Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council

06/07/2026

All are welcome to the HPKIFC's final meeting of the fiscal year. We hope you join us to take stock of the work we've done over the last year, and the work to come. RSVP here or join from our website on June 18th: https://forms.gle/sfRwAxhVNKf5AH2cA

05/21/2026

There's not much that's better than celebrating with young people who are launching themselves in life. Come celebrate with five young people who will receive grants from the Keith Cooper Fund on Saturday, May 30, from 7pm to 10pm at Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park.
Keith was a very active member of Augustana who was killed in a carjacking in Hyde Park in 2021. Because he was known as a mentor to young people, the Fund gives grants each year to students in community college and trade school programs, and to young adults trying to start a business or work as an artist.
Come enjoy jazz with Rodney Gipson and sip craft beer from CHAOS. Bring a friend, bid on items in the silent auction, and spend an evening with people who care about young people as much as you do.
Get tickets at:
https://events.humanitix.com/an-evening-of-jazz-community-and-purpose-the-keith-cooper-fund

10/10/2025

David Black is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Woodlawn.

Amanda Tovar, who witnessed Chicago pastor David Black hit by ICE pepper balls and recorded video, speaks to CNN’s Erin Burnett about the incident.

09/26/2025

Saturday, September 20th we joyfully celebrated the dedication of the Kenwood Soup Kitchen shower project; a joint effort of the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council and Kenwood United Church of Christ.

Gratitude to Saba Ayman-Nolley, the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Bill Lowry, Cook County Commissioner of the 3rd District, and Senator Robert Peters.

Support the Soup Kitchen by donating to Kenwood UCC via Givelify and inquiring about volunteering by emailing [email protected].

06/30/2025

Early last week, at several locations around Hyde Park, antisemitic messages were scratched on public signs, postal boxes and underpass pillars, and graffitied words of hate were directed at Jews.

The Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council (HPKIFC)
stands with our Jewish neighbors, condemning these threatening acts of antisemitism. We promote religious freedom and pluralism, seeking respectful collaboration among our many faith traditions.

Law enforcement has been notified and there is increased protection for our Jewish communities. An investigation is being conducted. HPKIFC seeks to provide advocacy, safety, and allyship to our Jewish neighbors and colleagues in the Council.

We encourage Hyde Park residents from our various faith traditions and belief systems to make every effort to promote love, peace and safety for all.

Sincerely,
Members of the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council:

Saba Ayman-Nolley, Baha’i Community
Rev. Dr. Linda E Thomas and Sara Trumm, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Jason Evans and Frances Spaltro, St. Paul and the Redeemer
Fr. Philip Maikkula and Lauren Polite, St. Makarios Mission
Rabbi Daniel Kirzane, KAM Isaiah Israel
Fr. Michael Trail, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Elham Mireshghi, Sirat Chicago Center for Muslim Life
Kathleen Ray, member of HPKIFC
Rev. Julian DeShazier and Barb Havens, University Church
Rev. Nancy Goede and Rev. Matthew Stuhlmuller, Augustana Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry
Barbara Maloof, Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints
Dean Maurice Charles, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago
Rev. David Messner, First Unitarian Church
Foster Pinkney, Hyde Park Union Church

Send a message to learn more

12/08/2024

December 15th, from 6-8pm, please join us at Augustana to remember and honor our loved ones lost to gun violence.

11/13/2024

The Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council presents the 2024 Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration: gathering together at Rockefeller Chapel on Thanksgiving morning. Join us for a touching interfaith program, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde and Uniting Voices Chicago.

Dr. Yetunde will be selling her book, Casting Indra's Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community (2023), prior to the Thanksgiving Service; please arrive early if you would like to purchase a copy.

A link to join virtually will be posted on hpkinterfaith.org.

06/06/2024

Organizers are raising money for the Keith Cooper Fund and encouraging more young people to apply for $500 grants to help them attend community college, enter a trade, start a business or become a working artist.

06/06/2024

All about Saturday's Keith Cooper event!

Organizers are raising money for the Keith Cooper Fund and encouraging more young people to apply for $500 grants to help them attend community college, enter a trade, start a business or become a working artist.

05/25/2024

Keith Cooper was a long-time Hyde Parker, father and grandfather, Vietnam War veteran, bowler and jazz lover. He was killed in 2021 in the Kimbark Plaza strip mall during an attempted carjacking.

Since his death, to honor his memory, the congregation of his church, Augustana, has partnered with Hyde Park community leaders and family members to create a grant program for young people, The Keith Cooper Fund.

On Saturday, June 8, at 7pm at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5500 S. Woodlawn Ave., come hear from grantees about what they're doing to launch themselves in life despite barriers they face, sample beer from CHAOS Brew House and enjoy good music and good food while supporting a good cause.