In the international community, anti-U.S. sentiment has been exacerbated by events like the Iraq War, the war in Afghanistan, the Guantanamo Bay scandal, and the drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Likewise, stereotypes and misconceptions of the Islamic World have been common place in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks. Rebecca Cataldi, a program manager for a non-profit in Washington, D.C. is working to change these perceptions with her initiative – the American-Islamic Friendship Project. She was inspired to start this project – a collection of messages of peace and friendships between people in the U.S. and the Muslim world – after visiting the Middle East and Pakistan. Below, she tells CHUP more about her initiative, why she started it, and what you can do to contribute: