Chloe Breyer

Chloe Breyer is an American Episcopal priest, attorney, and interfaith leader serving as the executive director of the Interfaith Center of New York. The daughter of the late United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, she has forged a distinct career at the intersection of law, religion, and social justice, focusing on building bridges between diverse religious communities and advocating for marginalized populations in New York City. Her work emphasizes practical interfaith cooperation to address pressing urban issues such as poverty, immigration, and racial inequality.

Early life and education

Chloe Breyer was born in 1968 in New York City, the daughter of Stephen Breyer, who would later serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Joanna Hare, a psychologist from a prominent British family. She was raised in a secular, intellectually engaged household in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her father taught at Harvard Law School. Breyer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Literature from Harvard University in 1990. She then pursued dual vocations, receiving a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1995 and a Master of Divinity from the Union Theological Seminary in 1997, where she was deeply influenced by theologians and activists like James H. Cone.

Career

Breyer was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 2001. She initially served as an associate at the Church of the Holy Trinity on the Upper East Side. Her legal background informed her ministry, leading her to roles that blended pastoral care with advocacy. In 2006, she joined the Interfaith Center of New York, an organization founded by the renowned Buddhist scholar and activist Robert Thurman. She became its executive director, a position she has held since, steering the center's mission to harness the resources of New York City's diverse religious landscape to combat social problems. Under her leadership, the center has partnered with organizations like the New York Police Department, the New York City Council, and various community-based organizations to foster dialogue and collaborative action.

Activism and advocacy

Breyer's activism is characterized by a hands-on, coalition-building approach to interfaith work. She has been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, working closely with Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu communities facing discrimination or legal challenges. Following events like the September 11 attacks and during the administration of Donald Trump, she helped organize rapid response networks for threatened communities. Her advocacy extends to issues of economic justice, facilitating partnerships between faith-based organizations and groups like the Robin Hood Foundation to address poverty. She has also been involved in initiatives promoting restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration, collaborating with entities such as the Center for Court Innovation and the Fortune Society.

Personal life

Chloe Breyer is married to David Callaway, a journalist and former editor-in-chief of the TheStreet.com. The couple has two children and resides in Manhattan. While her father's stature in the federal judiciary brought public attention, she has maintained a career focused on grassroots community engagement rather than political circles. Her mother, Joanna Breyer, is a clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric oncology at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital.

Publications

Breyer is the author of *The Close: A Young Woman's First Year at Seminary* (2001), a memoir detailing her experiences at Union Theological Seminary and exploring themes of faith, doubt, and vocation. She has contributed articles and essays on interfaith issues to various publications and platforms, including the HuffPost and the Journal of Ecumenical Studies. Her written work often reflects her pragmatic theology, emphasizing the role of religious institutions in public life and the moral imperatives of social justice work.

Category:1968 births Category:American Episcopal priests Category:American women lawyers Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:Union Theological Seminary (New York City) alumni Category:People from New York City Category:American activists