Jenan Mohajir: Building Bridges, Holding Difference, and Finding Joy Together

PlayFull PodcastBalance & Joy
Written By Kristine Breese Michie
PlayFull Podcast Jenan Mohajir

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Jenan Mohajir: Building Bridges, Holding Difference, and Finding Joy Together

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Jenan Mohajir, Vice President of External Affairs at Interfaith America, exploring the beauty and power of pluralism, which moves beyond diversity into active, committed cooperation. They discuss how local communities become powerful sites for healing and how faith-based service shapes civically engaged leadership. Jenan shares personal reflections on joy and hardship, the sustaining role of play and storytelling, and practical ways trust, humility, and relationship-building can support long-term work for the common good.

Key Quote:

"Religious diversity is America’s founding promise… [and] the strength of America’s founding, because it shows that we can come from many different places… and [we can] build something together." — Jenan Mohajir

Key Takeaways:

  • Building a healthy society requires holding big differences while cooperating around shared values. Bridge-building is a practiced skill, not avoidance or agreement.

  • Pluralism goes beyond diversity by actively engaging differences toward a shared public life. Presence without participation does not create belonging.

  • Lasting civic and interfaith healing happens most reliably at the local level. Small communities often cooperate better because relationships are unavoidable and real.

  • Faith often deepens through service and encounter across traditions. Engaging difference can clarify belief rather than weaken it.

  • Polarization increases when people rely on rigid litmus tests instead of shared human concerns. Curiosity creates more space for cooperation than fear ever can.

  • Joy and play are sustaining practices for people doing difficult work. They anchor resilience without denying pain or hardship.

  • Trust-based philanthropy creates longer-lasting impact by investing in people and vision. Sustainable change requires trust, patience, and shared risk.

"We live in an ecosystem that is coexistent, and it is important for us to remember that if one part of the ecosystem starts to diminish in health, it is eventually going to affect the entire ecosystem." — Jenan Mohajir

"For me, joy has to often be not independent of things like gratitude and humility and the recognition [that] the hard stuff doesn’t negate the joy. It’s actually being able to hold the duality of that together that’s really important." — Jenan Mohajir

Episode References: 

More about Jenan Mohajir:

Jenan Mohajir is an educator, storyteller, mother, and believer in building relationships across divides. She serves as Vice President of External Affairs at Interfaith America, developing strategic plans, creating programs, and forging partnerships with philanthropic leaders. Over 19 years at IA, she has trained hundreds of young leaders to practice civically engaged leadership. Inspired by her family and faith, she works at the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and religion. A natural storyteller, she performs with 2nd Story in Chicago. Jenan lives on the south side with her children and collects vintage children's books.

Connect with Jenan Mohajir:
Website: interfaithamerica.org


Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ 

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Kristine Breese Michie
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