Education

Prejudices and misunderstandings regarding certain religious groups often stem from a lack of knowledge and information. We teach High school and college students, healthcare professionals, teachers, city officials, social workers and judges the history, cultural heritage and social concerns of the different faith communities in New York. On the other side religious community leaders and activists sometimes have a poor understanding of the City’s public and private secular institutions. We guide them toward a better insight and collaboration. At our educational programs we also see ourselves as mediators between different religious communities to enhance a better understanding among the groups.

Past Events

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN AMERICA

This course offers a combination of theoretical and experential training in the beliefs and practices of America's new religious landscape. The course places an emphasis on the great diversity within each tradition while utilizing the City itself as the perfect classroom for examining urban religion, the affects of immigrations, and interfaith community relations.

Each day in the course will examine one or more major religious traditions, through presentations, site visits, and small group discussions. Morning sessions will feature theoretical introductions to beliefs and practices. Afternoon sessions will offer an immersion in New York's religious communities, with filed trips to variety of local places worship, conversations with men and women from specific religious communities, and expereince of religious rituals. A significant part of the training will include approaches to teaching about world religions in local contexts. Faith-specific evening cultural events will be available for all participants.

Religion and Social Work Program

Dates:  February 5, 2009 (Judaism); February 12, 2009 (Christianity); February 19, 2009 (Islam); February 26, 2009 (Hinduism and Sikhism); March 5, 2009 (Buddhism); March 12, 2009 (Afro-Caribbean Religions)

Location: UJA Federation, 130 E. 59th Street, New York, NY

To work effectively in NYC’s diverse communities, social workers need to know more about the religions of their future clients; the roles that religion plays in the lives of individuals and communities; and the ways in which this is relevant to the effective practice of social work in all areas, from individual counseling to community organizing, from research to public policy. Students of diverse backgrounds will be engaged in a dynamic learning experience with community religious leaders and practitioners, as well as with each other, over the course of six Friday mornings.

For more information, contact Raffaele Timarchi at (212) 870-3514 or by email at rtimarchi@interfaithcenter.org 

Women’s Interfaith Panel Discussion at St. Saviour High School in Brooklyn

Date: October 1, 2009, 9:00am-12:00pm
Location:  St. Saviour High School, 588 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY

Women from four different faith traditions reflected upon their own religious upbringing and spiritual formation at an all-girls Catholic high school in Brooklyn. The discussion demonstrated how women's issues cut across faith lines, and offer an excellent opportunity for interfaith education.

World Faiths in a World City: Ministry in a Multifaith Society

Date: April 17, 2009, 9:00am-5:00pm
Location: Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, 3041 Broadway at 121st Street

This is an academic course for seminary students, which offers a unique opportunity for students to meet with and learn from religious leaders of other faith traditions. Students will learn more about the roles these leaders serve in their communities, gain practical insight on how to effectively interact and work with other religious communities, and evaluate the strategies for mobilizing and coalition-building across religious lines. For more information, please e-mail timarchi@interfaithcenter.org  Please include your name, address, telephone number, and email address.

A Response to Poverty in Brooklyn

Date: March 30th, 11:00-2:00pm
Location: Main Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Prominent Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders from Brooklyn, and scholars at Medgar Evers will discuss our current economic crises. Speakers include Rev. Anthony L. Trufant, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid. RSVP required at (718) 270-5057 or by email: psylver@mec.cuny.edu

The State of the Urban Family: An Introduction to Faith Based Interventions and Resources

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Registration 8 - 9 a.m.)
Location: McNally Amphitheatre, Fordham University School of Law, 140 West 62nd Street, New York City

The Bertram M. Beck Institute's full day conference, with workshops focused on employment, incarceration, homelessness, youth, family, religious diversity and more. The Interfaith Center of NY along with many of our interfaith partners will be presenting workshops. Light breakfast and lunch provided, reception to follow conference. Registration Fee: $40, Students/Seniors $25, CEU credit & workshop completion certificate. Open to the public. For more information and to register visit the Beck Institute or contact (212) 636-6738 or by email: beckinst@fordham. edu.

Interfaith Community Panel Discussion at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn

Date: March 15, 2009, 9:00am-12:00pm
Location:  Nazareth Regional High School, 475 E. 57th Street, Brooklyn, NY

Grassroots religious leaders and Catholic high school students engaged in a Town Hall-style meeting to discuss interfaith relations in local communities in NYC.  The program included reflections from a young rabbi who grew up in Crown Heights during the riots, an Egyptian Muslim man's recent immigration experience, and general conversation about the rapidly changing religious landscape in New York City. 

Faith Leaders for Environmental Quarterly Breakfast

Date: Thursday, February 18, 2010, Breakfast @ 8:30am