Omaha's Tri-Faith Initiative, the only faith community of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, started with a conversation and is now the worship home for members of Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions.

It began when leaders from Omaha's Jewish and Muslim faiths discovered they shared the common "logistical needs" of parking and land for growth. After many "honest conversations" and a lot of planning, the nonreligious nonprofit Tri-Faith Initiative was formed.

Ultimately, a former golf course became the home of the Tri-Faith Initiative and the site of a new synagogue, mosque and church, followed by an interfaith center, jointly referred to as the "Tri-Faith Commons."

Corey Oldenhuis, communications manager for the Tri-Faith Initiative, said it shows how powerful it can be when people with differences sit down to talk. He stressed they hope to be a model for the country and the world.

"We want people to see the collaboration we have and the beauty of being neighbors and share that, and take that back to their communities and replicate it," Oldenhuis explained. "It doesn't have to be exactly like the Commons, but the lesson from the Commons is what we'd like them to replicate."

Each religious community at Tri-Faith is independent, but Oldenhuis noted a lot of their events are designed to engage all three communities. One of their monthly events, Making the Familiar Strange, involves a member sharing the meaning and significance of a particular passage from their religious text, with those attending encouraged to read and react to it as well.

Oldenhuis pointed out it is not uncommon for texts from the three faiths to share the same, or similar, stories.

"So that leads to really interesting conversation," Oldenhuis observed. "That's one where the event is certainly bolstered and enlivened by representation and more people from the different buildings."

Amal Alexander, a member of Tri-Faith's AMI Mosque, said she has never seen anything like the Tri-Faith community. She emphasized considering the conflicts between the three religions over the years, it is amazing to sit together and learn from each other.

"I would really urge people just to come and experience it," Alexander stressed. "Everybody who comes to visit, they always go away with so many things that they learned, and they leave with just feeling enlightened, so to speak."

The Tri-Faith Initiative's second annual Race, Religion and Social Justice Conference will be held June 7-8 and is open for registration.


get more stories like this via email

North Dakota high schools are in spring sports mode and there is lingering tension from winter sporting events, where Native American players endured racist taunts from non-Native fans, and one lawmaker wants more follow-through with the response.

Several incidents of players being subject to discriminatory behavior from the stands have prompted apologies from districts of opposing schools. The state High School Activities Association has responded, including by implementing a zero-tolerance policy.

Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, D-Mandaree, who represents the Fort Berthold Reservation, said the rules are not being widely enforced.

"The laws are there, they created them. It's about enforcing them," Finley-DeVille emphasized.

The Association also created a special committee to handle these matters, and Finley-DeVille noted she plans to engage with the panel over the summer. She hopes the input will lead to a better environment during games next year. The federal government already has its own civil rights investigation underway, stemming from an incident involving the Jamestown district last year.

Finley-DeVille appealed to the Department of Education Civil Rights Division last month with her own complaint. Meanwhile, she encouraged North Dakota to allow for Tribal Flag Songs to be performed before sporting events, just like the national anthem. She suggested it could help create more awareness among non-Native fans.

"The more education they (receive) about things, the better understanding they will have of Native Americans," Finley-DeVille pointed out.

DeVille acknowledged South Dakota already allows the practice. She added the department is evaluating whether her complaint against the Activities Association will lead to a separate probe. The Association did not respond to a request for comment.


get more stories like this via email

Minnesotans who haven't completed their tax returns yet might be fretting about meeting the April 15th deadline. For those facing language barriers or other resource issues, the concern is even greater, but help is available. In the Twin Cities and around Minnesota, there are free tax preparation sites staffed with multi-lingual volunteers, including those who speak Spanish. And the organization COPAL provides plenty of tax guidance to Latino populations in the communities it serves.

Claudia Lainez, Workers' Center director of the Communities Organizing Latino Power and Action said that includes assisting undocumented individuals as they get ready to file their returns. Despite certain myths, she said they are required to pay taxes like everyone else.

"And they pay a lot more taxes because, sometimes, they are not eligible for credits," she explained.

A key change this year is that these households are eligible for Minnesota's new Child Tax Credit. Undocumented people file their returns using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or I-TIN. COPAL and partner organizations can help secure this tool. On its website, the state Department of Revenue lists free preparation sites that help those who speak little or no English.

Some of these locations are by appointment only or have limited hours. Meanwhile, Lainez said part of their education is explaining to immigrants who are new to the state the importance of paying taxes.

"We have to provide information that taxes are good for the infrastructure of the city where you live in - for schools, for example, " she continued.

With less than two weeks before the tax filing deadline, she says there's also guidance for information seekers on how to get an extension. Certain sites in the state also help Hmong, Somali and Vietnamese populations.

As the nation observes National Medal of Honor Day, facilities in Florida and Texas are under construction to serve as perpetual memorials commemorating the heroic actions of recipients for their valor and sacrifice.

In Sebring, Florida, a memorial honoring the 24 recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Sunshine State is underway, with plans to celebrate 18 of them posthumously.

Mike Borders, chairman of the Florida Medal of Honor Memorial, anticipates the completion next year, featuring a botanical garden showcasing 90% native Florida plants, aiming to offer a memorable and inspiring experience for visitors.

"The second thing we want to do is educate our citizenry, primarily our youth, about the high cost of freedom," Borders explained. "Freedom is not free. Lots of men and women throughout our nation's history have died to preserve the freedoms that we hold dear."

Florida schools now mandate teaching about Medal of Honor Day. There are only 63 living recipients out of the more than 3,500.

In March 2025, Arlington, Texas will witness the opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum, paying homage to all the nation's heroes and their sacrifices.

Chris Cassidy, president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, is a retired Navy SEAL and former lead astronaut for NASA. Beyond getting people to visit and check out the memorabilia on display, he hopes learning will take place way beyond the museum's walls.

"Our goal is to really inspire the nation through stories of courage and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients," Cassidy stressed. "To do that, we've created a leadership institute largely focused on character development in K-12."

Cassidy underscores the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute's collaboration with the NFL, which sponsors the Character Playbook , a digital platform that integrated Medal of Honor-focused modules. The aim is to empower students to embody the values of courage, commitment and integrity. Cassidy says he witnessed the impact firsthand during a visit to Westglades Middle School, where Miami Dolphins players and Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter left a lasting impression on students.

Cassidy added he witnessed the effect firsthand during a visit to Westglades Middle School, where Miami Dolphins players and Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter left a lasting impression on students.


get more stories like this via email