History

The Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative (AAIC) has deep roots in our community, originally founded on May 8, 1946, by nineteen faith communities, including eleven from Attleboro, and the YMCA. What began as a small network has grown into a diverse group of 36 houses of worship and faith-based partners, representing a wide range of traditions and beliefs.

Over the years, AAIC has called several places home. For more than two decades, we were based at the Masonic Temple in Attleboro. In 1970, we moved to Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, then later to 7 North Main Street in 2002. Eventually, we settled into the former Richardson School at 95 Pine Street. When the pandemic hit in 2020, we adapted by working remotely. In 2021, we found a new home at the Sweet Community House, in partnership with the Attleboro YMCA.

In 2017, we changed our name from the Attleboro Area Council of Churches to the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative. This new name better reflects our ongoing mission: to foster connection and understanding among a broad spectrum of faiths, and to honor the diverse beliefs of our volunteers, partners, and neighbors.

AAIC has been guided by a dedicated group of leaders over the years, including the Rev. Daniel Potter, the Rev. Arthur Rinden, the Rev. Robert Ryder, Carolyn L. Bronkar, Elaine Gaetani, Janet Long, Dorothy Embree, Kat Wright, and Lisa Piscatelli. Marcia Szymanski also served as Interim Executive Director, and today we’re led by our current Executive Director, Shir Lovett–Graff.

Our core programs, Food n’ Friends, Interfaith Chaplaincy, and Resource Junction, continue to serve thousands of community members with compassion, collaboration, and care.