Interfaith Action Initiative

Despite a plethora of religious activity on this campus, no central body exists to coordinate communication between students of faith.

Activities

The IAI's current goals are to initiate links between the faith communities through four main activities. The IAI plans to implement the following measures this coming year:

Ï Create an email listserv that compiles interfaith events as well as those of various campus religious organizations and local faith groups into a single, weekly email intended for students of faith.
Ï Plan and implement a community service day that brings together students from different faith groups to work on service projects around the Berkeley community. The day would culminate with a shared meal and reflection.
Ï Produce an interfaith publication that includes articles from existing religious groups' publications as well as articles encouraging dialogue and student scholarship in print.
Ï Through the above activities, lay the groundwork for the creation of a student-led interfaith council in 2008.

Project mission:

The IAI's vision includes four goals:
· To create a space in which students can learn about other faith traditions and meet students of different faiths in an open, inviting, and challenging atmosphere. Students who are not necessarily affiliated with a religious student organization are also welcome.
· To serve as an amplifying body on issues that affect all students of faith on a college campus, e.g. the creation of public prayer space.
· To provide an opportunity for students of faith to experience principled pluralism and to learn to see geopolitical conflicts through each others’ eyes.
· To create a space for students to discuss controversial topics that involve the intersection of religion and politics in the 21st century, and to brainstorm creative approaches to resolve the tensions created by these conflicts.

Required resources:

1. Total project needs: $13,000
2. Other:

   Funds will be used to create a publication, bring in speakers for roundtable and lectures, plan interfaith social events, and provide a stipend for student interns.

Our sponsors:

Advisors for IAI include: Sara Heitler Bamberger, The Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program; Dr. Hatem Bazian, Muslim Student's Association; Rev. Shelley Dieterle, Minister of Campus Life, First Congregational Church of Berkeley; Rabbi Dorothy Richman, Berkeley Hillel