Last Modified: March 25, 2025
What is the purpose of the URI Online Community Platform - “URI Connect”?
This space has been designed to help you connect more directly with other members of the URI network and to inspire collaboration to advance our URI Purpose. It is a space for creative connection to spark new ideas and collaborations, as we work locally, across regions and as a global community.
The purpose of the platform is:
- to invite daily, open conversations and deep curiosity across our differences,
- to slow down and be intentional in our responses and commitments to interreligious solidarity,
- to share learnings and resources to grow communities of practice
…in order to inspire, nurture, and sustain off-screen community actions and exchanges to prevent violence and create cultures of peace, justice and healing.
How to start using URI Connect?
Start by joining open conversations in the "Conversations" section in your feed.
If you want, create Conversations with topics that interest you and invite members of the Communities you have joined to join the conversation with you.
You can also explore what is happening in the Communities you participate in, and join proposed Events, and create an Offer & Ask to share resources together. Everything is in your feed, explore and bring your contributions!
What is a Conversation?
A Conversation is an invitation to explore a question that generates ongoing curiosity, sharing, and knowledge for everyone who participates and helps support collaborations. Whoever opens a Conversation needs to propose a question for their community to reflect on together and invite others to participate.
How to create a Conversation?
- Click "Create" and “Create Conversation”
- Follow the guidelines, be clear and motivating in your question
Once published, your Conversation will appear in the feed under "Conversations", visible to all members of that Community. It will also appear on your profile, under “Conversations” and you will have direct access to the indicators to better manage your Conversation.
When the Conversation ends, you receive a Noon.AI summary (Noon's tool that uses the Chat-GPT feature) of everything that happened in your Conversation.
How to respond to a Conversation?
- Click “Answer Here” on the bottom of your screen
- Choose ONE Intention Symbol: Support, Praying, Take Action, New View, or Co-create (See next section for what the Intention Symbols mean.)
- Type your response in accord with our Community Guidelines
- You may, optionally, add a photo or video to your response
- You can also comment on other member’s response by clicking “Answer Here” under their response, OR react to their response by choosing one of the Intention Symbols under their response
What do the intention symbols mean?
In this platform you are invited to take a moment to pause before responding and to consider the intention guiding your response. You must select a symbol in order to respond. These symbols were created to indicate to others in the conversation the type of response you were offering in a conversation and what commitment you are offering through your response.
Support: Use this Intention Symbol to indicate your commitment to encourage, appreciate, and offer heartfelt or other supportive care to the conversation or initiative.
Praying: Use this Intention Symbol to share your prayers and wisdom from your religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions.
Take Action: Use this Intention Symbol to offer or commit to an action to work together. Remember you can use the direct messaging tool to follow up with members to take action together.
New View: Use this Intention Symbol when you are offering a new or very different perspective on the conversation so far, maybe asking a new challenging question or sharing a view that might change the direction of the conversation.
Co-create: Use this Intention Symbol to share new and creative ideas or thoughts to inspire deeper reflection and innovative co-creation across the network.
What is an Event?
The Event is a space for you to schedule events and invite people to participate. It can be a virtual or physical space, it’s up to you!
How to create an Event?
- Click “Create” and “Create Event”
- Follow the guidelines, and remember to correctly add the date, time, and location, so everyone can attend
Once published, your Event will appear in the feed, in a carousel (horizontal scrolling) format. It will also appear on your profile, in the "Events" tab. Once your event date has expired, it leaves your feed but remains on your profile.
How to join an Event?
Slide horizontally through the Events carousel in your feed. See which events interest you. Just click "Join" and the event will go to your Profile. The Event owner will be notified that you have joined the Event and will be in touch with you closer to the date of the Event. Remember to take note of the date and time of the event, so you can participate.
What is an Ask & Offer?
The Ask & Offer is a tool for members of the URI network to offer or search for resources and support of all kinds. Perhaps there is a skill you want to share? Or a venue that is available for others to use? You have something to offer: create an Offer! If you are looking for some help with a project or you need something to advance your collaborations: Ask for it!
How to create an Ask & Offer?
- Click “Create” and “Create Ask & Offer”
- Follow the guidelines, remember to be empathetic, and explain clearly what you are asking for or what you are offering
Once published, your Ask & Offer will appear in the feed, in a carousel (horizontal scroll) format. Anyone who wants to connect with your Ask & Offer will send you a message via chat. Stay tuned!
How to connect to an Ask & Offer?
Slide through the Ask & Offers carousel in your feed. When you are interested in one of the Offers or would like to respond to one of the Asks, click “Connect” and you will be connected through the direct message feature.
Please note that URI is not responsible for agreements or exchanges made between members via the Ask & Offer tool.
What is a Community?
Everyone needs to belong to at least one Community to be a member of URI Connect. Everyone is automatically invited to the Global Community. Communities are reserved spaces for members who share cooperative goals and interests to support each other’s collaborations and exchanges for effective action. Communities include but are not limited to URI regional areas and URI action areas, such as youth, environment, violence prevention, etc.
The Communities you belong to are where you will find all related Conversations, Events, and Ask & Offers, but only for people who are part of this space.
If you are a Community Owner or URI Connect Facilitator, when creating a Community, make sure you have a defined purpose, and that you will have enough people to ensure good engagement.
How to join a Community?
When you join the URI Online Community Platform you automatically join the Global Community. You may quickly receive invitations to join other Communities and also, you may have access to other public Communities at the top of your feed. In general, if you want to join more Communities, use the "Search" button at the bottom of your screen to search for Communities based on the action areas that interest you. If any of them interest you, you can ask to join! The owner of the Community will be notified that you have asked to join it.
How to manage my Profile?
Click on your Photo at the top left of the timeline. There you can access your Communities, Conversations, Events, and Asks & Offers. In the three lines in the top right corner, you can edit your profile, change your password, and access the App's information.
Remember to give the App permission to access your phone's photo gallery and camera.
What file formats can be uploaded to URI Connect?
Image Files: jpg, png, jpeg
Video Files: mp4, mov, wmv, avi, flv
What happens to the data and content uploaded to URI Connect?
Your content on the URI App is not sold to third parties. It is only used within the URI Network to help offer you opportunities based on the Communities and Action Areas you participate in. It will be visible to you to help you improve your collaborations across the URI Network. Please note that URI Connect does not use algorithms to determine the order of content in your feeds. Content appears in the order in which it gets created.
How can I give feedback on my experience in the app?
We welcome your feedback and input on how to make this application work better for you! Please email [email protected] to share your experience.
How to use Itsnoon technology to build a customized network?
Any organization or institution can develop its customized network using Itsnoon's white-label platform. Email [email protected] to find out more.