I am an American Muslim. I believe in pluralism. In the Holy Quran, God tells us, ''I created you into diverse nations and tribes that you may come to know one another.'' I believe America is humanity's best opportunity to make God's wish that we come to know one another a reality. In my office...

In February of 1965, the United States was at another turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Act had been passed in 1964, but critical rights were still not legally secured for African Americans. Black men and women routinely faced physical violence, biased "literacy tests,"...

Adapted from "Unitarian Couple Honored for World War II Bravery," a story by Michelle Bates Deakin, first published December 12, 2005, by UU World.What Rosemary Feigl remembers most clearly about the woman who rescued her from the Nazis is her hat....

Interfaith cooperation was in evidence over a century ago, at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (also known as the World's Fair) in 1893. The Fair was the world's first major theme park, offering the first Ferris wheel rides, and introducing popular treats such as Juicy Fruit(R) gum and...

Adapted from "The Real Heroes and Sheroes of New Orleans" by Lorrie Beth Slonsky and Larry Bradshaw. Original story appeared in the Socialist Worker. The sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region in August, 2005....

By Rev. Dr. Emily Brault. Used by permission.Rev. Dr. Emily Brault is a Unitarian Universalist minister who works as a Chaplain with the Oregon State Correctional Department. Prior to her current position working with incarcerated women, she worked at a juvenile correctional facility. This is one...

Sarah Foster is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist who wanted to make the world a better place while doing something that she loved. What she loved was performing and making others laugh, so she became a clown. As a professional clown with Clowns Without Borders, Sarah has traveled to Haiti,...

We say the young have much to learn, but I find they know and do things unfamiliar to me, so I am pleased to learn from them when I can. Example: Two young college men asked me for a ride, because they were late to work. Their summer construction job was near my office, so I was glad to oblige....

Based on information from People Building Peace, Peace News, My Hero, and Sara Cameron's website.Adults are usually regarded as the leaders in working for peace and—for good reason, as many have made a tremendous difference. Yet children can make a tremendous difference, too. Farliz Calle is one...

From the All Folk Tales website. Used with permission.A long time ago in the village of Ipetumodu, there lived a poor woman. This woman was so poor that she did not have any soup for her eba. The eba is a starchy paste made from cassava flour and it is rather unappetizing to eat all by itself.

The quotes in this story come from the website Oasis of Peace. Imagine a village that is home to 55 families with a waiting list of more than 300 families hoping to become part of the community....

Juliette Hampton Morgan was the only child of Frank and Lila Morgan of Montgomery, Alabama. Her white skin and family pedigree gave her entrance to the finest shops, restaurants, galleries and concert halls. For much of Juliette's life, her privilege meant someone else did her laundry, cooked her...

Used with permission of Geoffrey Bayer , No More Deaths.The July sun beat down, and by mid-morning, there was no avoiding the heat. By 10 am, the anticipation rose with the heat as nearly 40 humanitarian volunteers gathered in a parking lot just outside the small desert town of Arivaca....

Adapted from an interview with Raziq Brown. Used by permission.At the age of 19, Raziq Brown was the recipient of the 2008 Mary-Ella Holst Young Activist Award given annually by the Unitarian Universalist Association. His activism has taken him around the world, but the initial sparks began within.

Once upon a time, there was a small village on the edge of a river. Life in the village was busy. There were people growing food and people teaching the children to make blankets and people making meals....

"The Woodcarver" by Thomas Merton, from The Way of Chuang Tzu, copyright (C) 1965 by The Abbey of Gethsemani. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.Khing, the master carver, made a bell stand Of precious wood. When it was finished, All who saw it were astounded....

Eboo Patel In the introduction to his book Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation, Eboo Patel shares the following story: Change happens internally before it takes place in the world. My transformation was catalyzed by a moment of failure....

Information and quotes for this article are drawn from UU World magazine, InterConnectionsUnitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the Center for Ethical Living & Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR), Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists (GNOUU), and a conversation with Jyaphia...

Copy the story, and distribute the individual narratives to participants to read aloud. Eliza Cabot Follen My name is Eliza Lee Cabot Follen. In the early 19th century, I was an active member of abolitionist societies in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts along with my husband, a Unitarian...

Adapted from a story by Jessica York. The song is an African American spiritual. This story is best told in pairs. One volunteer sings the song at the beginning and later in the story, while the other volunteer narrates the story....