19 Bridge Builders, One Shared Commitment on Capitol Hill
At the inaugural National Pluralism Awards, the Center for Pluralism honored service across communities and asked what each of us can do to help create a more cohesive society.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On September 14, 2026, the Center for Pluralism brought the National Pluralism Awards to the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill. Nineteen people were recognized for work that reaches beyond their own faith, race, culture or community. They have pursued dialogue, education, advocacy and service in different ways, but their efforts meet at one conviction: our differences need not keep us from caring for one another.
The Center for Pluralism thanks Congressman James R. Walkinshaw and his staff Isabella Ballesteros and Maha Syed for sponsoring the conference room at the Rayburn Capitol Building.
Our gratitude also goes to the staff of Willyne More and the staff of Capital Cravings for Kosher/ Halal and vegan food served.
We thank the presence of our Board member Fatima Argun.
The inaugural gathering gave that conviction faces and voices. It offered public thanks for work often done without an audience: listening when a conversation grows difficult, protecting another person’s dignity, and making space for people who might never otherwise meet. Some honorees were present to receive recognition; others were part of the wider circle honored that day.
A beginning rooted in shared civic life
The program opened with the American National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and Pluralism Greetings. At a gathering of people with different histories and beliefs, these moments placed the awards within a shared civic life. The message on the screen behind the group made the Center’s purpose plain: “Pluralism is living with difference, with dignity.”
The pause before a judgment
Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse, founder of the Center for Pluralism, also led a brief mini workshop, “How to Achieve Inner Peace.” He offered two questions for reflection: “What is my loss?” and “What is the essence of what they do?” The questions invited participants to look beyond an immediate reaction and consider the person and intention behind an action. It was a small exercise with a larger reach: the way we handle difference in our own minds can shape the way we treat one another in public.
Pluralists honoring Pluralists
The award presentations turned the day’s ideas into personal recognition. A presenter passed a plaque to a recipient; people paused for photographs; short talks brought the honorees’ work into their own words. Those visible moments carried years of less visible effort, relationships built across lines of religion, race, ethnicity and culture, and contributions made well beyond one’s own group.
In a message after the event, Dr. Mike thanked those who took part for their encouraging talks. He described their words as inspirational and praised their commitment to the well-being of society beyond their own communities. His response reflected what the awards were meant to recognize: pluralism as something people practice, not merely a principle they endorse.
What each of us can do next
The ceremony also left an invitation. Dr. Mike asked participants to write about what one person can do to create a cohesive society where everyone feels secure and can live in harmony. However small the effort, he said, it adds to the overall good. That question carries the awards beyond Capitol Hill and into the places where their meaning is tested: neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, congregations and families.
The Center for Pluralism is gathering photographs, video, honoree stories and reflections to preserve the day and make its work accessible beyond the room. The group portrait captures one gathering; the fuller record will show the many paths that led these 19 people to recognition, including those who could not attend, and the work they continue to inspire.
We invite our award recipients, both past and present, to share a quote of no more than 50 words on the theme of pluralism, along with a comprehensive profile and their personal story. We will feature all submissions on our website on a new page dedicated to the recipients.
We thank Professor Indrajit Singh Saluja for sharing his insights in Indian Panorama, the newspaper that is committed to sharing bold truths, and Imran Ali for presenting his perspective in his News and Views article.
The first National Pluralism Awards honored people who had already chosen to cross a divide. Its lasting measure will be what others choose to do next. Dignity across difference begins with an act small enough for anyone to make—and important enough to change the life of a community.
Complete list of honorees and previous recipients:
https://centerforpluralism.com/national-pluralism-awards/
America at 250 — Leading the World Through Pluralism:
https://centerforpluralism.com/america-at-250-leading-the-world-through-pluralism/
Dr. Ghouse is the President and founder of the Center for Pluralism and director of the World Muslim Congress. He is an Interfaith Wedding Officiant for InterfaithMarriages.org and a Muslim Wedding Officiant. He is a Muslim, Pluralist, activist, speaker, author, and social scientist. More on Google
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