19 people whose work reaches beyond their own communities and helps others live with difference, with dignity.
The inaugural gathering · 2026
2026
Inaugural
Edition
Edition
The Purpose Behind the Honor
Why the Awards Matter
A pluralistic society does not happen by accident. It is built—patiently, publicly, and person by person—by those willing to reach beyond the boundaries of their own communities.
Different convictions · Shared citizenship · A common future
Pluralism in public life
Dialogue must also reach the rooms where civic decisions are shaped.
Bridge building matters in communities, institutions, and every public space where Americans meet across difference.
Recognition with a public purpose
Honoring the people who make belonging possible.
Across America, bridge builders are doing the difficult work of listening across disagreement, defending the dignity of neighbors, and creating room for every person to belong. Much of that work happens quietly—without headlines, applause, or expectation of reward.
The National Pluralism Awards bring those examples into public view. By recognizing people who serve beyond the boundaries of faith, race, culture, and politics, the awards show that pluralism is not an abstract ideal. It is a daily civic practice.
What a nation chooses to honor reveals the kind of nation it is striving to become.
Stories Become Public Memory
Preserving their work ensures that service and moral courage are remembered—and can inspire those who follow.
Pluralism Becomes Practice
The honorees demonstrate that living with difference is not passive tolerance, but active respect and cooperation.
The Inaugural Class · 2026
Meet the Honorees
Bridge builders across America
Nineteen lives of scholarship, service, conscience, and courage—recognized for turning pluralism from an aspiration into a public practice.
Different traditions. Different callings. One shared commitment to the dignity of every person.
19 honorees · one common future01AA
Dr. Akbar Ahmed
Distinguished Professor & Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
Dr. Akbar Ahmed is a distinguished scholar, diplomat, author, and leading voice in Muslim-Christian-Jewish dialogue whose scholarship, diplomacy, and teaching have advanced understanding across religious and cultural divides.
View honoree profile02IA
Imran Ali
Writer, Journalist, Poet & Founder, Views News Now
Imran Ali has used journalism, poetry, literature, and public dialogue to advance peaceful coexistence, multiculturalism, spiritual reflection, and shared humanity while providing a platform for diverse voices through Views News Now.
View honoree profile03AB
Andra Baylus
Interfaith Leader & Co-Founder, Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum
Andra Baylus is an educator and interfaith bridge-builder whose work has brought communities together through Muslim-Jewish cooperation, peacebuilding, education, public service, and initiatives such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Expo.
View honoree profile04VB
Victor Ghalib Begg
Interfaith Leader & Co-Founder, Muslim Unity Center
Victor Ghalib Begg is a Muslim American author and community leader who has spent decades building bridges among Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and other faith communities through civic engagement, dialogue, and service.
View honoree profile05PD
Porus Dadabhoy
President, United for Peace
Porus Dadabhoy is a Zoroastrian community leader and peace advocate whose work brings people across religious, cultural, and political differences together through dialogue, civic engagement, nonviolence, and community service.
View honoree profile06KD
Kirit C. Daftary
Jain & Interfaith Leader | Trustee, Shrimad Rajchandra Mission
Kirit Daftary is a Jain and interfaith leader whose service through Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, Anuvibha of North America, JAINA, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and Waco Interfaith reflects a lifelong commitment to spirituality, understanding, and love for humanity.
View honoree profile07IH
Iftekhar A. Hai
Founder & President, United Muslims of America Interfaith Alliance (UMAIA)
Iftekhar Hai is a pioneering Muslim interfaith leader, educator, and writer who has spent decades promoting religious understanding, racial harmony, and peace through communities, universities, houses of worship, and international peacebuilding.
View honoree profile08FH
Mufti Fazal Hamdard
Interfaith Scholar & Founder, Interfaith Center Pakistan
Mufti Fazal Hamdard is an Islamic scholar and interfaith advocate whose work uses dialogue, writing, and community engagement to promote compassion, mutual respect, shared human values, and peaceful coexistence across faith traditions.
View honoree profile09KH
Dr. Karen Hollie-Smith
Founder, Grace International Seminary
Dr. Karen Hollie-Smith is a Christian minister, educator, psychotherapist, and interfaith peace advocate whose leadership has brought diverse religious communities together through education, ministry, dialogue, and community transformation.
View honoree profile10FK
Imam Faizul R. Khan
Imam, Islamic Society of Washington Area (ISWA)
Imam Faizul Khan is a longtime Muslim community leader and interfaith advocate whose decades of service have advanced religious education, civic engagement, community service, and meaningful cooperation across faith traditions.
View honoree profile11In MemoriamPL
Peggy Larney (1944–2026)
Founder, American Indian Heritage Day in Texas
Peggy Larney was a Choctaw educator and civil-rights advocate whose work strengthened Native American dignity, educational opportunity, cultural preservation, representation, and public recognition of Indigenous communities across Texas.
View memorial profile12JP
John Prabhudoss
Chairman, Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA)
John Prabhudoss is a religious-freedom advocate, civic leader, and entrepreneur whose work has connected minority rights, human rights, public policy, and freedom of conscience with the larger promise of a pluralistic democracy.
View honoree profile13IS
Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja
Founding Editor & Publisher, The Indian Panorama
Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja is a journalist, educator, and community leader who has used teaching and journalism to strengthen community connections and promote truthful dialogue across religious, cultural, and civic differences.
View honoree profile14GS
Rabbi Gerald “Gerry” Serotta
Founding Board Chair, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Rabbi Gerry Serotta is a pioneering interfaith leader and human-rights advocate whose more than five decades of service have connected Jewish leadership with justice, peace, human rights, conflict resolution, and interfaith solidarity.
View honoree profile15NS
Dr. Najeeba Syeed
El-Hibri Endowed Chair & Executive Director, Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University
Dr. Najeeba Syeed is an award-winning scholar, mediator, and interfaith peacebuilder whose work in conflict resolution, restorative justice, religious pluralism, and social equity has helped communities move from conflict toward relationship and repair.
View honoree profile16SS
Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
Former National Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, ISNA
Dr. Sayyid Syeed is a pioneering American Muslim leader whose decades of service have strengthened interfaith understanding, Muslim civic engagement, and cooperation among Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other communities.
View honoree profile17VT
Prof. Vipin Kumar Tripathi
Professor Emeritus, IIT Delhi & Founder, Sadbhav Mission
Prof. Vipin Kumar Tripathi is a physicist, educator, and Gandhian peace activist who has carried the work of communal harmony directly into neighborhoods, campuses, and communities through grassroots action against hatred and polarization.
View honoree profile18SV
Sunitha Vishwanath
Executive Director & Co-Founder, Hindus for Human Rights
Sunitha Vishwanath is a human-rights leader whose work brings together faith, women’s rights, social justice, freedom of conscience, and interfaith solidarity in a courageous vision of dignity and inclusive religious leadership.
View honoree profile19AZ
Ani Zonneveld
Founder & President, Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV)
Ani Zonneveld is a Muslim human-rights leader, author, artist, and advocate whose work promotes equality, freedom of conscience, women’s rights, social justice, interfaith understanding, and an inclusive vision of Islam.
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