Terrorism: Where its True Power Lies
TERRORISM: WHERE ITS TRUE POWER LIES BY:James McLellan, Interfaith Engagement Intern Chaos in the world has yet again produced another tragedy: this time...
Interns’ Corner: Terrorism: Where Its True Power ‘Lies’
Terrorism: Where Its True Power ‘Lies’ By: James McLellan Chaos in the world has yet again produced another tragedy: this time in Germany....
Catholics Gather for World Youth Day
Catholics Gather in Poland for World Youth Day By: Deni Kamper This week hundreds of thousands of Catholic youth are making a pilgrimage...
Health Benefits of Religious Practice
Health Benefits of Religious Practice Fasting is known to be a common religious practice among different faiths such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam....
STF: Ramadan Experience Re-cap
Ramadan Experience Dinner: Event Recap By: Hope Williams On Tuesday, June 28th, the Niagara Foundation hosted the Ramadan Experience Dinner in conjunction with...
Putting Faith into Action
Putting Faith into Action By: Deni Kamper As the country mourns after an especially violent and traumatic month that saw the loss of...
What to do in the wake of the recent American Tragedies?
What can we do in the wake of these American tragedies? By: Rapheal Mathis Edited by: Deni Kamper These past couple of weeks...
Failed Coup Attempt & Massive Purge: A Civil Society Perspective
Challenges Businesses Face When Expanding Internationally
By: Mary-Kate Schiffer, Communications Intern Edited by: Deni Kamper Challenges Businesses Face When Expanding Internationally “Worldwide business organizations have discovered that intercultural communication...
Turkey-Israel Relations
What a week it’s been for Turkey. There’s no question – in my mind anyway – that the recent bombings of the Istanbul...
Niagara Foundation Condemns Recent Attacks
Niagara Foundation adamantly condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, Belgium, Pakistan, and Iraq. On March 19, a bombing on a popular shopping...
Niagara Foundation Condemns the Recent Attacks in Turkey
Our hearts go out to the friends and family of those affected by the recent terror attacks that took place not only in...
Journalists Targeted as Press Freedom Declines in Turkey
Journalists Targeted as Press Freedom Declines in Turkey By Deni Kamper Protests broke out in Istanbul on Tuesday after a court ordered the...
The Dangers of Trump’s Bigotry
The Dangers of Trump’s Bigotry By: James McLellan There’s (hopefully) no doubt in the minds of most people that Donald Trump’s rhetoric towards...
NF condemns the Orlando Shooting
The Niagara Foundation, strongly condemns the horrifying mass shooting in Florida on June 12th that left more than 50 dead and injured many...
CIG Panel on the Presidential Election event recap
“2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: THE EFFECTS OF POLITICAL RHETORIC ON MINORITY COMMUNITIES” Event Recap By: Rapheal Mathis, Communications Intern Edited by: Deni Kamper Please...
How Low-Income Families Can Earn Refunds This Tax Season
It's tax filing season! Don’t you love this time of year? You are right, nobody enjoys filing their taxes. It takes time from...
| Tagged Earned Tax Income Credit, economics, finance, income inequality, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Niagara Foundation, tax refunds, tax season, wage gapToday is Equal Pay Day
April 12 is Equal Pay Day, a day that calls for equal wages for women. The date itself is symbolic, signifying how long...
| Tagged Equal Pay Day, equity, fair wages, gender equality, Niagara Foundation, social equality, social justice, transparency, wage gapDr. Elizabeth Loentz Discusses Yiddish, Its Relevance in Jewish Identity
“Once Yiddish has taken hold of you...then you will no longer recognize your earlier tranquility. Then you will feel the true unity of...
| Tagged culture, Dr. Elizabeth Loentz, identity, Judaism, language, Niagara Foundation, University of Illinois at Chicago, YiddishDr. Susan Ross Talks Feminist Theology, Patriarchy, and Influential Women
On Thursday, March 17, Niagara Foundation welcomed Dr. Susan Ross from Loyola University to discuss the role of feminism within both an academic...
| Tagged Dr. Susan Ross, Elizabeth Johnson, feminism, feminist theology, Gerda Learner, Loyola University Chicago, Niagara Foundation, patriarchy, Paul TillichLinsey Maughan Talks UN Women Chicago Chapter, Fundraising, and the Importance of Education
On March 16, the Niagara Foundation welcomed Linsey Maughan to talk about the UN Women Chicago Chapter as a part of the “Public...
| Tagged chicago, feminism, gender, global issues, human rights, Linsey Maughan, Niagara Foundation, social justice, UN Women, United Nations, USNC-UN WomenNiagara Foundation Condemns Brussels Attacks
Niagara Foundation entirely condemns the terrorist attack on Tuesday, March 22nd in Brussels, Belgium. The attack occurred at both the Zaventem airport and...
| Tagged airport, attacks, Belgium, bombings, Brussels, ISIS, Islamic State, Maelbeek, Niagara Foundation, subway, terrorism, terrorist attacks, ZaventemClimate Change and Its Effects on Pollinators, Plants, and Food
Climate change is happening now! Yes, I understand this might be an obvious statement. However, we have a lack of knowledge about the...
| Tagged agriculture, climate change, crops, ecosystem, food, global warming, honeybees, Niagara Foundation, phenology, plants, pollinationCGF: Chicago & Global Family
Chicago & Global Family (CGF) events are intimate roundtable meetings with local and global leaders. Our goal is for experts in Chicago to...
FIF: Reverend Marrice Coverson on “What is Spiritualism?”
| Tagged Christianity, Niagara Foundation, religion, Reverend Marrice Coverson, spiritualism, spirituality, The Church of the Spirit of ChicagoFIF: Dr. Elizabeth Loentz on “The Meaning of Yiddish in Jewish Identity”
| Tagged culture, Dr. Elizabeth Loentz, identity, Jewish identity, Judaism, Niagara Foundation, religion, spirituality, values, YiddishFIF: Dr. Susan Ross on “Feminist Theology”
We are pleased to invite Dr. Susan A. Ross, Professor of Theology and a Faculty Scholar at Loyola University Chicago, on March 17,...
| Tagged Dr. Susan Ross, feminism, feminist theology, Friends in Faith, Loyola University Chicago, Niagara Foundation, religion, spirituality, TheologyKate Bensen Discusses Struggles and Gains for Women in the Workplace
On March 2, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasure of welcoming Ms. Kate Benson, J.D. to our flagship office in downtown Chicago. In...
| Tagged corporations, equal rights, feminism, International Women's Day, Kate Bensen, Niagara Foundation, nonprofits, The Chicago Network, workplace rightsFourth Presbyterian Church Hosts Screening of Love is a Verb
On March 16, 2016, at 6:30 pm, Fourth Presbyterian Church will host a screening of the 2014 documentary Love is a Verb. Love...
| Tagged chicago, documentary, fethullah gulen, Fourth Presbyterian Church, gulen movement, hizmet, Love is a Verb, Niagara Foundation, Terry Spencer HesserNiagara Foundation Condemns Government Takeover of Zaman
Niagara Foundation strongly condemns the Turkish government's aggressive takeover of one of the nation's largest newspapers.
| Tagged Erdogan, freedom of press, freedom of speech, government, government takeover, journalism, media, takeover, turkey, ZamanPJ Cannon Introduces Niagara to Rastafari Beliefs and Practices
On February 23, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasure of hosting PJ Cannon, Jr. for a Friends in Faith event on Rastafari beliefs...
| Tagged Haile Sallasie, Jamaica, Marcus Garvey, PJ Cannon, RASTA Radio, RastafariSallie Latkovich Speaks on Biblical Study Programs at CTU, Her Experiences Traveling in the Middle East
On February 18, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasure of hosting Sallie Latkovich to discuss the benefits of religious studies abroad. Latkovich, C.S.J.,...
| Tagged Biblical study, Catholic Theological Union, Christianity, CTU, Egypt, Greece, Interfaith, islam, Israel, Jordan, Judaism, Middle East, Palestine, Sallie Latkovich, Study abroad, travel, travel programs, turkeyYemen, Iran, and Syria: The 2016 State of the Middle East Forum on the “Crisis in the Gulf”
On February 17, the Niagara Foundation hosted the annual “State of the Middle East Forum” at Roosevelt University’s Fine Arts Building. The forum...
| Tagged 2016 State of the Middle East Forum, Dr. David Faris, Iran, Middle East, State of the Middle East Forum, Syria, YemenSharing the Faith: Easter 2016 Programs
Dates & Venues: Thursday,March 24th, 2016 (St. Old Patrick’s Church) 6pm: Holy Thursday Dinner 8pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper 9:30pm: Night Watch...
“Gloomy Days”: Brazil, the Olympics, and the Zika Virus
Brazil is going through a challenging period: it is facing an economic crisis stemming from record low oil prices and political corruption, and...
| Tagged 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, World Health Organization, Zika virusFebruary 20 is World Day of Social Justice
oday is World Day of Social Justice. This day is recognized by the U.N. and its member states and was officially created in...
| Tagged development, globalization, human rights, Niagara Foundation, social justice, United Nations, World Day of Social JusticeProfessor Benjamin Zeller Discusses Relationship Between Religion and Food
On February 9, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasure of hosting Professor Benjamin Zeller to speak on the topic of “Religion and Food.”...
| Tagged dietary restrictions, food, identity, Lake Forest College, Niagara Foundation, Professor Benjamin Zeller, religionToday is Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday in the Christian faith, a religious holiday which occurs 46 days before Easter. Participants fast for 40 days as...
| Tagged Ash Wednesday, Christianity, Lent, religious holidaysToday is Shrove Tuesday
Also known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, February 9, 2016 is Fat Tuesday, a celebratory day of colorful and eccentric costumes, rich...
| Tagged Christianity, Fat Tuesday, Lent, Mardi Gras, Shrove TuesdayToday is Chinese New Year
Today is the Chinese New Year or the “Spring Festival.” Traditionally this holiday has existed to honor ancestors and deities and to cleanse...
| Tagged Chinese New Year, cultural holidays, Lunar New Year, religious holidays, Year of the MonkeyBrian Bannon Talks Human-Centered Design, Refocused Mission for Chicago Public Library
On February 3rd, the Center for Public & Global Affairs welcomed Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon to Niagara Foundation. While the presentation...
| Tagged Brian Bannon, chicago, Chicago Public Library, Commissioner, design, information, library, literacyProfessor Julius Crump Examines Evil, Its Role in Public Discourse
On February 2nd, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Julius Crump to our Friends in Faith lecture series. For this...
| Tagged collective evil, evil, Julius Crump, Lake Forest College, problem of evilThe Importance of Travel
Travelers are looking for experiences that allow them to experience a different culture, understand its customs, and sample delicious traditional cuisines. Those who...
| Tagged Mexico, San Miguel de Allende, travelThis Week is World Interfaith Harmony Week
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the first week of February as World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2010. This initiative provides a platform...
| Tagged Interfaith, Peace, United Nations, World Interfaith Harmony Day, World Interfaith Harmony WeekMeditating for the First Time: A Visit to The Buddhist Temple of Chicago
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting a landmark, The Buddhist Temple of Chicago. This 70-year-old institution extends open arms to visitors,...
| Tagged Buddhism, Buddhist Temple of Chicago, meditationToday is World Cancer Day
"I believe that we need a moon shot in this country to cure cancer. It's personal. But I know we can do this...
| Tagged 2016, cancer, World Cancer DayClosing the 90 Mile Gap
This wonderful artistic collaboration proved Cubans will start to experience cultural changes in their lives, but how will this new US-Cuba relation will...
| Tagged Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Cuba, Diplomacy, tourism, travel, United StatesFIF: Sallie Latkovich, C.S.J. on “Importance of Biblical Study Abroad”
We are pleased to invite Sallie Latkovich, C.S.J., Director of the Bible Study and Travel Program at Catholic Theological Union, to discuss the...
| Tagged Bible, Biblical study, Catholic Theological Union, Catholicism, Christianity, CTU, Sallie Latkovich, Study abroadJeff McCarter from Free Spirit Media Speaks on Importance of Diversity, Role of Urban Youth in Media
On January 21, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasure of hosting Jeff McCarter. He is Founder & Executive Director of Free Spirit Media....
| Tagged activism, chicago, development, Free Spirit Media, journalism, media, society, youthJanuary 27 was International Holocaust Remembrance Day
On January 27th, 1945 Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet troops. Sixty-one years later, this day of remembrance was designated in 2006 by the...
| Tagged genocide, Holocaust, human rights, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, United NationsToday is Tu BiShvat
Here at the Niagara Foundation we are delighted to acknowledge the Jewish holiday Tu BiShvat on January 25th, 2016.
| Tagged Judaism, religious holiday, Tu BiShvat“This is Greece”: A Student’s Experience During the Debt Crisis
“Their economic crisis is making that country very unstable, it’s not a very safe place for travelers. You should go somewhere else!” I...
| Tagged austerity, bailout, finance, Greece, Grexit, policy, recession, tourism, valuesDr. Aasim Padela Discusses Culturally-Sensitive Healthcare, Medical Ethics
On January 12, the Niagara Foundation had the pleasuring of receiving Dr. Aasim Padela for an informative Friends in Faith event on the...
| Tagged biomedicine, Dr. Aasim Padela, Ethics, healthcare, Initiative on Islam and Medicine, islam, medicineNiagara Foundation’s Statement on the San Bernardino Attacks
We condemn all violence committed in the name of any religion and denounce those who would use religion as justification for their crimes....
| Tagged San Bernardino, San Bernardino attacks, terrorismEvent Recap: Marvinetta Penn on Global Girls Inc. and the Power of the Arts
The vision of Global Girls Inc. is clear and powerful: “Globally, all girls have the ability to voice their stories, create opportunities, and...
| Tagged arts, chicago, Global Girls Inc., Marvinetta Woodley-Penn, South SideToday is World Soil Day
Today, there are many issues surrounding how we treat our soil and damage its health properties through different chemicals and fertilizers, which in-turn...
| Tagged climate change, conservation, environment, preservation, soil, sustainability, UN observance, United Nations, World Soil Day“It’s Just a Game”: How Sports and Play Affect Human Development and Interaction
In 1952 at the Fleishhacker Zoo in San Francisco, English anthropologist Gregory Bateson would make one of the most significant, academic observations on...
| Tagged Olympics, play, society, sportsHappy Thanksgiving from Niagara Foundation!
Each year, Thanksgiving lends us an opportunity to slow down and welcome each other into our homes and be grateful for what we...
| Tagged family, friends, thanks, thanksgiving, United StatesEvent Recap: John Sirek Speaks on McCormick Foundation’s Civics Program
Mr. Sirek stressed the McCormick Foundation’s mission: “to foster communities of educated and engaged citizens.” To achieve this goal, the foundation runs key...
| Tagged civics, Democracy, Education, government, John Sirek, journalism, McCormick FoundationEvent Recap: 2015 Peace & Dialogue Awards
Each year, the Niagara Foundation publicly recognizes individuals and organizations in the Chicago community who have distinguished themselves in their profession and contributed...
| Tagged Andrea Zopp, chicago, Chicago Community Trust, Community Service Award, Daniel Ash, Fethullah Gulen Award, Gesture, Lifetime Leadership Award, Niagara Foundation, Peace & Dialogue Awards, silent auction, Suzanne MorganToday is World Philosophy Day
Every person is born with the right to wonder, and the act of wonder is what gave birth to the world of philosophy,...
| Tagged Philosophy, United Nations, World Philosophy DayNiagara Foundation Statement on Beirut Attacks
Niagara Foundation vehemently condemns the terrorist attacks in Beirut on November 13, 2015, which ISIS perpetrated through two suicide bombings.
| Tagged attacks, Beirut, bombings, ISIS, Lebanon, terrorismNiagara Foundation’s and Fethullah Gulen’s Statements on Paris Terrorist Attacks
Niagara Foundation’s Statement Niagara Foundation vehemently condemns the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 14, 2015. Violence against civilians is never justified and...
| Tagged fethullah gulen, islam, Paris. terrorism, terrorist attacksThe Modern Importance of Religious Reform
For many Americans and Westerners around the world, this is Halloween weekend. Yesterday was a day of trick-or-treating with family, wearing costumes, and watching...
| Tagged All Saints Day, Lutheranism, reform, Reformation DayToday is Halloween
Halloween is a holiday where people dress up in costumes, consume copious amounts of candy and tell each other scary stories. But Halloween...
| Tagged Halloween, holidayThis Week is Disarmament Week
Every year, the United Nations observes Disarmament Week from October 24, also United Nations Day, to October 30 to increase the public awareness...
| Tagged disarmament, Disarmament Week, United NationsToday is World Development Information Day
This Saturday, October 24 is World Development Information Day, which was instituted on this day in 1972 by the United Nations. The date...
Howard Learner Talks Environmental Law, Energy Efficiency
On Wednesday, October 21 at the Niagara Foundation, we hosted Howard A. Learner, the President and Executive Director of the Environmental Law and...
| Tagged ELPC, energy, energy efficiency, environment, environmental law, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Howard Learner, Niagara Foundation, technologyLove is a Verb to Screen in Theaters Nationwide
On November 12, 2015, theaters nationwide will screen the 2014 documentary Love is a Verb. Love is a Verb details the work of...
| Tagged fethullah gulen, gulen movement, hizmet, Love is a VerbEvent Recap: Arshia Ali-Khan Discusses Poverty in Chicago, Lake County
On October 14th, Niagara Foundation was pleased to host Arshia Ali-Khan, Director of Business Development & Marketing for the UMMA Center. The UMMA...
| Tagged chicago, Lake County, poverty, UMMA Centers