Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, and supporters of the Children of Abraham Coalition observed the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, as they always do, by doing something positive. Once again, they hosted their 10th annual Potluck for Peace dinner and this year it drew dozens of people — and ABC7 Chicago news reporter Tre Ward.
Fr. Corey Brost, left, shares thoughts with Qaim Naqvi and Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton.
Held Sunday at Saint Viator High School, guests included members of Baha’i, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith traditions who shared food from their respective cultures, and an interest in building understanding between their religions.
“We can enrich our lives by learning from somebody else, and by teaching them our habits,” said Magda Ross, adding, “I have no idea how to make a hamburger, but I can make a chicken paprikash in no time.”
The Potluck for Peace is one of the signature events held each year by the Children of Abraham Coalition. Formed 10 years after the 9/11 tragedies, Fr. Corey envisioned bringing together suburban teens and adults of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths to learn about one another’s shared Abrahamic traditions at different events.
These young faith leaders shared reflections during the dinner.
“We literally get a taste of the beauty of diversity,” Fr. Corey said of the dinner.
At this year’s potluck, Fr. Corey awarded the organization’s Courage of Abraham Award to Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton, for starting the initiative, Cook County United Against Hate, in 2022. It came in the wake of antisemitic propaganda delivered to his door and others in his district. In response, Britton started the movement as a way to disrupt discrimination by providing visual, verbal and educational opportunities to stand up against all forms of hate.
“I am truly humbled by the recognition at this evening’s potluck,” Britton said to Children of Abraham supporters, “and I look forward to continuing to work together as we foster love and understanding in our communities.”
Fr. Corey Brost awards the Courage of Abraham Award to Commissioner Britton.
The evening also included inspirational reflections by young faith leaders in the coalition. In recent years, these same young people have organized a peace camp for middle school students, to learn about interfaith literacy, relationships and reverence for different religions.
“We can’t stop all the religious-based hate in the world, but we can do our part,” Fr. Corey says. “We can be people of peace in our corner of the world, especially on Sept. 11, a day that showed how deadly religious hate can be.”