Hindu and Sikh Invocation Prayer to be Offered at Interfaith Service at Democratic National Convention
- Neelima Gonuguntla of Irving, Texas and Pardeep Kaleka of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will join a host of religious leaders in Milwaukee.
On Aug. 16, the eve of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, faith leaders from around the U.S. will come together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to unite around Joe Biden’s vision for a kinder and stronger country. DNC says the interfaith service will “celebrate our nation’s collective strength, diversity, and humanity.”
Leading the service are religious leaders including Pardeep Kaleka of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Neelima Gonuguntla of Irving, Texas, who will be offering the Hindu and Sikh invocation prayer. They will be “representing the unique backgrounds and communities that together will help Joe Biden restore the soul of America,” according to the DNC.
“Next week, the world will see what Joe Biden’s America will look like: a nation united, not divided, by our differences,” said Josh Dickson, National Faith Engagement Director at Biden for President. “As we set that future in our sights, it’s more important than ever that we come together in spirit and purpose around the critical task of making him the next president of the United States.”
The service will be held on Aug. 16, from 1:00-2:00pm Eastern, and will stream live on the convention’s YouTube page at Youtube.com/DemConvention.
Gonuguntla is an international business professional and attorney in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A community leader promoting initiatives in education, women’s empowerment, and international trade, Gonuguntla serves the Indian American community as a board member of Chinmaya Mission Dallas Fort Worth, an affiliate of one of the largest Hindu organizations in the United States.
Kaleka, a former police officer, educator and clinician, is the executive director of Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee. Founder of Serve2Unite, Kaleka specializes in utilizing a trauma-informed approach to treat survivors and perpetrators of assault, abuse and acts of violence.
Joining Kaleka and Gonuguntla are Rex Lee Jim of Rock Point, Arizona; Marin Webster Denning of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Bishop William Murphy III of Atlanta, Georgia; Imam Noman Hussain of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Bishop Samuel Green of Columbia, South Carolina; Reverend Jeanette of Salguero, Orlano; and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of New York.
The Democratic National Convention will take place over four nights from Aug. 17-20, 2020.“Uniting America” will serve as the primary theme for the four nights of programming.
I’m wondering why no Catholic was at this interfaith beginning?