Interfaith Service Clubs Debut at Reynolds High School

(The opinions in this article are opinions of the writer and may -- or may not -- represent the views of Interfaith Winston-Salem. It is written by Jerry McLeese, founder and board member of Interfaith Winston Salem.)

Congratulations to the clutch of students at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem for forming the area’s first interfaith service club in our high schools.

Isaac Cooper, a sophomore who is a member of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, provided the organizing energy for the club with assistance from faculty members Fakhria Luna, who teaches World History; and Dr. AmyBith Gardner Harlee, who teaches piano.  Cooper will serve as club president until a slate of officers is installed in the fall.

Joining Cooper at the initial meeting of the club in January were Kate Carpenter, freshman, who is Protestant; David Hawes, sophomore who is Protestant; Noru Hudu, a sophomore who is Muslim; and Maddie Morris, freshman who is Catholic.  Mrs. Luna, who serves as sponsor, is Muslim, and Dr. Harlee is Protestant.

The charter members of the club have begun to identify other classmates who will broaden the religious, racial and ethnic diversity of the group even further.  The group is open to everyone, including those who follow no particular religion or faith tradition.  The club plans to gather every other week.

The Interfaith Youth Core, which has headquarters in Chicago, was the inspiration for creation of the club at Reynolds.  The Interfaith Youth Core employs a successful model on more than 200 college and university campuses that features three core components of interfaith cooperation: respect for religious identity, mutually inspiring relationships and common action for common good.

High schools in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County reflect the area’s religious, ethnic and cultural diversity.  The degree to which these students learn to understand and respect each other will influence the community’s ability to embrace growing pluralism in the future.  The action at Reynolds can be a model for students in other local high schools.

10th Annual Interfaith Tour April 30, 2017

10th Annual Interfaith Tour April 30

Winston-Salem’s interfaith tour will observe its 10th anniversary in April with visits to Annoor Islamic Center, the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) meeting house and Temple Emanuel Sunday afternoon, April 30.
 
The 2017 visit to the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) meeting house marks the first time the tour has included that faith tradition, according to Tracy Widener, a member of the board of Interfaith Winston-Salem who is coordinating this year’s tour.
 
“We feel that it is important to reach out and embrace all faith traditions represented in our community,” Widener said. “It has never been more important for us to get to know our neighbors. The tour provides that opportunity. We hope to see church confirmation classes, middle school social studies classes, Sunday School classes, college religion classes and other groups of youth and adults.”
 
The tour will conclude at Temple Emanuel with a free pizza party and a time for guests to mingle with people of various faith traditions.
 
Widener said that participants are encouraged to carpool or use vans or buses, to conserve gas, find parking more easily and to move more quickly from site to site. You can register yourself or your group of up to 25 people on our eventbrite page.
 
Interfaith Winston-Salem assumed responsibility for the tour from the city’s Human Relations Commission in 2013 and has worked to broaden its reach over the last five years.  Last year’s tour was the most successful in history, attracting more than 200 participants to stops at The Community Mosque, St. Phillips Moravian Church and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.
 
For additional information contact Widener at tracy3851@yahoo.com.
 

10th Annual Interfaith Tour April 30, 2017

10th Annual Interfaith Tour April 30

Winston-Salem’s interfaith tour will observe its 10th anniversary in April with visits to Annoor Islamic Center, the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) meeting house and Temple Emanuel Sunday afternoon, April 30.
 
The 2017 visit to the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) meeting house marks the first time the tour has included that faith tradition, according to Tracy Widener, a member of the board of Interfaith Winston-Salem who is coordinating this year’s tour.
 
“We feel that it is important to reach out and embrace all faith traditions represented in our community,” Widener said. “It has never been more important for us to get to know our neighbors. The tour provides that opportunity. We hope to see church confirmation classes, middle school social studies classes, Sunday School classes, college religion classes and other groups of youth and adults.”
 
The tour will conclude at Temple Emanuel with a free pizza party and a time for guests to mingle with people of various faith traditions.
 
Widener said that participants are encouraged to carpool or use vans or buses, to conserve gas, find parking more easily and to move more quickly from site to site. You can register yourself or your group of up to 25 people on our eventbrite page.
 
Interfaith Winston-Salem assumed responsibility for the tour from the city’s Human Relations Commission in 2013 and has worked to broaden its reach over the last five years.  Last year’s tour was the most successful in history, attracting more than 200 participants to stops at The Community Mosque, St. Phillips Moravian Church and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.
 
For additional information contact Widener at tracy3851@yahoo.com.
 

New Year Brings New Board Members to Interfaith Winston Salem

In 2017 Interfaith Winston Salem will kick off the New Year with some new additions to our board of guidance. In 2016 we bid farewell to Darlene May and Iman Khalid Griggs after each successfully completed two terms on the board. We thank them for their service and wish them luck in future endeavors.  Beginning in 2017, five new members of the Interfaith Winston-Salem Board of Guidance will begin their first term after being elected during the December 2016 Board of Guidance meeting. Each will begin an initial two-year term on the board. Interfaith Winston Salem officially welcomes the following new board members:

Abby Catoe is a Master’s student at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Originally from Winston Salem, she currently resides in East Bend where she owns and runs a landscaping business. Abby identifies as Christian.

Jeremy Moseley holds a Master's in Public Health. From Kinston, NC, he currently resides in Durham and identifies as Christianity through AME Zion. He is a Health Care Administrator at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

 Rev. Michele Sevacko finds her spiritual home in New Thought/Metaphysics. She considers herself a child of the universe as she has lived in many places throughout her life. Rev. Sevacko holds a Master of Metaphysical Sciences from the University of Metaphysics and a Doctor of Philosophy specializing in Pastoral Counseling from the University of Sedona. She also completed a certificate program in World Religions Through Their Scriptures via Harvard X as well as Interfaith & Intercultural Understanding Level i & ii at Association for Global New Thought & Common Ground.

Nelly van Doorn-Harder was born and raised in the Netherlands where she earned her PhD on the topic of women in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. Before moving to the United States, she was director of a refugee program in Cairo, Egypt, and taught Islamic Studies at universities in the Netherlands (Leiden) and Indonesia (Yogyakarta).

Rev. Byron Williams is a columnist, author, and the former pastor of the Resurrection Community Church in Berkeley, CA. He is now President and CEO of the Kairos Moment a progressive theological think-tank in Winston-Salem. He is also host of the NPR-affiliated broadcast The Public Morality. Williams is the author of the bestselling “1963: The Year of Hope and Hostility,” which won the 2014 International Book Award for U.S. History. His previous book, “Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections on the Iraq War,” is a series of essays. In 2010 and 2011, Williams' work was nationally recognized by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which nominated him for “Columnist of the Year.” Williams has spoken across the country and appeared on numerous television and radio

Tracy Widener is a native of Winston-Salem, NC now residing in Advance, NC. She has no religious affiliation or belief system. Tracy has 13 years of experience volunteering in the Forsyth County School District and Davie County School District. Her interest in faith traditions has led her to Interfaith Winston-Salem. Believing that the community will benefit greatly from the Interfaith W-S mission. Tracy volunteers her time helping Interfaith Winston Salem accomplish that mission.

Interfaith Book Club: "Burqas, Baseball, and Apple Pie: Being Muslim in America"

Tuesday, January 10
Interfaith Book Club
6:30 - 8 p.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church in the Parlor of the Education Building

Interfaith Winston-Salem’s book club has selected Burqas, Baseball, and Apple Pie: Being Muslim in America, by Ranya Tabari Idliby, for the January reading.

 In its review of the book, Amazon describes Burqas, Baseball, and Apple Pie this way: "For many Americans, the words ‘American' and ‘Muslim' simply do not marry well; for many the combination is an anathema, a contradiction in values, loyalties, and identities. This is the story of one American Muslim family―the story of how, through their lives, their schools, their friends, and their neighbors, they end up living the challenges, myths, fears, hopes, and dreams of all Americans. They are challenged by both Muslims who speak for them and by Americans who reject them. In this moving memoir, Idliby discusses not only coming to terms with what it means to be Muslim today, but how to raise and teach her children about their heritage and religious legacy. She explores life as a Muslim in a world where hostility towards Muslims runs rampant, where there is an entire industry financed and supported by think tanks, authors, film makers, and individual vigilantes whose sole purpose is to vilify and spread fear about all things Muslim. Her story is quintessentially American, a story of the struggles of assimilation and acceptance in a climate of confusion and prejudice―a story for anyone who has experienced being an "outsider" inside your own home country."

The club will discuss the book January 10thfrom 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church in the Parlor of the Education Building. For more information contact:barbowman@gmail.com

A New Day and a New Name: Third Thursday Conversations

Program Feature

A New Day and a New Name:
Third Thursday Conversations

In response to comments by scores of friends of Interfaith Winston-Salem, our monthly program called “Conversations” is changing dates and now will be held on the third Thursday of each month.  We have given it the catchy name of “Third Thursday Conversations” to help you remember.

Many respondents in our survey said our previous meeting night – the third Tuesday – conflicted with other activities and said that they preferred Thursday evening.  We encourage you to go ahead and mark your calendars to reserve every Third Thursday.  Reservations are not required.

The gatherings will continue to be held in the Activity Building at Highland Presbyterian Church at 2380 Cloverdale Ave. in Winston-Salem.  The Social Hall is located across the street from the sanctuary and ample parking is available in the adjacent, well-lighted parking lot.  The Activity Building permits us to use state-of-the-art video presentations and to adjust for large and small groups.

We will kick off Third Thursday Conversations January 19 with dynamic young minister and social justice advocate, Rev. Terrance Hawkins from Winston-Salem First (the former Winston-Salem First Assembly Church).  In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in January, Rev. Hawkins invites us to reconsider our understanding of “Race and Faith Communities in America Today.”

As an African-American pastor serving in a large, multi-racial congregation, Terrance will have much to offer to help us grow in our knowledge and understanding these issues.

For further information, contact Truman Dunn at tldunn104@gmail.com.

Compassionate Winston Salem Updates

Four years ago this month, Interfaith Winston-Salem began building community support for the movement that we call Compassionate Winston-Salem. The idea was that all programs and activities that reflect the Golden Rule would be loosely welcomed under a broad umbrella of compassionate activity.

Leaders of Interfaith Winston-Salem and volunteers in its Compassionate Winston-Salem effort chose to allow the movement to grow organically, using the concept of constellations in which the leaders would provide incubator support to nurture new programs and invest in our emerging ideas.

Triad Restorative Justice, Inc. (TriadRJ) is the newest product of that organic approach. Incorporation of this new non-profit was approved December 8 by the state of North Carolina.  Valerie Glass, who will serve as executive director, is leading the effort to write by-laws and obtain IRS approval as a tax-exempt organization.

Compassionate Winston-Salem also is participating in the Building Integrated Communities effort guided by the City of Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission. City Council in November approved the action plan that will address needs that focus on the Hispanic community.

TriadRJ will serve as a resource to help the Triad connect and operate in a restorative way, with both proactive and reactive approaches. There are opportunities for schools, places of worship, courts, neighborhoods, businesses, correctional facilities, social services, colleges, and many other community groups to use a restorative approach to handle conflicts, disagreements and incidents that cause harm. For additional information contact valerie@triadrj.org.

Building Integrated Communities will work to ensure that new immigrants to our community are made aware of and helped to access local programs of fair housing, law enforcement assistance, help dealing with domestic violence, health care access, public transportation, education, and other community services.

Council member Dan Besse, said, “It’s a reaffirmation that Winston-Salem is an actively welcoming city, and recognizes that we all do better when each part of our community succeeds.  For more information contact: http://www.cityofws.org/Departments/Human-Relations/Building-Integrated-Communities 

Endorsements from Leaders in Worship Communities:

The idea for a world religions curriculum in local high schools has drawn a strong positive response from community and faith leaders.  Here are some of their endorsements.

“In our increasingly pluralistic world, it is essential that we learn better to understand our neighbors and their diverse faiths. High school is a good time to begin what should be lifelong learning on this topic. Our community and world will be stronger and more peaceful as a result.”         

Rev. Dr. Larry Hovis, Executive Coordinator

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

Winston-Salem

“As the rabbi at the only synagogue in Winston-Salem I spend a significant amount of my time introducing Judaism to individuals and groups who want to learn about Judaism. So many people have limited or no exposure to who we are and subsequently tremendous misunderstandings and ignorance exist – not just about Jews but about so many different wisdom and faith traditions in our world. I see teaching children about the world’s religions as a significant attempt by the WS/FCS system to make sure our county increases its awareness of and sensitivities to the diversity of our world.”

Rabbi  Mark Cohn

Temple Emanuel

Winston-Salem

“This is a noble idea to bring the Interfaith concepts at the root. I think it is very important to instill the concept of diversity at the early ages of a student. By providing the knowledge that, there are different religions around the world and people who are following are, could be our friends, colleagues and teachers. This brings a concept of acceptance and tolerance and inclusiveness at the very early age. Also getting true knowledge about the religions around the world will bring message of peace, love and humanity to each individual at the very early age. This helps each individual as they grow into an adult.”

            Sri Manjunath Shamanna

            Community Hindu Priest

            Winston-Salem

“The Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity endorses the proposal for a World Religions curriculum and will partner with Interfaith Winston-Salem to support implementation.”

Bishop Todd Fulton

Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity

“The high school curriculum for“A Study of the World’s Religions” is not only fascinating, but also provides necessary information in this internet world where boundaries between countries and cultures is minimal. The over-abundance of misinformation on social media lends easily to misunderstanding; a class such as “A Study of the World’s Religions” will educate our young people about religion, culture and tradition all over the world and in their own communities. Understanding lends itself to peace instead of conflict. “

Reverend Michelle Jiun Nicolle, Ph.D.

Zen Buddhist Minister and Chaplain

Winston-Salem

“As someone who took comparative religions in college, and thought "Why isn't this offered in high school?" I fully endorse this ‘Study of the World’s Religions’ curriculum. As an educator with a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, and as the Director of Jewish Life at Wake Forest University, I understand and have lived the positive theoretical and practical implications of such a curriculum, especially related to broadening individual and group perspectives, creating mutual understanding, and developing US/ global citizenry. “

Gail H. Bretan, Ph.D.

Director of Jewish Life
The Office of the Chaplain (Religious Life)
Wake Forest University

“In this age of growing religious intolerance, it is important that we learn about religious traditions other than our own.  Ignorance can be dangerous.  Also, learning about other religious traditions helps a person appreciate their own religious tradition more.”

Dr. Jeff Patterson
Yadkin Valley District Superintendent

Western North Carolina Conference of

The United Methodist Church

            Winston-Salem

“Exposing kids early in their academic years about different cultures and religions will make them accept different people in their surrounding as the technology is bridging the gaps of distances and you find more people moving around in the world for work. It also will make everyone understand that the deep-rooted mission of all religions is to bring peace and spread love among fellow beings on this planet.”

Sita Somara, Ph.D.

Winston-Salem Balahivar

Hindu Youth Organization

Winston-Salem

“Understanding religious writings, beliefs and practices of our own diverse population and of peoples around the world is essential to modern citizenship.  This well designed course in World Religions offers informed, knowledge-based introductions to several major religions that are represented in our own community and practiced universally by millions of people.  It is also offers invaluable opportunities for students to deepen their thoughtful engagement with their own religious experiences and convictions.  I am happy to endorse the proposal.”

Rabbi Andrew Vogel Ettin, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of English, Wake Forest University

Adjunct Professor, Department of the Study of Religion and School of Divinity, WFU

Spiritual Leader, Temple Israel, Salisbury, N.C.

“It appears to me that the more we as a society understand our religions and customs, the more we can help build a more cohesive and accepting environment.”

Mayor Allen Joines

City of Winston-Salem

“As a Muslim, I believe there has been no greater need for having such a syllabus in our high schools than our current time. With religion being used for political agenda and misconceptions are spread around by all parties, students are understandably confused about what’s happening nowadays and are in serious need for a historical and a factual source of information that will prepare them to deal with an increasingly globalized world. Providing such an inclusive and diverse syllabus will help make our students open minded, well-informed and less likely to bully each other based on their religious beliefs. It will also help them understand the history of world religions and the common things that bind us together as human beings. Freedom of Religion is one of the most important ideals our early democracy gave to the world. Ideas and convictions about religion are among the most important factors in character formation and personal identity development, and because of the power of these ideas and convictions they must be given the opportunity to properly develop in an open, safe environment. “    

Dr. Shadi Qassem

            Clemmons, N.C.

“One specific environment could be an objective, reliable course of instruction about the rich diversity of religious ideas, convictions and practices that could be taught in a public school setting. Such a course that promoted unfettered investigation, nonjudgmental discourse, and mutual respect would have the promise of furthering the ideal of religious freedom for another generation.  I would certainly support an academic course about religious diversity being taught in our WS/Forsyth County Public Schools. Such a course would be well within the guidelines of the First Amendment to the Constitution. “

Reverend Charles F. Wilson

President, N.C. Triad Chapter of Americans United

for the Separation of Church and State

“As a retired Social Studies High School teacher of the WS/FC school system, I wholeheartedly support the proposed World Religion course. Over my tenure as a high school teacher, I was honored to teach World History, U.S. History, African-American Studies, Civics and Economics, Sociology, Old and New Testaments Bible History and Psychology. It is imperative that our students have a working knowledge of comparative religions to be effective critical thinkers in the 21st century."

Fleming El-Amin

Retired Teacher and Community Volunteer

Winston-Salem

“Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods (NBN) is pleased to provide this letter of support for the proposal by Interfaith Winston-Salem for a high school religions curriculum. A curriculum that teaches students about religion will help them not only be knowledgeable about different faiths but also the role of religion in society.  A curriculum of this nature should instill understanding, tolerance and respect for others in our community as well as educating them about one of the fundamental elements of freedom and democracy in our country.

NBN is a neighborhood support organization whose mission is to connect people, strengthen voices and leverage resource with community to create safe, just and self-determined neighborhoods. We have used an asset based community development approach in our work since our inception 25 years ago.  We believe that a project like this will only help to make Winston-Salem a greater place to live, work and play. We wholeheartedly support this proposal and highly recommend its approval.”

Paula J. McCoy

Executive Director

Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods

Winston-Salem

Bring Education About Religion Into Our High School Classrooms

(The opinions in this article are opinions of the writer and may -- or may not -- represent the views of Interfaith Winston-Salem. It is written by Jerry McLeese, founder and board member of Interfaith Winston Salem.)

Surveys by the Pew Research Center have shown that America is among the most religious of the world’s developed nations. Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults say that religion is “very important” in their lives, and roughly four-in-ten say they attend worship services at least once a week. But Pew’s U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey in 2010 showed that large numbers of Americans are uninformed about the tenets, practices, history and leading figures of major faith traditions – including their own.

How should this deficit be addressed? Where do we start?

With research from students at Wake Forest University and guidance from local educators, Interfaith Winston-Salem has developed a proposal to address shortcoming.  We plan to recommend that an elective class about world religions be offered in high schools in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The class would focus on indigenous traditions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam and would discuss trends in the religion landscape.

Among the advisers on whom we have relied in preparing this proposal are Dr. Marlin Adrian, Salem College; Dr. Eric Greaux, Winston-Salem State University, Dr. AmyBith Gardner Harlee, R.J. Reynolds High School; Fakhria Luna, R.J. Reynolds High School; Rev. Charles F. Wilson, Americans United for Separation of Church and State; Rev. Mamie Murphy, Salem Academy; Dr. Leann Pace, Wake Forest University; and Dr. Michelle Voss Roberts, Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

Numerous leaders from across the community have endorsed the proposal, including Rabbi Mark Strauss Cohn, Rabbi Andrew Ettin, Dr. Gail Bretan, Rev. Dr. Larry Hovis, Dr. Jeff Patterson, Sri Manjunath Shamanna, Sita Somara, The Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, the Rev. Charles F. Wilson, the Rev. Michelle Jiun Nicolle, Mayor Allen Joines, Dr. Shadi Qassem, Fleming El-Amin and Paula J. McCoy.  You can read their comments here.

They reflect how a study about world religions can make an important contribution to the lives of our young people and to the future of our community for reasons like these:

1.      As Winston-Salem expands its knowledge-based economy the area will attract individuals from many cultures and religions, contributing to the diversity and pluralism of our community. Understanding their traditions will enable others to welcome them graciously.

2.      To succeed in a multicultural world, young people need to develop a religious intelligence to accompany their emotional intelligence, scientific intelligence, multilingual intelligence, artistic intelligence and moral intelligence.

3.      Understanding the world’s religions will help us realize the many different forces that have contributed and continue to contribute to the world in which we live.

4.      As the world becomes smaller, cultures demand the sensitivity and mutual respect that comes with the understanding of different belief systems.

5.      Students of world religions become prepared to work side-by-side with people of different faith traditions whether in the classroom, the corporation or in the community.

6.      Religion is a primary discipline for investigating life’s deepest questions.

We request your support as we continue our effort to encourage Winston-Salem/Forsyth County educators to bring this community-building opportunity to our high school students.

Celebrating Our Hopes of a World without Fear

By Rose O’Brien and Jerry McLeese

Two days before the U.S. Presidential election, Interfaith Winston-Salem opened the doors for its fifth annual Children’s Festival of Faith and Culture, and a rainbow of Americana streamed in. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Unitarian Universalists, atheists, Wiccans and some of no particular religious persuasion. They were black, brown and white; gay and straight; old and young; rich and poor. They were recent refugees from Syria and neighbors who have lived here for decades.  More than 325 people in all.

Then, four days following the election, Brendle Recital Hall and Davis Field at Wake Forest were filled with a resounding welcome to immigrants during “Wake Refugee Day.” This student-conceived celebration embraced refugees and community members from Ethiopia, Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and many others – over 450 guests in all.

Rather than a melting pot of different cultures, these events were a salad bowl of ethnicities, languages, and faith traditions. Dissonance from election rhetoric was put aside in favor of compassion and neighborliness. Difference was embraced and celebrated. It was America at its best, as it can be.

At the interfaith festival, children from Speas Elementary School sang and danced to global tunes. Adults and children together spiraled around the floor in a chain of humanity. Others sat and listened with smiles on their faces to Hare Krishna chants and the haunting sounds of a didgeridoo.

Muslim children fashioned Jewish menorahs from popsicle sticks and yellow construction paper with the help of Jewish youth. Jewish children marveled as Muslim youth applied henna tattoos to their arms. Mexican parents watched as their children chose phrases representing family values prepared by adults at the atheist booth. More than 100 children made silver chalices at the Unitarian Universalist table. Thirteen arts and crafts tables representing different traditions were surrounded throughout the afternoon and children and adults circulated around the room.

During Wake Refugee Day, tables were loaded with ethnic foods from local families and restaurants including Nawab, 1703, Mooney’s Mediterranean, and Camino Bakery. Local Egyptian chef Shereen Abdelfatteh brought trays brimming with golden brown baklava, and the new catering company SyrianCuisine provided traditional Syrian cookies. Student groups such as the Habesha Student Association displayed cultural wares alongside local refugees from Myanmar and Ethiopia, who sold Ethiopian coffee and Burmese jewelry.

The main event was a panel of refugees from Iraq, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, moderated by Maria Henson of Wake Forest. They shared moving stories of displacement and war, followed by light-hearted moments talking about American food and North Carolina weather. Following their stories was a speech by Persian martial arts master, Dr. Heshmat Shokrighadi. He expounded upon his 36 years of experience, followed by a short demonstration by his son Shahin, and powerful spoken word poetry by his daughters Marzieh and Atoosa. To finish the day off, guests watched a short documentary about a Congolese refugee who becomes an advocate for women worldwide.

We can hope that these days were a demonstration that a community like ours can survive and thrive without the narrowness, hate, and fear that sometimes nag at our baser instincts. We have seen the possibilities through the variety of programs offered by Interfaith Winston-Salem: a breakfast club where individuals share their stories, a conversations gathering where we explore issues of faith, a book club where we share insights from our personal experiences, a tour of worship centers where we shed ignorance for understanding, and a series where we dig into topics like religious extremism and refugee relief. At Wake Forest, the Pro Humanitate motto – use knowledge, talents, and compassion to better the lives of others – permeates the campus philosophy.

All of these opportunities invite us to walk in the shoes of “the other,” to move outside our limited understanding and experience. When the mayor and City Council unanimously endorsed the Charter for Compassion three years ago, Winston-Salem became one of first 20 cities in the world to signify that the Golden Rule – treating our neighbor as we would like to be treated – will be a philosophy that binds us together.

Each of us is a stranger to someone else. As we reach out to those who are different from us – in nationality, in language, in religion, in political position and in many other ways – the stranger becomes our neighbor. We avoid the spiral of ignorance, mistrust, hatred, and violence. Instead, we move from a place of ignorance to a place of understanding, respect, justice, and peace.

(Rose O’Brien, a student at Wake Forest University, organized Wake Refugee Day. Jerry McLeese is founder of Interfaith Winston-Salem.)