Last month, we had the opportunity to attend the 3rd Interfaith Countering Hate Summit in Charleston, West Virginia, hosted by Interfaith Alliance and the West Virginia Faith Collective, a Groundwork Project partner. We came back with a lot to sit with.

The summit brought together over 50 faith leaders, organizers, and movement builders from across the country for three days of honest conversation and strategy.

Two sessions stood out. Zev Mishell made clear how white Christian nationalism is actively driving anti-Muslim bigotry and antisemitism, not as isolated issues, but as connected threats. Countering them requires us to keep organizing, deepen our networks, and build diverse coalitions that can recognize and respond to this moment together.

Maggie Siddiqi’s session on interfaith coalition building was a practical reminder that staying in relationship across differences is itself a form of resistance. Navigating conflict, holding tension, and building trust even when communities don’t agree on everything, that’s the real hard work.

Grateful to Interfaith Alliance and the WV Faith Collective for putting this together. It was time well spent.