You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
by Zeyba Rahman
by Sara Zatz with Tiffany Hosein, Ferdous Dehqan, Kadin Herring, Amir Khafagy, and Maha Syed
by Amir Khafagy
Zeyba Rahman
Senior Program Officer, Building Bridges Program, Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
ABSTRACT Active communication and connections across communities can strengthen the socio-cultural fabric of the US that is essential for the well-being of future generations. This need is now widely acknowledged as vital for us to thrive. While there is abundant proof for this hypothesis there is, at the same time, great uncertainty about the best approach to advance this goal. Cross-community unity and cooperation can be achieved most effectively through storytelling. We are a storytelling species, and this emotionally engaging tradition is known for its power to create a sense of belonging and inspire bonds between people. Here, we share what we have learned about how it can bridge difference to create an effective response to support resolution of social fractures by encouraging pride in our distinct identities and embracing the value of plural cultures.
Keywords: Societal fractures, fear, Islamophobia, identities impacted, empowering healing, storytelling remedies
E-mail:
Twenty years ago, on 9/11, we stood together with multi-racial neighbors on our Brooklyn apartment building’s rooftop watching in stunned silence as the World Trade Center towers burned and broke apart. We and the world were transformed by it in that mom