top of page

Media and Publications

Media Appearances

HOP.jpg
Healing Our Politics Episodelette 
Religion, Society, Conflict, & Progress with Allison Ralph
March, 2025

In this special minisode, Allison Ralph joins Skippy Mesirow to explore how religion shapes political and social life in a time of intense polarization. Drawing from her scholarship on the “social body,” she discusses the costs of freedom, the tension between belonging and exclusion, and what it means to make progress in a pluralistic society.

image.png
Stories Change Power Webinar 
Belonging in a Fragmented World: Rethinking Values,
Goals & Language for a Functioning Society
April, 2025

In this webinar, Allison Ralph reflects on the stories we tell about who belongs in society, and how those narratives can either entrench division or support pluralism. Drawing from her work on identity, social cohesion, and democratic norms, she offers a powerful framework for rethinking the values and language that hold communities together.

Publications & Articles

  • Second author with Benjamin P. Marcus, “Origins and Developments of Religious Literacy Education,” Religion & Education, 48 (1), 17-36 (2021). DOI: 10.1080/15507394.2021.1876498 

  • Co-author with Seán Rose. “Religious Literacy and Inclusion in Education Settings and Youth-Serving Organizations: Opportunities to Grow the Field.” In Pluralism in Peril: Challenges to an American Ideal, ed. Meryl Chertoff, Allison K. Ralph, Michael Green, and Marni Morse. (Washington, DC; Aspen Institute, 2018). 

  • “Censured Mystics: Expression and Accusation in Sixteenth Century Spain.” Osprey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry 4 (2004).  

​​

  • “The Ecosystem of Faith-Inspired Grantmaking.” With Brad Fulton, Indiana University. Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Annual Conference, Washington, DC, November 2024. 

  • “Navigating Values Differences.” Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement Faith In/And Democracy Summit, Phoenix, AZ, November 2023.  

  • “Religion and Philanthropy.” United Philanthropy Forum, July 2023. 

  • “Faith-Based Foundations: Identifying the Field.” With Brad Fulton, Indiana University. Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC, November 2022.

  • “Faith-Based Foundations: Identifying the Field and Assessing its Impact.” With Brad Fulton, Indiana University. Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 2021.  

  • “Civil Society and Religious Pluralism in a Polarized Nation.” Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, November, 2019. 

  • “A Recovering Angry Atheist Talks Religion.” Upswell Conference, Chicago, IL, November, 2019. 

  • “Purity and Danger: Islam, the Body Politic, and Public Policy.” American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Denver, CA, November, 2018. 

Presentations

Cohesion Strategy LLC partners with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations working toward religious pluralism and social cohesion. Our consulting services include strategy development, facilitation for convenings, research, evaluation, operations support, and keynote speaking. We are based in Washington, D.C., with clients across the United States.

allison@cohesionstrategy.com

© 2023 Cohesion Strategy LLC

bottom of page