Social Action
Applying spiritual principles to practical challenges
The Baha'i framework inspires participants to identify social and material needs and opportunities in their communities and address them through increasingly complex projects and acts of service.
"Social action can range from fairly informal efforts of limited duration undertaken by small groups of individuals to programmes of social and economic development with some level of complexity and sophistication implemented by Bahá’í-inspired organizations. Experience makes clear that the interplay of processes that give rise to social action does not lend itself to a single formulaic description. Irrespective of circumstances, however, the scope and complexity of social action at any given moment must be commensurate with the human resources available in a community to carry it forward. What is more, ownership of the undertaking rests with the community itself, which suggests the existence of a certain degree of collective will." (read full text)
Pilot Project: The Elimination of Racial Prejudice and the Community Building Process-NC.pdfFeatured in Feast letter-
Pilot Project Report:
Pilot Project Report:
The Elimination of Racial Prejudice and the Community Building Process
Furman University to unveil statue Joseph Vaughn
Joseph Allen Vaughn, a Greenville Baha’i (1963) and the first student of African descent to attend Furman University, was born in 1946 and attended Sterling High School, a school at the center of Greenville’s Civil Rights Movement. He graduated 3rd in his class. At Sterling High School, he was president of the Greenville and Southeastern NAACP Youth chapters, he met civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., and Roy Wilkins.
Small, spirit-filled MLK celebration led by local Baha’i group shines light on Peace Garden and new mural
Amid the most interest in years, Wilmette stacks social-justice commissions with
diverse group of experts
diverse group of experts
30 year Evolution of Race Unity Activities
The Baha’is of Rancho Cucamonga and the Upland Cluster wish to share our 30-year history of focused efforts in addressing the “Most Challenging Issue” , as well as our current activities.
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Youth Led Assessment in Houck, AZ to address the lack of resources in
Native communities
Native communities
Individuals supporting a “Unity in Diversity” campaign stand with signs in front of Jefferson Davis Memorial Park, Vancouver, WA
This is how Baha'is and more non-Bahais choose to address the confederate flag in their are... Obviously my remarks were inspired by The advent of Divine Justice (Press Release)
An intersection of hope. This is how residents of South Minneapolis now lovingly refer to the site where George Floyd died, at the corner of East 38th and Chicago avenues. The site is familiar to news audiences, as the heart of what mobilized people around the globe to express their desire for justice in May and June 2020.
Signs of change
in Queens
in Queens
Holding what he calls "Solutionary Signs " made-up professionally community member in Queens displays at strategic locations in the borough of Queens, where he lives. The objective is not only the promotion of the Cause, but to lift the Baha'i principles to the level of thought among people.
"We are Flowers of One Garden"
"We are Leaves of One Tree
"We are Leaves of One Tree
Community members carried the signs in BLM rally. When asked several times about the source of the quotes and many more times people mentioned that they loved the idea or they thought it was so apropos for the times we live in and the message mankind needs to hear.
"We are Drops of One Ocean"
"We are Waves of One Sea"
With handmade signs, they attended two rallies on the same weekend. And again next weekend with the letter from our National Spiritual Assembly printed out with contact information to the Baha'is ready to give to anyone that request more details.
Ladder of ascent
Baha'i musician that has been writing songs for 40 years that reflect Baha'i beliefs, engages in community efforts to promote hope and healing.
Initiate Love
Encinitas community members attended demonstrations, elders attended discussions on Zoom and study groups about Race Unity to broaden and educate while they remain quarantined. Integration and friendship, genuine friendship is so important! We drive to parts of the town that have more diversity and we get out of the car and we make ourselves available. Sometimes we pick up trash and just meet the children on the street. We must get out of our comfort zones and live a little in the Divine Garden of diversity!
Serve breakfast to those in need
Serving breakfast regularly to the souls experiencing homelessness. We socialize and have regular discourse on the Oneness of Humanity and the gloriousness of diversity.
Atlanta focuses it's vision
Weekly Book One with a focus on healing racism; t-shirts encourage Baha'is to support the Black lives; youth hosted devotional Strangers are now purchasing and discussing these Writings. We're opening a shop next door to Atlanta Baha'i Center with the help of a Baha'i friend and we have lots of activities planned; all of the core activities, interviewing the homeless neighbors and mobilizing the community to support them with resources to be housed, weekly storytelling for community members to share their stories, weekly 'meditate & create' spaces to share quotes and invite artistic expressions in response, teach-ins that allow community members to share their expertise, and weekly community markets in the courtyard to promote and empower local minority and women small business owners.
Dozens of gatherings have been held since the ARISE Pupil of the Eye conference in November 2019, and acts of service potentially much greater in number are being carried out to spread a message nationwide.
Initiate Love
Community in Pittsford, New York have been actively responding to repeated acts of hatred stemming from a White Supremacy group in our area. As a result, the first Black person in the 220-year-history of the town has been elected to the Town Board. So, too, the first Black woman in the history of our district school system has been elected to the School Board. A 12-hour-a-day, week-long Black Lives Matter peaceful sit-in in front of the Town Hall last week resulted in an official statement in support of Black Lives Matter by the Town Supervisor on behalf of the Board. Yesterday a Black Lives Matter Unity Rally lined both sides of Main Street with music and BLM message placards held by residents and families of all ages and colors.
This narrative reflects on how Baha'is and Congolese friends in Kansas City came together to address the pandemic through the Framework for Action.
For more than a century, Baha’is in the United States have worked with like-minded people to form friendships across racial barriers — not only encouraged by the teachings of the Faith, but also at the urging of its worldwide leadership.
"We are Flowers of One Garden"
"We are Leaves of One Tree"
"We are Leaves of One Tree"
Community members carried the signs while attending Black Lives Matter rallies in Casa Grande, AZ
A program called “The English Corner” grew out of conversations among friends in Vancouver, Canada, on how they could help their community. They realized that immigrants attending the local university needed help integrating into community life and practicing English. They designed a program focused on having deep, meaningful conversations as a way of building community. After success in Canada, the English Corner was brought to the Chicago area.