Good Faith Conversations

By James Baratta ’22, July 31, 2020
Office of Religious and Spiritual Life launches program to promote interfaith dialogue.

This past spring, Hierald Osorto, director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and executive director for student equity and belonging, and Gloria Poveda, a former Diversity Fellow in the school’s Department of Education, launched “Uncommon Ground for the Common Good,” a program where a cohort of 10 students met weekly to model how religious pluralism could be used to counter polarization in higher education and develop their capacity to be change-makers through interfaith dialogue. 

The 18-month program, made possible thanks to a $5,000 grant on behalf of the Courageous Pluralism project, a nationwide initiative created by the Interfaith Youth Corp (IFYC), aims to unite students, faculty and staff around the shared goal of cultivating a campus climate that encourages individuals to bring forth their whole selves in the public sphere.

“I think it’s exciting that IC students are willing and ready to engage religious pluralism, and eager to think about how religion shapes the way they act in the world,” Osorto said. “We’re modeling what is possible. Students were seeking change on campus and asking for new ways of learning in the classroom. So we responded with an opportunity: ‘Co-create this program with us. Contribute your knowledge and experience. Let your longing inform your learning.’”

“I like how IC has created a space where all people of different faiths can come together and have good educational discussions with one another. I think having conversations around interfaith and how to be leaders within the interfaith community is critical.”

Rachael Geary ’21

In line with the goals of the Courageous Pluralism project, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life selected students representing diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds to assemble an inclusive group of individuals across various worldview identities. 

“It's about honoring and upholding the whole self and all identities,” Poveda said, “Then [having] that conversation across all these differences in ways that we can listen to each other and really hear what we're saying.”

To kick-start the program, students learned about the role of storytelling in unpacking identity through educational tools created by the IFYC. They identified their own values, shared values and discussed how their religious backgrounds inform their decision-making tendencies. The group then moved onto discussing their interpretations of grief and loss.

“We talked about death and how it’s perceived and ordered in different religions, which is really interesting,” said Rachael Geary ’21. “I'm learning how students of different religions deal with death and how that affects their lives.”

Once the program began, the sessions became even more in-depth. Facilitators opened each week with a guided meditation and provided additional materials to spark focused discussions among participants. These included podcasts, videos and readings that students responded to on Sakai before attending weekly sessions. Fellows provided thoughtful feedback in the form of voice threads, pictures, videos and journal entries. 

Nijha Young ’23 enjoyed the opportunity to explore her spirituality.

“I had never really been in a space or cohort that was centered around religion or spirituality and felt there was a lot I could learn from exploring that aspect of myself and hearing about the experiences of others,” she said. “I was happy to be a part of that.”

Throughout the spring semester, participants learned how to speak with those whose views differ from their own in a mindful, effective and respectful way. Geary expressed the importance of having this type of interfaith dialogue.

“I like how IC has created a space where all people of different faiths can come together and have good educational discussions with one another,” she said. “I think having conversations around interfaith and how to be leaders within the interfaith community is critical.”

The grant money will cover the expenses of training and upcoming retreats, which will be held virtually and led by guest speakers. One such event will occur in August, when Stacy Kitahata, former Director for Partnerships at The Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship and current Intercultural Training Designer and Facilitator at The Kaleidoscope Institute for Diverse Sustainable Communities, will lead a retreat focusing on how pedagogy functions in higher education.

“My hope is that what is produced from this project can impact how faculty approach curriculum development. Empowering our students to be co-creators in the curriculum, deepening classroom learning, and forming creative leaders.”

Hierald Osorto, director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and executive director for student equity and belonging

In the upcoming fall semester, the students will host a forum where they’ll have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of leveraging religious pluralism to counter polarization in a tangible, higher educational setting. The polarizing issue will be the intersection of white supremacy, racism and religion.

In addition to providing students an opportunity to engage in dialogue, by providing an opportunity to learn from civic leaders and host a community forum to discuss polarizing issues of their choice, an ultimate goal of the program is to develop a curriculum that can be applied to a one-credit course on religious pluralism.

“My hope is that what is produced from this project can impact how faculty approach curriculum development,” Osorto said. “Empowering our students to be co-creators in the curriculum, deepening classroom learning, and forming creative leaders.”

Osorto, who serves as goal co-chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group that is helping to implement the college’s strategic plan, believes that this program aligns strongly with the plan’s values—ones that will keep the program on track throughout its duration.

Young is excited to be a part of that process.

“I look forward to moments that make me question things,” she said. “And that will help me shatter my own biases and misconceptions through direct dialogue and interaction with people I may not otherwise have come in contact with, or agree with.”