Johnson C. Smith University Receives Grant to Promote Religious Literacy Among University Students
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Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on February 17, 2023 Johnson C. Smith University has received a grant of more than $119,000 from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF) to fund “Potlucks for Pluralism,” a four-year program that engages college students and religious communities in structured conversations about their diverse worldviews during a meal. This spring, the Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte, 7025 The Plaza, will host a dinner/dialogue on Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m., and the Hindu Center of Charlotte, 7400 City View Drive, will host one on Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. The program is a collaboration with Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network (MeckMIN) and is modeled after MeckMIN’s own successful “Open Tables” program. The program promotes pluralism, which organizers define as the appreciation of diversity as a source of strength, rather than something to be feared. The events bring people of diverse worldviews together for dinner and structured conversations about religion, spirituality and ethical issues. “As one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States, Charlotte-Mecklenburg is experiencing an equally rapid increase in diversity of all types, including religious diversity,” said the Rev. LeDayne McLeese Polaski, MeckMIN’s executive director. “In this context, we recognize an urgent need to give people the skills and experiences to be good neighbors to one another. We’re thrilled to be partnered with Johnson C. Smith University to help college students grow in appreciative awareness of the rich variety of faith traditions practiced in our community.” Polaski worked with Dr. Kendal Mobley, associate professor of Religion and coordinator of Spiritual Life at JCSU, to adapt the Open Tables program specifically for university students. Each dinner/dialogue is hosted by a different religious community. During each meal, students from campuses across Mecklenburg County come together to learn directly from their hosts and one another. In 2022, the first event was hosted by a congregation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to Mobley, “The AVDF-funded Potlucks for Pluralism program uses in-depth conversations during the relaxed setting of a shared meal to support interfaith relationship-building. Students have the benefit of direct interaction with faith communities and, as a result, develop an appreciation for the spiritual diversity in the world.” At each meal, a representative of the host community begins by describing the basic beliefs and practices of their religion in relation to the theme, laying the groundwork for table conversations during dinner. Participants share their perspectives on topics like forgiveness, hospitality or freedom. The guided discussion allows students and members of the host community to engage in deep conversations about what they have in common and how they see things differently. In addition to the dinner/dialogues, the Potlucks for Pluralism program offers two annual leadership training events for a select group of students who have been nominated by their campus leaders. The training events use curricular materials from “Interfaith America” and “Living Room Conversations” to help students develop leadership skills related to interfaith engagement. The goal is to equip and empower students to create spaces for interfaith conversations on their own campuses. The first dinner/dialogue in the fall of last year included students from Davidson College, Johnson & Wales University, JCSU, Queens University of Charlotte, UNC Charlotte and Wingate University. In the anonymous post-event evaluation, one student commented, “I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know others of different faiths. It was so refreshing to share my beliefs and not fear judgments.” Another wrote, “Thanks so much for organizing! I had such a wonderful time, had great conversations with interesting people, and look forward to the next one.” Shukriyah Hasanka, a student leader from Queens University of Charlotte, remarked, “Our team talked about how heartwarming it was that we all sat at a table with absolute strangers [and] discussed real life issues . . . with people from different walks of life, different religions and cultures. Yet, we were all able to be respectful of one another’s stories. By the end of the night, these strangers weren’t strangers after all; they became our friends.” Potlucks for Pluralism will continue every fall and spring semester through the 2025-2026 academic year. About Johnson C. Smith University Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is a private, close-knit, urban, historically Black university located in Charlotte, N.C. Our university’s Latin motto, “Sit Lux,” or “Let There Be Light,” encourages our students, faculty and staff to shine the lights of learning and service. With a growing national reputation for integrating the liberal arts with business, the sciences and technology, JCSU offers several fields of study, including a master’s degree in social work, to students from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds. The university’s excellent academic programs focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global responsibility to produce students who share in the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information about JCSU, visit www.jcsu.edu or follow the university on social media sites Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
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