Prayers, Pancakes, and Progress at the Pasadena Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast

The City of Pasadena is set to host the 51st Annual Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 2, bringing together hundreds of community members, local leaders, and the interfaith community for a morning of unity and prayer.

The event, held at the Pasadena Convention Center from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., will be hosted by Friends In Deed, a local interfaith organization dedicated to providing supportive services to those experiencing homelessness and those at-risk.

Mayor Victor M. Gordo expressed his enthusiasm for the long-standing tradition, saying, “The annual Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast is a tradition I am thrilled to continue. Bringing our diverse community together is essential for progress, and this morning presents an invaluable opportunity for unity.”

The mayor also acknowledged the generous sponsorship of Wescom Credit Union to make the event possible.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Melissa Ramirez, an organic chemist and Presidential Postdoctoral Scholar at Caltech. Born to Mexican immigrants and raised in Pasadena, Dr. Ramirez is a first-generation Latina who will be starting her own laboratory at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in January 2025, where she will train the next generation of synthetic and computational organic chemists.

Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, Executive Director of Friends In Deed, emphasized the significance of the event, noting the organization’s 130-year history of congregations uniting to address local social issues.

“Dr. Ramirez is a perfect fit for this year’s theme as she looks toward teaching aspiring young scientists,” he said.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Friends In Deed’s five core programs: The Women’s Room, Food Pantry, Bad Weather Shelter, Street Outreach and Housing, and Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance. These programs aim to meet the basic human needs of those experiencing homelessness and those at-risk, helping them rebuild their lives.

The 51st Annual Pasadena Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast is open to the public, with table sponsorships and individual tickets available. For more information or to purchase tickets, interested parties can visit friendsindeedpas.org/mipb or call (626) 797-2402 ext 202.