We are thrilled to announce this year’s Force for Good Award Recipients!
Thank you so much to all who joined us on November 13th to help us celebrate these dynamic awardees from across the great state of Colorado!
And, a special thanks to our sponsors for supporting our work together!
The Force for Good Award is designed to acknowledge individuals and organizations in our community who utilize faith and conscience as a Force for Good, and who work diligently to honor our common values and protect the most vulnerable in our community.
This year, we had award recipients in the categories of Organization, our inaugural Vanguard category, Community Advocate, Faith Leader, and Elected Official.
Read on to discover more about each of this year’s awardees!
Force for Good Organization Award
This award goes to an organization that has, over the decades, served as a universal defender of the rights of us all. This organization routinely scans the horizon for threats and confronts them head-on when they appear in our communities and our society.
The principle of a “government of laws, not of men” means that decisions are based on laws, not on the whims of powerful individuals. When that violation occurs, this organization routinely steps forward to challenge these abuses of power and defend the liberties of us all.
Congratulations to this year’s Force for Good Organization Award winner, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado!
ACLU of CO
Force for Good Vanguard Award
The word “vanguard” refers to a group of people leading the way in new developments of ideas. It also means the foremost part of an advancing force, one who stands up front. Or, simply put, one who leads.
This year, we introduced our inaugural Force for Good Vanguard Award to honor two individuals who have shown through example what it means to be on the forefront of positive change.
The first individual worked quietly, yet resolutely, towards resolving challenges that came his way. He spoke up, spoke out, and took action on issues impacting fellow Coloradans, such as supporting the unhoused, addressing food insecurity, and advocating for policies that protect all faith communities.
From speaking to elected officials at the capitol, to counseling those near death in the hospital and their loved ones, this individual worked tirelessly to address issues facing his community. He stood shoulder to shoulder with faith leaders across Denver to share words of love, welcome, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community in the wake of the Club Q shooting.
Congratulations to this year’s inaugural Force for Good Vanguard Award winner, the former pastor of First Baptist Church of Denver and former Board Chair of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson!
The second recipient of our inaugural Force for Good Vanguard Award helped to incubate our current programming that focuses jointly on antisemitism and anti-Muslim Hate. He worked diligently and tirelessly with our CEO and Muslim partners to develop and refine a curriculum that would deliberately feature impacted communities and reach into spaces where these topics are most needed.
This individual is a director for the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and meets regularly with elected officials at all levels of government, as well as community leaders, to build broad coalitions and seed change.
The second recipient of our 2025 inaugural Force for Good Vanguard Award is Eran Hazary!
We thank him for the seed he planted, which has developed into our Ikeda Dialogue Series on Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hate.
Congratulations, Eran!
Force for Good Community Advocate Award
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Force for Good Faith Leader Award
This year we presented the Community Advocate and Faith Leader Awards together. These two thoughtful, committed, dynamic individuals worked together with our CEO to plan a forum for women, representing their respective communities, and having a direct conversation about antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate.
Because of their courage, compassion, and resolve, Interfaith was able to host our first Women’s Forum on April 28th at the Governor’s Mansion. We were proud to have words of welcome from Governor Jared Polis, who commended Interfaith’s commitment to the Disagree Better initiative, as well as the host of women who donned their big church hats and fascinators for a unique and powerful discussion over tea. We brought together women from across faith traditions – Muslims, Jews, Baptists, Mormons, Catholics, Buddhists, Unitarians, Agnostics, and more! – for this deeply courageous and much needed conversation.
Congratulations to our Force for Good Community Advocate Award winner, civil rights attorney Azra Taslimi, as well as our Force for Good Faith Leader Award winner, Rabbi Emily Hyatt of Temple Emanuel!
Azra Taslimi
Rabbi Emily Hyatt
Force for Good Elected Official Award
This award goes to someone who our CEO, Shara Smith, describes as a true champion for all Coloradans.
In the last year, he has filed more than 40 lawsuits challenging federal policy on a host of issues, including immigration, funding cuts, transgender rights, data privacy, federal firings, tarrifs, elections, climate and the environment, gun control, healthcare, and education. Whether you’re a Colorado native or not, no matter what side of the political aisle you prefer, something on that list impacts you, your family, or your neighbors.
In addition to filing those lawsuits, this year’s recipient has also been successful in helping to prevent the disruption of birthright citizenship, protecting Medicaid data, taxpayer data, preventing funding cuts and federal staff cuts, as well as protecting medical care for marginalized communities.
Congratulations to this year’s Force for Good Elected Official Award winner, the Attorney General of Colorado, Phil Weiser!
Congratulations to each of this year’s Force for Good Award Recipients!
Thank you to Iliff President, Rev. Dr. Lee Butler, for delivering our keynote address on: Democracy, Theocracy and Autocracy.
Thank you to the Iliff School of Theology for being amazing hosts and partners!
And, thank you to all who joined us!