. >> reporter: in syracuse, betsy wiggins says she feels like she was living in a bubble before 9/11. she was raised presbyterian and attends a united methodist church. after the 9/11 attacks, she was disturbed by reports of a backlash against local muslim women. betsy's husband, jim, had been active in interfaith efforts. at his encouragement, she called the imam at the local mosque. >> and i said, "i am ignorant about islam, far more ignorant than i want to be, and i want to do something, and i'm especially concerned about muslim women. can you tell me someone i can talk to?" >> reporter: the imam put her in touch with danya wellmon. wellmon had grown up methodist, but after a time of spiritual searching converted to islam in 1992. she says the days after 9/11 were difficult for members of her mosque. >> we did get the phone calls, the harassment. many muslim families kept their children home from school, you know, there was the name calling. i know myself, i was run off the road one time and called a terrorist, and it was very scary. >> reporter: wellmon says she was surprised but