Religious Freedom Film Competition 2019 Winners Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook and Lauren Merkley

The Dare to Overcome Film Competition has awarded its grand prize winning film, A Different Way, by Amb. Suzan Johnson Cook & Lauren Merkley.

Amb. ‘Sujay’ shares her experience as the first female chaplain for the NYPD and how interfaith relationships were essential in fostering hope and rebuilding a city after the events of 9/11.

The competition is sponsored by the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, which educates the global business community about how religious diversity & inclusion is good for business, and engages the business community in joining forces with government and non-government organizations in promoting respect for freedom of religion or belief.

Research shows that it is in the self-interest of business to protect freedom of religion and belief, which is an essential ingredient in sustainable development. Indeed, protecting religious freedom also protects the very environment that business itself needs to flourish. Moreover, research also demonstrates that employees who can bring their “whole selves” to the workplace perform better in many bottom line key indicator areas. Bringing one’s whole self includes religious identity.

Many companies, however, are struggling to navigate religion and beliefs at work. In fact, 36 percent of American workers — approximately 50 million people — have experienced or witnessed religious discrimination in the workplace, with religious majorities, minorities and non-religious employees all reporting this experience. This has direct impact on employee and company performance. Additionally, while companies have rightly paid significant attention to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, workplace religious discrimination complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) outnumber sexual orientation complaints two-to-one.