A Word from the Executive Director

Greetings and congratulations! If you are holding this book in your hands, it means that you made the right choice by coming to the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions. You have taken the first step towards joining a chorus of voices ready to stand up for freedom and human rights.

Chicago is the birthplace of gospel, electric blues, house music, modern architecture, improv comedy, and the labor rights movement, but it is also the birthplace of the Interfaith movement.

After being away for 30 years, the Parliament of the World’s Religions is finally coming home. It’s a dream come true to work with the amazing communities in the Windy City over the past few years to make this event happen. It has been amazing to witness the enthusiasm from both people who have nostalgic memories of 1993 and those who, upon hearing about it, are excited and feel that it is exactly what we need at the moment.

I want to thank all of our presenters who have come from all over the world to share their knowledge and wisdom. I want to thank all of our volunteers, committee members, staff, board members, and the members of the community who worked hard to make this Parliament the best yet. We will begin with a parade of faith in the heart of the city highlighting Chicago’s vast diversity of faith traditions, and continue on to a 5-day convening of prominent speakers, panels, skills-based workshops, films, performances, and art at McCormick Place. You will read about all this in the pages ahead.

This Parliament will bring together people of all faith traditions and worldviews to exchange ideas, explore the world’s religions, build bridges of understanding, share solutions for creating a better world, and make meaningful connections. The world will see that people of faith and goodwill will not sit idly by when human rights are trampled upon. We invite everyone who is passionate about making the world a better place to join us on this historic journey! So get ready for an experience of a lifetime: The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago! Welcome home friends!

Let us join together in peace.