05/12/2026
The Religion and Media Collaborative: Present Realities, Possible Futures is a strategic, field-building initiative designed to strengthen how stories of religious diversity circulate in U.S. public life. Building on the Henry Luce Foundation–supported Under Gods Initiative, this project responds to an urgent need: while powerful narratives are being produced to diversify the story of U.S. American religion, they often lack coordinated strategies for effective media deployment and public impact.
The proposed Collaborative will convene 12 leading practitioners and thinkers working at the intersection of religion, media, and democracy for a structured process of learning, experimentation, and strategy development. Through four facilitated virtual convenings and a four-day in-person retreat in San Juan, Puerto Rico, participants will assess the current religion-and-media landscape and collectively imagine innovative, scalable approaches to storytelling across platforms such as journalism, podcasts, public art, film, and digital media.
Puerto Rico provides a critical context for this work, foregrounding religious complexity, colonial histories, and grassroots media innovation often excluded from dominant U.S. narratives. Facilitated by Jorge Juan Rodríguez V, Ph.D., the Collaborative will culminate in a practical strategy to systematize and disseminate new media approaches, with particular attention to amplifying Under Gods stories.
By equipping leaders with shared frameworks and tools, this project will advance more curious, civil, and compassionate public conversations about religious difference while reinforcing Luce’s commitment to democracy, pluralism, and justice.
