Earl El-Amin, 69, resident imam, Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore; vice president, National Centers on Institutions and Alternatives

I think the country is on the precipice of understanding that if it doesn’t solve its long-term problem with racial hypocrisy, it’s going to become a once-great country.

But I’m optimistic. I believe the solutions lie in doing more of what we at the mosque have been doing for years: reaching across divisions of race and faith to feed the hungry, to build strong neighborhoods, to develop stronger families.

It should be less about saying, “Well, Jesus said this” or “Mohammed said that,” and more about coming together to build on values at the crux of all flourishing civilizations. And I do think people are getting it.

Faith traditions will be working together more and more. Young people are more aware than ever and taking leadership roles. Goodness is on the rise.