Lab inspires Lakers to expand interfaith dialogue

Fifty students in the Grand Rapids community expanded their interfaith dialogue and leadership skills by participating in the Made in Michigan: Interfaith Leadership Lab in September.

Katie Gordon, program manager of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute and coordinator of Campus Interfaith Resources, said the lab, which took place in late September at the DeVos Center, proved to be diverse, with a wide variety of religions, faiths, and political affiliations represented.

Hillel of Michigan hosted a Shabbat dinner to help the students become acquainted with one another. The next day, students participated in a day-long interfaith training workshop provided by Interfaith Youth Core.

Sydney Watson, a sophomore majoring in special education, said the lab enabled her to have difficult conversations about religion in a safe setting. A highlight of her training was participating in a “speed faithing” panel. During the panel, guests from four different religions explained how their faith fits into the Grand Rapids community and allowed students to ask questions about any religion.

As the country prepares for election day, Watson said she wants to be equipped with the best tools to handle divisive conversations. 

“It’s not about making people agree with your point of view,” Watson said. “We have to be able to have positive conversations about politics or religion without shouting at each other.”

Maddie Rhoades, a sophomore majoring in public administration, said interacting with other religions was her favorite part of the lab. For Rhoades, religious literacy is key.

“Everyone was having conversations about taboo subjects, but we were able to do that without getting angry at each other,” Rhoades said.

During the weekend's activities, students also participated in a community service project at the Blandford Nature Center. Participants were able to help the Grand Rapids community while continuing conversations about interfaith dialogue. Gordon said the new setting allowed for deeper conversations that made the students more prepared to be interfaith leaders.

“We were able to work in smaller groups and really get to know each other,” Gordon said. “Those friendships help prepare students to create their own interfaith events.”

Watson and Rhoades are members of Better Together, a movement started by Interfaith Youth Core to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. Better Together at Grand Valley hopes to continue the interfaith conversation at the university.

“Our conversations don’t just end after we leave a lab,” Rhoades said. “We have to carry an interfaith mindset for our entire life.”