Seeing Americans standing shoulder to shoulder

Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.

What does it mean to you to be an American?

Being an American is an incredible privilege. The freedoms this country affords are incredible: freedom of religion, freedom of expression, education. The opportunities are tremendous.

What moment touched and motivated you to become involved in this effort?

I have been committed to interfaith work for two decades. We did a women of interfaith program on Fountain Square (in Cincinnati) in 2016, and there were 300 women who came forward to stand together . ... It was moving. And so when the national coalition asked me to be involved — to stand up again discrimination, to speak up and to speak out for each other and to look at domestic policy issues — I had to say yes.

What gives you hope and what concerns you?

What gives me hope is the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council and the work we will do to serve our country. What gives me hope is the women’s interfaith community and that people show up in the hundreds to get to know their neighbors. What gives me hope is that all fellow Americans are able to stand shoulder to shoulder regardless if we are Muslim Americans or Jewish Americans or Christian Americans. We are all Americans. What concerns me is when we don’t take time to understand our similarities and our differences. When we chastise each other, we are cut off from one another. That is deeply, deeply concerning to me and deeply unAmerican.

What do you hope to accomplish through your efforts?