Where Diverse Peoples and Cultures Find Cooperative Engagement for Peace

The G20 Interfaith Forum Gender Equality Working Group and Anti-Racism Initiative co-hosted a webinar on gender perspectives and awareness featuring Roshan Dalvi, Tadia RIce, and Harish Sadani. Audrey Kitagawa moderated the discussion, which asked the question, “What is Gender Equality?”

The 10th annual CSW68 Interfaith Service was a loving remembrance of those who have gone before us and who continue to inspire our lives. Everyone was invited to add a name to the Memory Book.

Audrey Kitagawa, President and Founder of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation was the keynote speaker at the Interfaith ‘Ohana of Hawai‘i’s 2024 “Interfaith Retreat” held on Kauai February 5-8, 2024.

Panels and music live from the Dubai Convergence, presented by IAMC and its co-producers at the Faith Pavilion in Dubai as part of the United Nations COP28 Climate Conference.

The Dubai Convergence is a global gathering of spiritual leaders, presenting at the historic Faith Pavilion and participating in surrounding events at COP28.

The world premiere of a film featuring David Korten, discussing his life's work in uncovering the true impacts of economic policies.

Ahead of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation, Soka University, the G7 Research Group, and Soka Gakkai International are co-sponsoring an international conference In Tokyo to discuss "Advancing Security and Sustainability at the G7 Hiroshima Summit."

An exclusive preview showing of a new film in advance of its premiere at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in April

NIU NOW: Reconnecting to the Tree of Life is a new film produced by IAMC and Niu Now. The film is about a grassroots group in Hawaii tackling the challenge of food security by cultivating coconuts (niu in Hawaiian) and reconnecting to the cultural heritage of the islands.

The International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation (IAMC) and the Interfaith 'Ohana of Hawai'i present "The Gift of Aloha (Love) in Selfless Service". This panel will focus on the global challenges which humanity faces, and how their work seeks to make this world a better place – whether dealing with the nuclear threat, human security and well being, the fallout of the US’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the massive public health problems with sanitation in India, and mobilizing civil society around the world to come together in goodwill and peace.

Audrey Kitagawa, Founder & President of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation (IAMC), moderated a webinar, “The Gift of Aloha (Love) Pacific Islanders and Indigenous Peoples Share Their Sacred Values,” as part of World Interfaith Harmony Week on February 19, 2022. The event brought together experts from the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean — New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Hawai’i, and the indigenous Karuk tribe of Northern California — who shared how the sacred values of their indigenous traditions guide their communities through their unique challenges.

On Thursday, January 20th, the G20 Interfaith Forum held its first webinar of 2022, organized by the Anti-Racism Initiative and co-sponsored by the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation. Panelists included Milton Allimadi, Assistant Professor of Journalism at Columbia University and Publisher of blackstarnews.com; Keisha Bush, Writer and Artist, and Author of “No Heaven for Good Boys”; Ben Dotsei Malor, Chief Editor of UN News at the UN Headquarters in New York; and Nisrin Elamin, Assistant Professor of International Studies at Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, moderated the discussion.

"Racism could not be woven into the fabric of the whole ecosystem of dominant worldviews without the complicity of the media and media constructed and supposed ideals models. Though appearing benign in the context of general information sharing, news and medias outlets have not been neutral when it comes to picturing role models."

A central ethical challenge that colors all issues is the pervasive impact of racist ideologies and behaviors: racism had and still has support in supremacist religious ideologies which are not less dangerous than other types of terrorism and which need to be isolated in new forms of discourse and disputes. The central questions that the Forum addresses are how the G20 might formulate a message with architects of religious public discourse (local authorities, bodies, theologians, actors) that urge new and meaningful commitments to effective action.

On Thursday, July 29th, the G20 Interfaith Forum held a third webinar organized by the Anti-Racism Initiative, co-sponsored by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs at Georgetown University; the World Faiths Development Dialogue; the International Academy for Multiculteral Cooperation; and the Fondazione per le scienze religiose (FSCIRE).

Indigenous Native Hawaiians and Pacific Island (NHPI) communities are faced with unique challenges. In the Pacific islands and other coastal communities, climate change threatens the land, food security, and delicate eco-systems. Systemic barriers to equity, justice, and opportunity have compromised NHPI families and communities, limiting opportunities and threatening their safety.

Peace on Earth can become a reality-but it starts with peace within each heart. How can we bring peace to the world if we don't have peace within ourselves?

Smallholder farmers comprise one-third of the world's population and hold the key to food security and reversing environmental degradation. The film will show the remarkable reforestation of Haiti through the use of trees as "currency" which smallholder farmers plant in exchange for better quality seeds, equipment, and training, and the regeneration of cotton production in Haiti, at one time one of the world's largest exporters of cotton.

Recent studies have revealed some truly alarming trends among young Americans: one-third of undergraduates wrestle with some kind of mental health issue, more than one-third of young adults are now disaffiliated with religion, and according to one global health service company, the loneliest generation in America today are between 18-22 years old. Whereas previous generations might ask, "How should I live?" they are now more likely to ask, "Why should I live?" Where they used to talk about hope and meaning; now they grapple with hopelessness and meaninglessness. And while it may be too early to say for sure, it's almost certain that almost a year of quarantine and social distancing has only made matters worse. In other words, young Americans are facing a spiritual crisis of loneliness.

A research report by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University San Bernardino (4/28/21) found that hate crimes targeting Asians increased 169% (223% in New York City alone) just from the first quarter of 2021 (to the same time period in 2020), across 15 major cities. While hate crimes have increased during the pandemic and socio-political unrest of the past year, the crimes targeting Asians have seen an explosive increase, and a timely discussion is in order.

In an article published by Georgetown University's Berkley Center, Audrey E. Kitagawa, J.D., President and Founder of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation discusses Hans Küng's pioneering vision of the human condition in the perpetual dynamics of dualism in which we appear to exist.

An exploratory conversation, aimed at understanding the various aspects of the challenges that religious institutions share with the society at large, in dealing with issues of sexual harassment.

In March 2021, a meeting was convened by Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, the FaithTrust Institute, the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation, Religions for Peace International, and World Faiths Development Dialogue, bringing together officials, academics, interfaith organizations, interfaith activists and religious leaders from various traditions to have a frank discussion about sexual harassment at interfaith gatherings.

Audrey E. Kitagawa, J.D., President/Founder of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation and member of the G20 Interfaith Forum Gender Equality Working Group discusses the power dynamics of relationships, which can be used negatively or positively to determine the nature of human interactions.