Illustrious interfaith leader to speak at GVSU

An internationally illustrious interfaith leader will visit Grand Valley State University to discuss how differences in religious identities can become conduits for collaboration rather than obstructions.

Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, will present “Interfaith Leadership: Engaging Religious and Philosophical Diversity in the 21st Century” Thursday, October 8, from 8-9:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room (room 2250) on the Allendale Campus.

“Eboo is a leader in the growing interfaith movement that brings students and the community together in active interfaith service. The Kaufman Interfaith Institute is proud to have Eboo come to our community and to Grand Valley,” said P. Douglas Kindschi, Kaufman Interfaith Institute director.

The institute will also host Patel at Aquinas College from 3-4 p.m. when he presents “Interfaith Leadership: Engaging Faith and Philosophical Diversity." For more information regarding this presentation, visit http://gvsu.edu/s/Zv.

Katie Gordon, Kaufman Interfaith Institute program manager, said Patel is an inspiring and engaging storyteller who motivates communities and campuses to find the roots within their own traditions in order to make a difference in the world.

“Eboo argues that we will only be able to seriously address the issues that face us if we do so collectively and collaboratively by building bridges of cooperation rather than barriers of division out of our distinct traditions,” Gordon said. “Eboo lays out a clear vision and framework for students to apply their passions onto social issues in their community."

Patel is the author of Acts of Faith, Sacred Ground and the forthcoming publication Interfaith Leadership. He previously served on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council and regularly contributes to the public conversation around religion in America by speaking on the topic of religious pluralism. Patel earned his doctorate degree in sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship.

For more information, contact the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at (616) 331-5702, [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/EbooPatelGVSU.