What's Religious Diversity Have to Do with Non-Profits? Find Out at Our October 27 Training for Non-Profit Leaders and Serve Nebraska Service Members

We're partnering with Serve Nebraska, the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission, to hold a full-day training titled "Religious Diversity and Public Service: Training and Professional Development for National Service Members and Non-Profit Leaders" on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the TAC Building (3215 Cuming Street in Omaha).

Why should those in the non-profit sector and Americorps and Amerivista service members care about religious diversity? Simple: Because the population of Nebraska continues to diversify religiously and a religion or belief system is central to how many individuals understand themselves, their community and the world. Issues of religion and religious diversity often are inadequately addressed or ignored in the broad cultural competency training many professionals receive and we want to change that.

This session will give participants an opportunity to examine their own attitudes and identities as they relate to religion/spirituality and will touch on the knowledge and skills with which professionals need to be equipped to effectively work with and serve religiously-diverse populations. Sound good? Then don't wait- get registered here: http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=766843

Mark your calendars: Programs for our 2009-2010 year

We know, we know: we sure took our timing putting together our listing of upcoming programs for our 2009-2010 year. But it's only because we have been working furiously to assemble a diverse array of programs to feed the interfaith junkie in you. We actually might be adding a few more so be sure to stay tuned to our blog for the latest programming info and updates.

So without further adieu, here's our 2009-2010 offerings (all are held in Omaha, NE unless otherwise noted)- we hope to see you at them:

Whirling Dervishes of Rumi
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Rose Theater
Held in partnership with the Niagara Foundation of Nebraska

"Beyond Fundamentalisms: Theirs and Ours" A Community Conversation with Dr. Martin Marty, Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the History of Modern Christianity in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago
Sunday, October 4, 2009, 7:00 pm
Countryside Community Church (8787 Pacific Street)
Pre-registration strongly suggested.
Register online at http://martinmartyomaha.eventbrite.com/
Held in partnership with Countryside Community Church and the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation

Religious Diversity and Public Service: A Training and Professional Development for National Service Members and Non-Profit Leaders
Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 7:30 am- 3:00 pm
OPS Teacher Administrative Center Building (3215 Cuming Street)
Pre-registration is required.
Register online at http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=766843
Held in partnership with ServeNebraska, the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission

Religious Diversity Issues in Health Care Community Roundtable
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 3:30- 4:30 pm
Conference Room at the Center for Health Policy and Ethics (2616 Burt Street)
Directions and details at http://chpe.creighton.edu/events/roundtables/2009-2010/katz.htm
Roundtable hosted and moderated by the Center for Health Policy and Ethics at Creighton University

Religious Diversity Issues in Professional Care Giving: A Training for Professional Care Givers, Medical Personnel and Social Service Providers in Facilities and In-Home Care
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 7:45 am- 4:00 pm
5 CEUs available
Location TBA
Pre-registration is required. To register email info@projectinterfaithusa.org or call (402) 933-4647.
Held in partnership with the Respite Resource Center of Nebraska and the Creighton Health Sciences Library

Interfaith Youth Service Project
January 2010- February 2010
Service Sites: Together, Inc. and Neighbors United

"Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations in the 21st Century"
A Community Conversation with Dr. John Esposito, Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University
Thursday, February 23, 2010, 7:00 pm
Location: TBA
Held in partnership with the Islamic Center of Omaha

Christian-Hindu Study Circle
March 2010
Hindu Temple (13010 Arbor Street)
Held in partnership with the Hindu Temple

Interfaith Architecture Tour
March 2010
Sites to be announced
Held in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA)- Omaha Chapter

Community Conversations with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School
"Jesus, the Jewish Story Teller" A Community Conversation
Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7:00 pm
First-Plymouth Congregational Church (2000 "D" Street, Lincoln, NE)
Held in partnership with First-Plymouth Congregational Church

"I'm not Anti-Jewish...Am I? Avoiding Anti-Jewish Preaching and Teaching" A Luncheon Workshop for Christian Educators and Clergy
Friday, April 23, 2010, 11:30 am
First-Plymouth Congregational Church (2000 "D" Street, Lincoln, NE)
Held in partnership with First-Plymouth Congregational Church

Join us on October 4 for "Beyond Fundamentalisms: Their and Ours" A Community Conversation with Dr. Martin Marty

If you are looking for an evening that is informative, thought-provoking and totally timely to our world today then look no further. We're partnering with the Center for Faith Studies at Countryside Community Church and the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation to bring Dr. Martin Marty, one of the most well-respected and prolific theologians out there- and one of the few who can successfully pull off wearing a bow tie- for a Community Conversation on "Beyond Fundamentalisms: Their and Ours" on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 7 pm at Countryside Community Church (8787 Pacific Street) in Omaha.

A renowned scholar and author, Dr. Martin Marty will define what constitutes a fundamentalist movement and he will examine some of the most prominent examples of this in our world today. Dr. Marty will first survey the militant and often lethal challenges to civil order caused by fundamentalist movements in far away places such as India and the Middle East. Dr. Marty then will focus on the fundamentalist movements present in the United States, exploring the often militant, but seldom lethal challenges to believers in many faiths as well as non-believers whose lives are affected by hardline religious movement. By holding up the mirror to fundamentalist movements here and abroad, he will set out to account for such movements, touch on the psychology of those involved, assess the two sets of challenges they bring, and discuss strategies for facing them and--one hopes--transcending them. This community conversation is not designed to be an exercise in fundamentalist-bashing but rather an attempt to understand these movements and how communities respond to the challenges they pose.

Sound interesting? Well then get registered! You can register online at:

http://martinmartyomaha.eventbrite.com/

Tickets are $10 per person but fear not students, you can get in for free by presenting your ID at the door. Questions? Call our office (402) 933-4647 or shoot us an email at info@projectinterfaithusa.org.

Want some more info on Dr. Martin Marty...

A native of West Point, Nebraska, Dr. Marty is one of the most prominent interpreters of religion and culture today. Author of more than 50 books, he is also a speaker, columnist, Lutheran pastor, and teacher, and has served as a professor of religious history for 35 years at the University of Chicago. Want more information? Google him- he's all over the place...

This program is part of Project Interfaith's 2009-2010 Community Conversations Annual Speaker Series as well as the 2009-2010 Center for Faith Studies Annual Lecture Series.

Help us bring our A game: Let us know what programs and resources you are looking for and we'll try our best to deliver...

By now you hopefully have begun to see that we have 4 basic tracks that of programs that we at Project Interfaith offer on a continual basis to the community:

1. Arts programs- We love to use the arts to explore and educate about religious diversity and always enjoy the enthusiasm with which community members greet these programs. We've held interfaith storytelling festivals, interfaith architecture tours, and an interfaith photography and art exhibit. Just wait til you see what we have cooking for this year- we'll post on that very soon...
   
2. Community Conversations Annual Speaker Series- We bring in nationally-renowned speakers to engage the community in thoughtful conversation about a variety of issues connected to faith, religion, identity, interfaith relations, and religious diversity (click here to see info about our next speak, Dr. Martin Marty and look for information soon about our February 23 speaker Dr. John Esposito). Past speakers have included bestselling author and scholar Reza Aslan, National Public Radio Speaking of Faith host Krista Tippett, New Testament scholar and author Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, and First Amendment Center Senior Scholar Dr. Charles Haynes.
   
3. Religious Diversity Trainings, Programs and Resources for Professionals- We've developed and offer on a regular basis trainings, programs and resources that prepare and support professionals to work with and serve people of all faiths and beliefs. We have focused our efforts to date on educators, social workers, health care and social service providers, and professional care givers but fear not, we are in the process of developing additional trainings, programs and resources to assist with professionals in other sectors. Let us know if we can be of help to you and your colleagues in your efforts to be inclusive of religious diversity and responsive to the needs of people of all faiths and beliefs.
   
4. Topical Community Programs- We keep an ear to the ground and an eye to the community so that we can create programs that are meeting the needs and interests of community members. Programs that we have created in response to the needs and interests we are seeing in our community include our Faith and the Environment Community Conference, our interfaith study circles, and our Interfaith Holistic Health Fair. Coming up this year: our first Christian-Hindu Study Circle and our Interfaith Youth Service Project. Details to come shortly...

So, hopefully you can see that we love to be creative about our programs but we want to make sure we are offering programs that are meeting YOUR needs and interests not just our whims. Why? Because we exist to grow understanding, respect and relationships among you-people of all faiths and beliefs- not just our staff and volunteers (though we have fun developing programs for us as well). So this is where you come in. Please take a moment in the comment section below to tell us any or all of the following:

• What Project Interfaith programs, if any, have you attended that meant most to you and why?
• What interfaith and/or religious diversity resources, links, or programs would be most helpful to you and why?
• What topics or actions connected to interfaith understanding or religious diversity do you find most interesting and why?
• What's the best way for us to connect with you (blog, Facebook, Twitter, email, or the good ol' fashioned post)?

Thanks for taking a moment to share your thoughts and for being a part of our efforts to build a community where people of all faiths and beliefs are valued and included. And on that note, toodles!

Be Mesmerized (and Learn about the Sufi Mystical Tradition of Islam) at the "Whirling Dervishes of Rumi" Performance- Tickets on Sale Now

Join us for an evening of beautiful dance, music and a little learning sprinkled in for good measure as Project Interfaith partners with the Niagara Foundation of Nebraska to bring the "Whirling Dervishes of Rumi" performance to Omaha on August 12, 2009, at 7:30 PM at the Rose Theater (2001 Farnam Street). This presentation features the Konya Turkish Sufi Music Society (KTSMS, a Turkish dance troupe, performing the traditional Sema, a dance inspired by the mystical poetry of Rumi- a well-known 13th Century Sufi poet who lived and taught in what is now modern-day Turkey. This is a rare opportunity to witness a mesmerizing seven-century old ritual along with hearing beautiful live accompanying music.

Don't know much about Rumi or the Sufi mystical tradition in Islam? No problem- Dr. Bridget Blomfield, Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha will provide an introductory overview before the performance.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Rose Theater box office, by phone (402) 345-4849, or online at www.rosetheater.org. Don't miss this incredible performance that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. We hope to see you there...

This event is co-sponsored by the Niagara Foundation, Project Interfaith, UNO Religious Studies Program, the Kripke Center for the Study of Religion and Society at Creighton University, the Tri-Faith Initiative, the Center for Faith Studies at Countryside Community Church, Today's Zaman, The Fountain Magazine and Ebru TV.

We're hiring our first Development and Communications Director- you interested?

JOB OPPORTUNITY: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Project Interfaith, a non-profit interfaith organization dedicated to building understanding, respect and relationships among people of all faiths and beliefs, is now accepting applications for the position of Development & Communications Director (DCD). The DCD will work with the Executive Director and development and communications committees to develop & implement fundraising & communications plans. The DCD will be charged with donor research & prospect solicitations, social media and database development/ management, grantwriting, creating media releases & kits, and other responsibilities necessary to meet fundraising & communications goals. The DCD will carry out necessary tasks to manage the office.

Bachelor's degree required, major in relevant field preferred (i.e. religious studies, non-profit development, marketing, etc.), at least three years of fundraising/development &/or communications/public relations experience, proficiency using Microsoft Office (including Access) & Quickbooks strongly preferred. A passion for interfaith work important. Demonstrated successful grant writing experience required.

Prefer experience working with & soliciting donors, maintaining websites, using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs, & working in non-profit settings especially those in start-up phase desired. Successful completion of certificate in fundraising a plus.

Salary range: $35,000- $45,000 plus great benefits and flexible work environment.

This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position and may require working some weekends and evenings. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Interested candidates should apply at http://careers.unomaha.edu. (The University of Nebraska at Omaha generously handles our human resources and payroll matters). Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. No phone calls or emails please.

Calling all Bloggers: Help Grow Our Efforts to Build Understanding, Respect and Relationships among People of all Faiths & Beliefs by Blogging

Dear blogging or soon-to-be-blogging friends,

First of all, thanks so much for all the love you have shown us at Project Interfaith. Whether you have added our blog to your blogroll, given us advice on how to better reach out and connect people to our mission and work, made a donation, or given some other form of support, it helps and I and everybody else involved with Project Interfaith so appreciate it.

Now I have one more BIG way that you can help us grow our efforts to build understanding and respect among people of all faiths and beliefs. Zemanta is offering $6,000 to the organization that is blogged about most. The details are at the link below. You basically just need to tell people why you dig Project Interfaith and how we are making a positive difference. Offer up whatever floats your boat: whether it's our focus on relationships, not agreement; our efforts to use the arts to explore and educate about religious diversity; our work with educators, caregivers, health care providers, social workers, and other professionals to make sure they are able to work with and serve people of all faiths and beliefs; the incredible speakers like Reza Aslan and Krista Tippett that we have brought to Omaha through our Community Conversations annual speaker series; or our snazzy logo and materials provided by our amazing design partner Oxide Design Co. Here's the important part, for it to count towards our campaign of support you must paste in:

This blog post is part of Zemanta's "http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/">Blogging For a Cause" campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/

Please help us spread the word about our passion and work to make our community and world a place where people of all faiths and beliefs are valued and included~ and to have fun, build relationships, and be creative while we do it. Take a moment to blog about us and to encourage other bloggers who are supportive our mission and work to do so as well.

Our amazing friend Sidney Hargro, who writes a truly inspiring blog http://www.innovate2uplift.net/, brought this challenge to our attention and got the ball rolling by interviewing me for the Raising the Buzz section of his blog. Check it out and let us know what you think if you have a chance.

Thanks so much for your support through blogging,

Beth Katz
Founder and Executive Director