USC Center for Religion & Civic Culture

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USC Center for Religion & Civic Culture

What we do
CRCC’s unique team consists of scholars, journalists and faith leaders. We also see researchers as being isolated from the communities they study.

The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture advances the understanding of religion and society, and supports faith and community leaders in becoming full partners in the work of social change. Our core work is in two related areas: We conduct empirical research on religious, cultural and social change in the US and globally; and we make this knowledge applicable and available through media, repo

rts, public events, and training and mentoring programs. CRCC hosts various institutes that help leaders realize their potential and transform their organization so that they can have a more effective and sustained impact on community health and wellbeing. Our current programs include the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, and Developing Thriving Congregations. CRCC also provides consulting and evaluation work to philanthropy, business, public officials and elected leadership to enhance their engagement with faith communities on social issues. Our approach
Our work has shown that spirituality is the force that compels many people to be engaged with the grand challenges of our time. Religious traditions provide a moral vision for a more just world, as well as the institutional and social capital required to create positive changes in society. Yet often, religious leaders and groups operate in isolation—from each other and from others seeking similar goals. As a center at a major research institution, CRCC connects communities and leaders with the academy and private and public sectors. We create inclusive spaces for people of good will from across the spectrum of religious traditions to learn and grow together. Our team of scholars and practitioners understands its role as bringing insights on religion to the public in a way that it can be applied in service of the greater good.

08/16/2026

Our friends at NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change are looking for stories for their upcoming Spotlight Storytelling event on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. This year’s theme is "Raising My Voice", and they're looking for personal stories that answer the question “How do you raise your voice in the chaos?” In an atmosphere of accelerating misinformation, hostile speech, and polarization, we want to uplift stories of clear, confident voices that can help guide us through the confusion.

📣 Deadline to submit stories is Friday, August 28.
🎤 Story submission link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch1RkT-yYPyOBZl6mbAN-AETy84yq3lFYAQPNwGNrr8pTSaw/viewform

08/15/2026

Did you know it's ?

As part of the 10th annual Interfaith Awareness Week, our friend and American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute fellow, Aziza Hasan (CEO of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change) lead a seminar on Zoom called "Making Peace a Reality." The seminar discussed The Future Is Peace, a joint memoir by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon.

You can watch a recording of Aziza's conversation with ‪Aziz Abu Sarah and ‪Maoz Inon here:
https://youtu.be/uZUoqalHrlc?si=9s6g4qnyVfpavamP

And learn more about Interfaith Awareness Week here:
https://world-interfaith.com/interfaith-awareness-week/

08/13/2026

Learn from our partners at FāVS News - one week to go:

Join Tracy Simmons and other members of the FāVS community for practical lessons on building stronger journalism communities.

Register: bit.ly/FaVS2026

One week to go.

Join Tracy Simmons and other members of the FāVS community for practical lessons on building stronger journalism communities.

Register: bit.ly/FaVS2026

08/04/2026

Check out this opportunity to apply for the 2027 Karsh Journalism Fellowship, shared by our friend Diane Winston, Knight Chair in Media and Religion at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Apply here: https://karshfellowship.org/apply/

08/01/2026

“It is possible to both have the same kind of justice that Jesus had when he’s flipping tables,” she said, referring to a story in the New Testament often cited as a righteous form of protest, “and also be able to do it in a loving and compassionate way.”

Latina United Methodist Church leaders in Texas are emerging with fresh models for ministry following years of schism, decline and uncertainty within the denomination.

(RNS) — Latina United Methodist Church leaders in Texas are emerging with fresh models for ministry following years of schism, decline and uncertainty within the denomination.

07/31/2026

'“While new economic and technological networks can generate exclusion, isolation and dependencies,” reports Pope Leo, “the Church — nourished by the Eucharist — is called to make visible a different paradigm, one that preserves human connections, gives a voice to the invisible and ensures that processes are aimed at respecting people’s dignity.”'

At the beginning of this year one of CRCC's Trends to Watch in Religion and Society in 2026 included TECH BOOM vs. BUST, focused on Artificial Intelligence and faith communities, while another, HOPE vs. FEAR, reflected upon how Pope Francis’ message of hope and love would win out over Trump’s violent rhetoric.

This piece ties both of these trends together - be sure to check out the full article:

(RNS) — 'The Eucharist opens us to justice and sharing, with a preferential concern for those who are burdened by poverty or marginalization,' the pope writes.

07/28/2026

Cool story about a church relieving medical debt. Look forward to working with Next City to publishing more stories of faith communities as a force for urban change through our collaboration on Stories of Change in American Religion Initiative.

A politically diverse congregation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been raising money to retire millions of dollars of medical debt in the surrounding community.

07/24/2026

Our friend Michael Christensen's latest post from the New Northwind Seminary Romantic Theology substack offers a gentle nudge from the back of the Northwind... Or the warmth of a cozy fire in a Rabbit Room.

07/23/2026

As part of the Stories of Change in American Religion Initiative at USC’s USC Center for Religion & Civic Culture, Next City is launching a year-long collaborative reporting effort to cover innovative faith communities as a force for urban change. They are looking for 10 mission-aligned, place-based newsrooms to join us — one per city or region — to co-report and co-publish this work.

Deadline to submit is July 31st. Learn more and apply today:

We're looking for 10 place-based newsrooms to help us report on faith communities responding to urban social challenges, as part of Next City's new Local Reporting Hub.

07/22/2026

A new study found that, even among Gen Z Christians, the strong alliance between Trump and Christianity has had a negative impact on churchgoing for many.

Read more in this RNS piece:
https://religionnews.com/2026/07/20/half-of-gen-z-says-trump-support-keeps-them-out-of-church/

OPINION: Half of Gen Z says Trump support keeps them out of church

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Los Angeles, CA

Telephone

+12137431624

Website

http://crcc.usc.edu/

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