MONDAY, JANUARY 29 – Non-profit organization Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC) will host a two-part event on “Building Religious Freedom in Central Asia.”
In a time when religious freedom faces challenges worldwide, it is uplifting to see countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan making positive strides. What drives this progress, and what current developments should we know of?
With over a decade of hands-on experience in the region, LYNC and its partners are poised to spotlight its significant strides toward fostering religious freedom and social cohesion within Central Asia.
The event will occur on Monday, January 29 from 12:15 pm to 2:15 pm inside the Army and Navy Club located at 901 17th St. in Washington, D.C. A light lunch will be provided.
LYNC will split the two-hour event into two parts:
The first will be an assessment in Uzbekistan: LYNC will share the findings from a recent delegation with partners exploring Uzbekistan’s evolving religious freedom and social cohesion.
The panelists include Dr. Chris Seiple from the University of Haifa, Dr. Mohamed Elsanusi, Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, Ms. Nadine Maenza, a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center and President of the IRF Secretariat, and Mr. Wade Kusack, LYNC’s Founder and CEO.
“Identifying a problem is only the beginning; the subsequent and vital inquiry must be – what strategies can we implement to resolve this problem effectively?” said Kusack.
During the event’s second half, LYNC will present its pioneering approach to nurturing religious freedom and social cohesion in Kazakhstan.
Kusack is also a panelist for the presentation, among other projected panelists, Mr. Greg Mitchell, IRF Secretariat Chairman, Dr. Max Vasin, LYN Community Senior Researcher, and Ms. Jessica Eturralde, LYN Community’s Communication Director.
LYNC believes that community participation will significantly enrich the discussions on critical issues encompassing religious freedom and social cohesion.
“This briefing is not only about presenting our findings but also about fostering a dynamic exchange on the future of religious freedom in Central Asia and the collaborative work needed to support it,” Kusack added.
LYNC is dedicated to civil society development and multi-faith cooperation, working hand-in-hand with governments, civil societies, and faith-based communities. LYNC is fostering societies where religious freedom, responsible citizenship, mutual trust, and cross-sectoral cooperation are not just ideals but lived realities. LYNC translates the spiritual imperative of love toward God and thy neighbor into practical, actionable programs that touch lives and transform societies.