Tahil Sharma

Tahil Sharma

Tahil Sharma

An interfaith activist, Tahil Sharma was born to a Hindu father and a Sikh mother. Following the Oak Creek, WI shooting at a Sikh temple in 2012, Tahil became involved in efforts for interfaith literacy and social justice. He has done this work professionally for the past seven years.

Tahil serves as the Regional Coordinator for North America for the United Religions Initiative, the world’s largest, grassroots interfaith network. He also serves as one of three Interfaith Ministers in Residence for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and as a Board Member for Sadhana: A Coalition of Progressive Hindus. Tahil is involved with various organizations in different capacities to educate, engage, and serve communities that promote interfaith cooperation, ethical pluralism and social and productive norms in society including the Interfaith Youth Core, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and The Interreligious Council of Southern California. Previously, he was the Faith Outreach Manager for Brave New Films, a social justice documentary organization that empowers communities and teaches civic participation through new media, facilitation, and strategies for action.

A member of The Guibord Center Advisory Council, he is also a contributing author to books including Co-Human Harmony: Using Our Shared Humanity To Bridge Divides, Hindu Approaches to Spiritual Care: Chaplaincy in Theory and Practice, and Acting on Faith: Stories of Courage, Activism, and Hope Across Religions.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: A Thoughtful Conversation Across Faiths
Moderator, The Leading Edge: Interfaith Multicultural Families
Speaker, Light in the Darkness: The Spiritual Struggle for Compassion and Justice in America Today
Speaker, Ahimsa and Nonviolence: An Interfaith Exploration of Racism

Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma

Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma

The Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma has served as Senior Pastor of Hollywood United Methodist Church since 2006. She has been a committed leader in national interfaith bridge-building, as well as homelessness and poverty efforts in Hollywood and Los Angeles.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: A Thoughtful Conversation Across Faiths

Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels

Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels

Rabbi Neil Comess Daniels is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth Shir Shalom in Santa Monica and a Guibord Center Advisor. He brings his passionate expression of Judaism, strong sense of social justice, and commitment to interfaith and interracial relations to the pulpit. With his artistic talents, he shares the riches of Jewish tradition through liturgy, song, and poetry.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: A Thoughtful Conversation Across Faiths

Tasneem Noor

Tasneem Noor

Tasneem Noor is Program Co-Director for NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership For Change. Raised in Pakistan, India, and Dubai, she is an Interfaith Minister in Residence with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, an award-winning author, and founder of Noor Enterprises: SOULful Transformations, offering personal development and opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: A Thoughtful Conversation Across Faiths

Dr. Daniel E. Walker

Dr. Daniel E. Walker

Dr. Daniel E. Walker is an internationally recognized scholar, filmmaker and public speaker working in the fields of history, film and religion, among others. The founding director of the University of Southern California Digital Library’s Gospel Music History Archive, he served as lead historian and co-curator for the 2018 exhibit How Sweet the Sound: Gospel Music in Los Angeles at the California African American Museum.

Dr. Walker holds an MA with distinction in Latin American history from the University of California, Riverside and a PhD with distinction in Latin American and African American History from the University of Houston. In 2018, he received an honorary doctorate from Claremont Graduate University for his contributions to arts, design, and innovation. 

Speaker, African Spiritual Roots of Gospel Music
Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: Navigating Grief