As Americans take time to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Detroit area communities are focusing on opportunities to learn, serve, and transform the anniversary into a healing experience.
The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is one of the lead organizations involved in planning Acts of Kindness-Detroit, which will bring hundreds of volunteers together to serve the community and to learn from and about each other in the process.
In addition, groups throughout the region are planning interfaith events to commemorate the anniversary and to build new links in their communities. We have compiled this list of some of those events, and will post more on our site as we learn more in the days ahead.
For some ideas for your own commemoration, check out this list of 9/11 resources and fresh ideas for your congregation or small group at Read the Spirit.
DETROIT: Acts of Kindness (A-OK) Detroit
September 11, 1-5 p.m., Focus:HOPE, 1400 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit MI 48238
More than 700 volunteers from the IFLC, ACCESS, Women’s Interfaith Solutions for Dialogue and Outreach in MetroDetroit (WISDOM), the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, City Year Detroit, United Way, University of Michigan-Dearborn and J-Serve will come together in service activities focused around Focus: HOPE’s campus in northwest Detroit. The program will include a kick-off celebration, hands-on service projects, and wrap up with food and dialogue. Click here for more information or click here to register for the A-OK Detroit event.
SOUTHFIELD: 10 Years After 9/11: Building Community--an interfaith worship service by Lift UP! Southfield
September 11, 7 p.m., Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
The InterFaith Council of Southfield will host a community interfaith worship service to honor our common journey of the past ten years. The service will feature religious leaders and members of local Christian, Jewish & Muslim communities, including The Rev. William A. Walker from First Baptist Church of Detroit and Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk, President of the Islamic Organization of North America, as well as an interfaith choir. A collection will be taken to support Southfield Human Services.
For more information, visit www.liftupsouthfield.org, e-mail csz.info@shaareyzedek.org, or call
248/357-5544.
ROYAL OAK: Transforming 9/11: an interfaith community commemoration
September 11, 7 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, 26998 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak
The commemoration will focus on Remembering, Reflecting and Responding to the events of 9/11/01 with participation of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leadership, featuring music from Song and Spirit and a Community Choir that anyone can join. Free to the public and followed by reception.
Sponsored by the Berkley Clergy Association, Royal Oak Pastor's Association, Interfaith Leadership Council, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, and the Song and Spirit Institute for Peace. For more information and details click on Transforming 9/11.
WEST BLOOMFIELD: Fire Department 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
September 11, 2 p.m., West Bloomfield Fire Station Five, 5425 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield
This community remembrance will incluce a presentation of an actual piece of steel from the World Trade Center collapse site which has been entrusted to the West Bloomfield Fire Department. The Fire Department plans on making this special ‘national treasure’ that can be shared throughout the community via travelling display.
For more information, contact Jack Freed, chaplain of the West Bloomfield Fire Department at 248-851-4329
PLYMOUTH-CANTON: 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Observance and Food Drive
September 11, 2:30 p.m., Muslim Community of Western Suburbs, 40440 Palmer Rd., Canton
Memorial service featuring religious and community leaders from diverse faith traditions. Participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food, and area youth groups will collect & distribute food to local food pantries.
For more information, contact Aamina Ahmed (248) 894-7081 and ddbahmed@yahoo.com
Muslim Community of Western Suburbs (734) 467-7704
ANN ARBOR: September 11 Commemoration: Rebuild, Reflect, Remember
September 11, 2-5 p.m., various work sites around Ann Arbor. 5:30 Commemoration service at Gallup Park, Ann Arbor.
This day of service is to help heal the brokenness from the attacks on 9/11 and their aftermath. Projects include service for veterans, ecological restoration, and support for Iraqi refugees. Culminates at a 5:30 commemoration service followed by a community picnic. Sponsored by the Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County and the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice.
Find more details at the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice website, call 734-663-1870 or 734-424-1535, or email info@icpj.net or gbrides@umich.edu
Register online at:
http://sept11.eventbrite.com/
MILFORD: Zaman International Second Annual Walk 4 Humanity
September 10, Camp Dearborn in Milford, 1700 General Motors Road
The Walk 4 Humanity will feature events for the whole family to honor the victims and families of 9/11, including a BBQ, games, and pony rides. All proceeds will be directed towards Zaman’s humanitarian projects. To register, visit Zaman International or for more information, please call 313.551.3994.
DETROIT: Cultural Anxiety, Collective Identity: Muslims and Citizenship lecture
September 13, 7:00 p.m., Partrich Auditorium, Wayne State University Law School
Scholar and commentator Saeed Khan will deliver the annual Citizenship Day and Constitution Day lecture, assessing the pressures that constrain the full expression of citizenship for Muslims in a post-9/11 world. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.
Find more information at the Wayne State Center for the Study of Citizenship.
DETROIT: New Beginnings: Let's Work Together--an interfaith service and get-together to lift up Detroit
September 25, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 631 W. Fort Street, Detroit
Sponsored by the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network (DION). Includes potluck lunch, screening of the film "Coexistence: Is it Possible?" and discussion on ways to work together for our city. Donations of gently used clothing and toiletries for the "Open Door Program" for the needy will be accepted. RSVP to Rabbi Dorit Edut at mutzim@aol.com or Randy Commissaris at commissaris@wayne.edu.
MACOMB COUNTY: Countywide Ceremony Commemmorating 9/11
September 11, 2:00 p.m. Warren Civic Center, One City Square, Warren, Michigan
Hosted by the City of Warren and the Interfaith Center for Racial Justice (ICRJ). For more information, contact the Warren Mayor's office at (586) 574-4520 or Rev. Michail Curro at curroicrj@sbcglobal.net or (586) 463-3675.
Participating in this ceremony will be U.S. Congressman Sander Levin, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts, Warren Police Commissioner Jere Green and Fire Commissioner Skip McAdams, ICRJ leaders Imam Steve Elturk (Islamic Organization of North America), Rev. Roger Facione (Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church), Fr. Gary Schulte (St. Sylvester Catholic Church), and Rev. Michail T. Curro (ICRJ Executive Director), teenage participants from ICRJ’s 2011 Listen, Learn, & Live Summer Camp for Teenagers, the Warren Community Chorus, local choirs from Life Application Ministries Church and Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, and the Warren Mott Marching Band which will be leading folks to the ceremony in a march from an earlier Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 event at Temrowski Funeral Home.
TROY: Interfaith Memorial Service by the Troy Clergy Group
September 11, 7 p.m., St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church, 4571 John R Rd Troy, MI
Call (248) 689-8380 for more information.
HAMTRAMCK: Common Word Alliance Service Day
September 10
Contact Arif Huskic for more information at arifhuskic@yahoo.com or (313) 999-5483.
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 3:11PM 
Teens served in interfaith groupsOn Sunday, September 11, more than 830 volunteers converged on Detroit's Focus:HOPE campus for a day of community service and intercultural connection called A-OK (Acts of Kindness) Detroit.
Volunteers planted a tree with a placque reading: "September 11, 2011 - Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 through Community Connection and Dialogue." After a kick-off rally led by dignitaries including William Jones, CEO of Focus:HOPE, Annie Ellington, Chief Service Officer for the City of Detroit, Hassan Jaber, CEO of ACCESS, and Asim Mishra from the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington D.C., volunteers cleaned up the Focus:HOPE campus and packed food for the hungry. Chinese transfer students from the University of Michigan-Dearborn worked alongside Arab Americans, and Christians and Jews worked beside Muslims and Buddhists in a spirit of respect and harmony.