The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Mission

"The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council unites people of conscience in interfaith action to build bridges of service, understanding and justice."

Organizational Structure

The VIC consists of a board of directors, a president, directors, staff members, and volunteers from throughout the San Fernando Valley area. The VIC also consists of a Social Concerns Committee and an Interfaith Relations Committee.

Programs

The work of the VIC is divided into four main program areas: services to prevent hunger; services for senior citizens; services for individuals, families, and children; and interfaith activities and social concerns.

Services to Prevent Hunger

Towards preventing hunger, the VIC staffs and operates the Meals On Wheels program and Meals to the Homebound program. Both deliver food to seniors and others who cannot leave their homes. Every year, over 200,000 meals are given to people in the area. The VIC also facilitates the Interfaith Food Pantry Coalition, which consists of 19 separate food pantries, including its own.

Services to Senior Citizens

The VIC staffs and operates four Adult Day Support Centers (ADSC). These Centers help elderly people who suffer from various physical or emotional problems, and who thus need special attention. The Centers strive to keep participants stimulated and engaged. The Centers provide food, counseling, and support groups. Activities include exercise, music appreciation, singing, dancing, and arts and crafts.

The VIC also runs three Senior Multi-Purpose Centers. These Centers, assisting over 1,000 seniors each day, provide a wide range of services. One of the newer, more popular services comes from the Handyworker Program, in which minor home repairs are given for free to seniors. Transportation services are also provided. Seniors can be brought to and from the centers, or a door-to-door, personalized transportation service offers a shared ride for seniors to travel to locations throughout the city.

Services for Individuals, Families, and Children

The VIC runs an Immigration and Citizenship Program to help immigrants legalize their status and improve their English, among many other services. The VIC partners with many immigrant advocacy groups to help people from, among other countries, Mexico, Iran, Philippines, India, Armenia, and El Salvador.

To assist at-risk families with clothing and food needs, the VIC created the Interfaith Family Assistance Center. The IFA serves over 2,000 clients and 2,000 volunteers per year.

Interfaith Activities and Social Concerns

The Interfaith Relations Committee hosts panel presentations and facilitates an Interfaith Youth Initiative to build respect and understanding between people of different faiths and backgrounds. The Social Concerns Committee deals with advocacy issues, especially on hunger, homelessness, and health care. The mission of the Social Concerns Committee is "to improve the quality of life through the promotion of social and economic justice, peace, and human rights."