Sigal Lecture to address racial and interfaith justice

Named one of the "15 Faith Leaders to Watch" in 2015 by the Center for American Progress, Rev. Jennifer Bailey is an ordained minister, community organizer and emerging national leader in the multi-faith movement for justice, compassion and peace in the world.

Bailey, founder and executive director of Faith Matters Network, will visit Grand Valley Wednesday, March 30, to discuss racial justice and how religious communities together can respond to injustices.

This year's annual Sigal Memorial Lecture, entitled "Racial and Interfaith Justice: A New Vision for Leadership at the Intersections," will take place at 8 p.m. in Loosemore Auditorium. The event is sponsored by Grand Valley's Kaufman Interfaith Institute and Interfaith Dialogue Association.

"Bailey believes that interfaith leaders must be rooted in their own moral and spiritual orientation, thus strengthening their calls for community and justice," said Katie Gordon, Kaufman Interfaith Institute program manager. "Not only is she able to share theories and ideas, but she puts values into action by organizing on the ground for justice. Her presentation will share both sides of that, and how we can all live up to the values that our traditions promote."

From the food justice movement to combating intergenerational poverty, Bailey will also share stories from years of leadership in interfaith and intersectional work on a variety of justice issues during a luncheon from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, in Kirkhof Center, room 1142.

Rabbi Phillip J. Sigal was a pioneer of the interfaith movement in West Michigan until his death in 1985. Aside from his duties at Ahavas Israel Synagogue, Sigal was instrumental in opening the lines of communication among several religions in the area. After his death, a group of local academic and interfaith enthusiasts established the Sigal Memorial Lecture in his honor through the Interfaith Dialogue Association. Since that time, the event has brought some of the most important voices in religion and social movements to churches, schools and other venues in West Michigan.

For more information about this year's Sigal Lecture, visit gvsu.edu/interfaith. To register for the luncheon event, contact Katie Gordon at [email protected] by Monday, March 28, at noon.