A Buddhist Dharma leader is preaching from the pulpit in the gothic setting of the Rockefeller Chapel. As she talks about the meaning of Thanksgiving, the congregation of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Baha’i and other faith traditions nod their heads, shout responses and laugh along. 

The Hyde Park/Kenwood Interfaith Council’s annual Thanksgiving celebration has brought together people of different religions and none since 1928. Representatives of faith groups take their turns to speak, sing or pray, sharing messages of gratitude in the language of their traditions.

Hidden from public view to the side of the lectern sits a petite woman with an unassuming demeanor and welcoming smile. Saba Ayman-Nolley is president of the Interfaith Council, but today, her work is mainly behind the scenes. 

“In the world we live in, people have a hard time accepting each others’ differences and belief systems,” she said in an interview. “We have this group of people in Hyde Park/Kenwood who are able to put those differences aside — to celebrate them — and work as a whole.” 

Dr. Ayman-Nolley‘s understated leadership style belies her strong resolve to reach across religious differences to find common purpose — and, in doing so, to build collaboration for social action that practically impacts community in a positive way. Formed in 1911, the council — made up of 20 religious communities in Hyde Park and Kenwood — is the oldest interfaith group in the country, working to foster connections across faith communities and funding social justice projects on Chicago’s South Side.

The council underwrites community services such as food pantries, anti-violence initiatives and a soup kitchen offering regular hot meals, showers and a medical clinic. It is a key funder of the Hyde Park Refugee Project, helping to identify volunteers and offset the cost of tutoring for new arrivals, winter coat drives and food programs, 

“When a project needs people to do something, all of us on the council go to our own faith communities to find help,” Dr. Ayman-Nolley said. 

Dr. Ayman-Nolley, who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Iran, moved in 1978 to Hyde Park, where she attended the University of Chicago. She joined the council over a decade ago as its first Baha’i representative. 

Dr. Ayman-Nolley said her religion inspires her social justice work. 

“The Baha’i faith’s premise is unity,” she said. “It’s accepting that humanity is very diverse, but within that, it is one, and when we work together we can do a lot more. Since I’ve been president of the council, I’ve been pushing to do more than just food drives — other things that will bring equity and justice to the community.” 

Under her leadership, the Council has also expanded its support for social entrepreneurship in the community by issuing mini-grants of $500-$2,000 annually to neighborhood organizations to help fund specific initiatives. 

Dr. Ayman-Nolley said her father inspired her to pursue interfaith work. 

“He is now 96 years old, and although he was not on this council, he had done some interfaith work in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area. He kept telling me there weren’t any other Baha’is involved in interfaith work, and should be.” 

The Thanksgiving service was her first experience of seeing the council in action. In 2012, she was invited to attend by a Muslim friend. 

“The relationship between Muslims and Baha’is is not great in most parts of the world, so this was a really beautiful thing that this Muslim lady was reaching out to include Baha’is,” she said. “I have also been working very closely with Afghan families in Hyde Park, all of whom are Muslims. That to me is how we change the world.”