The Bahá’í community of Washington, D.C. strives to put the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith into practice through active community building. It welcomes people of all backgrounds to Sunday morning programs, devotional gatherings, children’s classes, study groups and junior youth empowerment programs. Through these local endeavors, the D.C. Bahá’í community creates environments where diversity is celebrated and young people are inspired to practice virtues and render service to others.

 

The Bahá’ís of D.C. have a strong legacy of working to build racial unity. In 1912, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Son of Bahá'u'lláh, spoke about interracial harmony at Howard University’s Rankin Chapel, marking one of the earliest racially integrated gatherings in the city. Prominent African-American Bahá’ís spent formative years in D.C., including Alain Locke, “the dean” of the Harlem Renaissance; Louis Gregory, a Howard-educated attorney; Robert Turner, the first AfricanAmerican Bahá’í; and Helen Elsie Austin, a U.S. foreign service officer and the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve as assistant attorney general in Ohio.

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Having recently celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Bahá’ís of Washington, D.C., are even more inspired to continue advancing His vision: “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

 

About the Bahá’í Faith

 

Bahá'u'lláh is considered by millions around the world as the Divine Educator for this age, Whose coming was foretold by all of the Divine Messengers of the past. In His writings, Bahá'u'lláh outlines a framework for the development of a global civilization centered around the recognition of the oneness of humanity, offering a compelling vision of a future world defined by justice, peace and prosperity.

 

Bahá'u'lláh teaches that the successive Founders of the world’s religions – among them Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Muhammad – are Manifestations of God, Who each brought a message suited to the age and place in which it was revealed. In essence, the religion of God is one and is progressively unfolding. The international Bahá’í community, numbering more than 5 million, is quite possibly the most diverse organized body of people on the planet. In fewer than 200 years, it has become a global faith present in every country in the world with adherents from virtually every national and religious background, including about 2,100 indigenous tribes, races and ethnic groups.