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Annual Gathering Musician & Artist Highlight: Ed Kabotie
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We are honored to welcome Ed Kabotie as the official musician of the 2026 Arizona Faith Network Annual Gathering!
Ed Kabotie is a Hopi/Tewa musician, artist, storyteller, and educator whose work weaves together music, visual art, history, culture, and storytelling. Drawing deeply from his Indigenous heritage and the lands and communities of the Colorado Plateau,
Ed uses his artistry to invite deeper understanding, reflection, and connection.
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Throughout the Annual Gathering, Ed will provide music that helps ground and guide our time together, bringing a distinctive Indigenous voice and perspective to our shared experience. Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience
a special display of Ed s visual artwork during the gathering.
Ed s music and art connect beautifully with this year s theme, From Conflict to Community: Building Courageous Unity in a Time of Division, reminding us that music, art, story, culture, and truth-telling can help create spaces for connection and community
across our differences.
Join us Tuesday, October 20, for the 2026 AFN Annual Gathering to experience Ed Kabotie s music and artwork, hear from keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, and gather with faith and community leaders from across Arizona.
Learn more and register at arizonafaithnetwork.org/gather
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2026 AFN Annual Gathering Sponsorship Is Now Open!
Sponsoring the 2026 AFN Annual Gathering is a unique opportunity to connect your organization directly with Arizona s diverse interfaith community, nonprofit partners, advocates, and community leaders from across the state.
With sponsorship opportunities from $50 to $1,000+, sponsors can showcase their organization, build new relationships, and demonstrate their commitment to strengthening communities across faiths and differences.
Learn more and become a sponsor at: arizonafaithnetwork.org/gather
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Election Protection: Poll Chaplains & Peacekeepers Needed
Arizona Faith Network is recruiting volunteers to serve as Poll Chaplains and
Peacekeepers for the November general election as part of our nonpartisan Election Protection program. These faith-rooted volunteers help create safe, welcoming, and peaceful voting environments where every eligible voter can participate with dignity
and respect.
No prior experience is required. Training and support are provided through partnerships with
Election Protection Arizona and Faiths United to Save Democracy. People of all faith traditions and people of goodwill are welcome. Training sessions via Zoom will be offered on multiple dates/times in September and October. See the registration
form below for additional details.
Join us in protecting democracy, promoting peaceful civic participation, and supporting our communities during the election season.
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Faiths United to Save Democracy (FUSD) Poll Chaplain & Peacekeeper Training
Join Arizona Faith Network and Faiths United to Save Democracy for a national, nonpartisan training preparing faith and community leaders to help support free, fair, safe, and peaceful elections.
2026 TRAINING OPTIONS:
September 28 | 4:00 5:30 PM Arizona Time via Zoom
October 15 | 4:00 5:30 PM Arizona Time via Zoom
Only ONE training session is required to serve.
Poll Chaplains are ordained faith leaders and Peacekeepers are lay leaders who provide a calm, caring presence at polling locations. Volunteers are trained in de-escalation, voter protection, responding appropriately to potential conflict or intimidation, understanding
key election laws, and connecting voters with Election Protection resources when challenges arise.
With new election threats and changes in election laws in 2026, all Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers are required to complete a 2026 training before serving.
Faiths
United to Save Democracy is a nonpartisan, multiracial, interfaith, and intergenerational voter education and protection campaign. In Arizona, AFN works alongside faith and community partners to prepare volunteers to help ensure every eligible
voter can participate safely and without intimidation. Clergy and lay leaders are welcome. No previous election protection experience is required.
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Arizona Poll Chaplain/ Peacekeeper Virtual Mobilization & Unity Rally
Wednesday, October 7, 5:00 - 5:45 pm MST via Zoom
This virtual rally will bring together certified Poll Chaplains/Peacekeepers, individuals who previously registered but did not complete the training, prospective volunteers, faith leaders, and community partners as we prepare to serve our communities during
this critical election season. The rally will inspire, energize, remind us why voting matters, clarify the critical role of Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers, share special voting issues in the state, share tools for reaching discouraged voters, answer questions
for those who will serve; and share our post-election strategy to ensure all votes are counted.
Whether you are already certified, have started the process but have not completed the training, or are just learning about this movement, we need you to connect with others in the state committed to free, fair, and safe elections.
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What's On Your Ballot?
Wednesday, October 14, 5:30 - 6:30 pm MST via Zoom
What will Arizona voters actually see when they open their ballots this fall?
Join us for What s on Your Ballot?, a free, nonpartisan educational webinar designed to help Arizona voters understand the races, offices, and statewide propositions appearing on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot.
We ll begin with an overview of the federal, statewide, legislative, and other races Arizona voters may see on their ballots, including a brief explanation of what the different offices do and why individual ballots differ depending on where a voter
lives.
The majority of the webinar will then provide a deeper educational walkthrough of Arizona s 2026 statewide ballot propositions. Using official ballot language and other nonpartisan sources, we ll explain each proposition in plain language, including
what the measure proposes to change and what a YES or NO vote means.
The Arizona Secretary of State currently lists eight statewide propositions for the 2026 General Election:
Propositions 141, 142, 144, 316, 317, 318, 319, and 320.
This webinar is strictly nonpartisan and educational. Arizona Faith Network will not endorse candidates or ballot positions or tell participants how to vote. Our goal is to give voters clear, accessible information so they can research the issues and
make their own informed decisions.
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The Vote Is Sacred: Arizona Bus Tour & Community Celebration
Join us for a nonpartisan celebration of the vote as the Vote Is Sacred Bus Tour makes three stops in Arizona!
Arizona Faith Network, Interfaith Alliance, Faiths United to Save Democracy, Party at the Polls, and community partners invite you to come together with neighbors for an evening of free food, community, celebration, and nonpartisan voter information about the
upcoming election.
Each gathering will also include an interfaith Prayer Vigil for Democracy, bringing together faith and community leaders for prayer and reflection for a peaceful election season, the safety of voters and election workers, and the strength of our democracy.
These events are free, nonpartisan, and open to everyone. People of all faiths and no faith are welcome.
Dates & Locations:
Phoenix Area Tuesday, October 27 at 5:30 PM
First Church UCC
1407 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tucson Area Thursday, October 29 at 5:30 PM
Prince Chapel AME Church
602 S Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Flagstaff Area Tuesday, November 3 at 5:30 PM
Flagstaff Federated Church
400 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Come share a meal, connect with your community, get the information you need for the upcoming election, and join us in celebrating the sacred importance of every voice and every vote. RSVP for one (or more!) of the Bus Tour stops using the link below.
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AFN Monday Meditation
Mondays at noon MST via Zoom
Start your week with meditation led by Bandhu, AFN's Interfaith Manager, and guests.
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9/11 Day of Service
Saturday, September 12, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Kimball Stake Center, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1266 S. 32nd Street, Mesa, AZ 85204
The America Gives Council has invited communities across our nation to commemorate America s 250th anniversary, making 2026 a historic opportunity to come together in what is being called the largest year of service in U.S. history.
The Arizona Interfaith Movement (AZIFM) invites you to an Interfaith America250 9/11 Day of Service, which will feature numerous hands-on service projects benefiting local nonprofits, along with a children s service area with face painting, live entertainment,
and a community nacho bar hosted by Councilmember Jenn Duff.
AFN will be participating in the special Day of Service visit the link below for more details.
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Twenty-Five Year Memorial for Balbir Singh Sodhi
Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Mesa Star Gas Station
7956 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207
or via Zoom
In honor of Balbir Sodhi, we are gathering with faith leaders and artists to reimagine what the next 25 years rooted in love can look like. We must grieve the more than three thousand lives taken, and we must tell the truth: our nation chose to respond to 9/11
with enormous racial and state violence that continues today. The first person we lost in that violence was Balbir Singh Sodhi.Balbir was a Sikh American father who wore a turban and beard as part of our faith. He was the first of dozens murdered in
hate in the aftermath of 9/11.
The gas station in Mesa, AZ where Balbir was killed has become a site of pilgrimage, where people gather with the Sodhi family in memorial each year on the night of his death. This year, on September 15th, the family will gather once again, this time to mark
twenty-five years since Balbir s death.
You're invited to join us at the gas station (please arrive by 6:15) or online, at 7:00 pm. More details
are
available here and the two registration links are available below.
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Online Safety and Recognizing Scams - Staying Safe in Today's Digital World
Thursday, September 17, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Murphy-Wilmot Library
530 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85710
Every day, people encounter suspicious emails, unexpected text messages, fraudulent phone calls, and social media scams that can be difficult to identify. As technology and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to evolve, online scams, and misinformation are
becoming increasingly convincing, making it more important than ever to know what to look for and what to do if something doesn t seem right.
Join the Arizona Cybersecurity Clinic for an engaging presentation and discussion about online safety, cybersecurity awareness, privacy, AI, social engineering, and practical ways to protect yourself in today s digital world. Learn simple strategies for protecting
your personal information, recognizing warning signs, responding to potential scams, and finding trusted resources to help you stay safe and confident online.
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What every Christian leader should know about Christian Nationalism before the Election
Thursday, September 17, 9:30 am MST via Zoom
Over the past few election cycles, Christian nationalism has become a powerful force, shaping discourse in American political life across school boards, college campuses, legislative races and more. Groups like Turning Point USA, Proud Boys, NSC-131, among
others, have gained power and influence in local communities, including churches, in both explicit and subtle ways.
As of this year, nearly 1/3 of Americans identify as Christian Nationalists.
How can Christian leaders identify these various ideologies, tactics, and recruitment strategies in our communities? How do we respond effectively? As a corrupt ideology in support of authoritarianism, Christian nationalism is not new in the United States
, but these current forces require us to learn the new ways they are being deployed.
Join the experts at the Western States Center and your hosts the Massachusetts Council of Churches as we learn together and discuss what can be done in our local settings. Our expert presenters will share how the tactics of Christian Nationalists manifested
in not only faith organizing, but in education, elections, and general community engagement. For the safety and security of our participants, this online event will not be recorded, and registration is required.
Please join us as we strategize to spread Christ s true message of love and unity for all.
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Friday Forum: Peace and friendship delegation to Iran
Friday, September 18, 7:30 am MST via Zoom
You are invited to learn about the opportunity to build peace and friendship connection with the people of Iran. Nuri Ronaghy and Alan Shorb recently returned from a two-and-a-half-month peace and friendship visit to Iran and are preparing for a larger peace
and friendship delegation to Iran, set for late 2026 or early 2027. Peace activists, faith leaders and journalists are invited to join this international peace delegation.
To learn more about this opportunity, join the
Interfaith
Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) for the Friday Forum on September 18th. Online registration isn't ready yet, so if you'd like to participate in the meeting, email MacGregor Eddy at macgregoreddy@gmail.com. MacGregor can
also answer other questions and provide details on the time, cost, and visa process.
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Simchat Torah - Celebrating the Annual Torah Cycle
Tuesday, September 22, 6:30 pm MST via Zoom
The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA) invites you to the next ILM Circles presentation: Simchat Torah - Who are they and what they believe by Dr. Jaswant Sachdev.
ILM Circles is a monthly learning workshop presented by local scholars, leaders, and community members. ILM stands for Intentional Learning for Mutual respect. "Ilm" in Arabic, means knowledge. Visit the link below to register for this free event.
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Former AFN Board member Eric Ledermann donates his photographic talents to AFN. Click on the graphic below to visit his
photography
website, where you'll find samples of his work and the services he can provide.
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The coming week (today through next Tuesday) brings the following observances:
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Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) Sep. 11-13
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Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism) Sep. 14
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Das Laxana Festival (Jainism) Sep. 16-25
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Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to AFN today! Your partnership makes our Arizona community thrive.
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