Events and Skills-Training Opportunities

RLPI hosted four HDS community forums to analyze the religious dimensions of current events and to consider ways to respond. These events were organized by RPL graduate assistants, with HDS community members and featured guest experts and students.

The first forum focused on the summer 2022 Supreme Court decisions related to prayer in school, funding for religious schools, and reproductive rights. The second forum discussed the protests in Iran and the Iranian government’s repressive response, followed by a vigil for victims of political violence in Iran and elsewhere. The third forum focused on current events in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis’s efforts to restrict LGBTQI+ rights, the creation of Advanced Placement African American history courses in public schools, and programs advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The final forum discussed religious nationalism in India, specifically the dynamics of Hindutva and its effects on India’s diverse religious communities.

Two workshops were held this year to provide training in skills necessary for advancing the public understanding of religion. The first featured HDS alumnus Simran Jeet Singh, who currently serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program. Jeet Singh brought his decades of experience as a media commentator and journalist to provide a halfday introductory workshop on writing and pitching opinion pieces.

“I walked away with tools and insights I didn’t have before on how to write an op-ed. It was an exceptional afternoon of learning a new skill.” —participant response

The second workshop featured HDS alumna Nadiya Brock, now with Essential Partners, who provided a full-day training on facilitating dialogue on contentious issues. Students were introduced to Essential Partner’s method of reflective structured dialogue and then taken through exercises in crafting dialogue questions, developing guidelines for safe conversations, and techniques for responding to difficult moments.

“I learned an entirely new facilitation approach that I can apply to specific and unique settings.” —participant response

This year, the Leading Toward Justice event series, created by RPL and the HDS alumni relations team in the Office of Development and External Relations, featured HDS alumnx reflecting on how their religion studies have informed their secular-defined work. Moderated by RLPI Associate Director Susie Hayward, the first panel focused on government and public sector settings, and the second focused on community organizing to advance social justice.

“Thoughtful questions from the moderator and very helpful insights from the panel. It raised new issues for me that I hadn’t thought about and gave me some actionable ways to move forward. Love hearing the stories and practical ways to make positive change in society.” community organizing attendee

“The authenticity of the speakers, the great questions by the moderator, the range of different positions and faiths presented, and how they all navigate the very real messiness of life in authentic ways true to themselves no matter how different they are. A heartfelt thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt much from it.” goVernment attendee