From the Intern Files: The Interfaith Opportunist

by Project Interfaith Intern, Natalie Hatfield

No one really wants summer to end, but every ending is just the beginning of something new. I’m actually really looking forward to the new semester and the new classes I’m taking. Well at least the interesting ones! Not only does a new school year mean new classes, but it also brings new people and new opportunities to improve interfaith relations in Omaha. Our city has the distinct advantage of having a large international population both in the community and at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Over 1400 international students from over 116 countries study at UNO. Along with interning at Project Interfaith, I am the Director of International Student Services at UNO and the most important part of my job is to plan events that allow people from all around the world to come together. Through the events, I see a lot of these interactions and have come to realize that with so many international students comes a variety of religious beliefs.

I helped out with orientation for new international students, and though I didn’t even come close to meeting all of the 80+ students, I talked to individuals who practice Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and an atheist. Additionally, I led a campus tour of about 20 people, and although I didn’t ask, I’m pretty sure there were also Christians and Muslims in the group. All these new students, as well as the majority of international students at UNO, are in the same classes as the American students and are constantly creating international and inter-religious friendships.

The great thing about becoming friends with people from other cultures is that interfaith relations build easily and sometimes unintentionally. Religion might not be the first topic of discussion when meeting new people but as friendships grow, it always comes up somehow. Becoming friends with someone from a religion you are unfamiliar with helps change misconceptions about their religion. Each person acts as an ambassador for their religion and culture. These sorts of interactions provide a very relaxed, more personal way to accomplish interfaith relationships.

Outside of UNO, Project Interfaith helps create similar friendships within the Omaha community. What makes me love this organization so much is the variety in which we work towards understanding, respect and relationships among people of faiths, beliefs, and cultures. My first encounter with Project Interfaith was when I attended Dr. John Esposito’s lecture for Project Interfaith’s Community Conversation series nearly two years ago. I absolutely loved that program. I’m a little shy about talking to new people so I prefer the lecture setting but I know many people who would be grateful for a more laid back setting. Luckily, Project Interfaith has a wide variety of programs that make it easy for everyone to get involved and educated. For example, Project Interfaith presented a screening of the documentary, Taqwacore, last November which would appeal to the movie and music buffs. For the talkative types, the speed dialoguing event, “Face to Faith”, provided an opportunity for a more one-on-one experience.

However, one-on-one can be difficult sometimes if the person you’re talking with doesn’t agree with you. When asked what religion I follow, I usually reply “all and none” because I believe all the religions of the world are simply different paths to the same Divine. I don’t follow the dogma of any specific religion. Recently I had someone argue with me that I had to pick one religious tradition to follow. This person argued that I must choose one because religions contradict each other and that if I didn’t pick one, I must be an atheist. I’m so glad my conversation partner was not telling me which specific religion I had to follow but I couldn’t help but get a little frustrated with the lack of understanding. For people who are interested but wish to avoid such conversations, which can easily lead to heated arguments, I think Project Interfaith’s Community Mosaic Video Project (CMVP) is a great place to start. CMVP enables people to have that one-on-one experience but in the comfort of their own home. Viewers can get to know the interviewees through their videos and thereby learn more about their faiths. If you watch a video and feel a connection to what that person says, you are more likely to be receptive to learning more about them and their faith. Similar to my experience with international friendships, watching the CMVP videos humanizes religions. Religion becomes more than just a number of adherents and a list of beliefs when there is a face to go with it.

I really love that Project Interfaith makes these diverse opportunities available. Honestly I was a little surprised that such an organization existed in Nebraska. I’ve witnessed a lot of intolerance in the Midwest so I’m very glad Project Interfaith is here. I can’t think of a more perfect place for me to intern. One of my all-time favorite quotes is “Be the change you wish to see in the world” by Mahatma Gandhi and I feel like by working with Project Interfaith, I’m able to follow that advice!

Natalie Hatfield is a resource development intern at Project Interfaith. She is pursuing a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Anthropology at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Along with this internship, she is also working as the Director of International Student Services at UNO for 2011-2012. Her eventual career goals include achieving a PhD in Religious Studies or Anthropology and working for a museum, magazine or university. Natalie has been deeply interested in various religions and cultures since youth and is excited for the opportunity to work in this field with Project Interfaith. When she has free time, Natalie enjoys reading, studying international cultures and religion, traveling, and photography.

From the Intern Files: Finding my Place in the Mosaic

by Project Interfaith Intern, Tony Pojar

I originally heard about Project Interfaith through an acquaintance at the “Big Omaha” event where I was volunteering. I had never heard of the organization before and I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive as I have no strong feelings toward religion. I was raised Catholic. I attended Catholic and Jesuit institutions all my life but since college I’ve felt out of step with my faith; like I was just going through the motions and not getting anything out of it. That is when I started looking for something else to fill the void. I have discovered that I favor the ways of Zen Buddhism; I enjoy taking time to meditate and self reflect. I also practice yoga to relieve stress and center myself. I wouldn’t say that I am set in stone yet, so I will continue to embark on my spiritual journey until I feel at home or reach enlightenment, whichever comes first.

Despite my initial reservation, my ultimate decision to intern with Project Interfaith is simple really. Project Interfaith fulfills two of my passions: one is my passion for video production and design, and the second is my passion for learning. I was brought on at the end of June as a video editor intern. I am responsible for editing the interviews for the Community Mosaic Video Project (CMVP). Through this position I have been able to get a first-hand look at how Project interfaith actively works to achieve their mission: Project Interfaith grows understanding, respect and relationships among people of all faiths, beliefs and cultures. The CMVP only furthers this mission (check it out!). The stories that I have encountered have been both interesting and eye opening.

Since graduating from Creighton University back in 2010, I have been missing the educational atmosphere so much I've been ravenous for learning. I’ve even started reading, of all things, Emergency Medicine books! But my position with Project Interfaith gives me the opportunity to learn while I'm working; allowing me to expand my knowledge of world religions (again, my favorite so far is Buddhism). One of the key objectives for Project Interfaith is teaching the public and bringing awareness about the diversity among and within different religions. In my work with the videos, I can see that there is a wide range of diversity within even the same religious group. I'll admit I came with my own preconceived notions and opinions about certain groups. But now that I have heard individuals’ stories I have a better understanding about the different practices of people ranging from the conservative to the liberal. It’s actually really interesting to see this; it’s one of those things so often overlooked in today’s society where we are only shown the extreme sides by the media.

Among the benefits of the Community Mosaic Video Project is that it provides an opportunity for people to learn things that they may have misunderstood or altogether didn’t know about a certain group. And in my opinion, the key for this to work is that people are going to have to be open and willing to listen while setting aside all of their preconceived notions and stereotypes.
As I continue working on the CMVP, I expect to learn more about people's personal beliefs and practices. As I grasp a greater understanding I hope to become an example of the success of Project Interfaith's mission. I look forward to continuing being involved with Project Interfaith and being able to see the CMVP through to the end. We've got some really exciting plans coming together with some awesome people working on their execution, so stay tuned for an event near you.

Tony graduated from Creighton University in 2010 with degrees in Graphic Design & Advertising as well as specializing in Video Production. He was the first student to achieve the level of Apple Certified Final Cut Studio Master Pro. He is currently assisting with the Community Mosaic Video Project as a video editing intern during the summer of 2011. He has made peace with his inner design geek and will not hesitate to yell out Command-Z every time something goes wrong. In his spare time he enjoys photography, camping, cooking and listening to Disney songs.

Project Interfaith's Community Mosaic Video Project will launch in January 2011. To stay on top of its progress and other Project Interfaith programs, subscribe to the Project Interfaith listserve at projectinterfaith.org.

The Team of Everybody

by Sierra Pirigyi, Community Mosaic Video Project Coordinator

My boyfriend, Roger, is a big soccer fan. I didn’t grow up with soccer like he did, but I oblige and watch with him whenever Mexico is playing. I’m actually starting to enjoy soccer—I’ve been learning a lot about the game. I have the worst attention span though, particularly when it comes to sports (or action movies). I start to space off and become lost in my own thoughts when I’m watching something that doesn’t necessarily require my brain to be actively engaged. A few weeks ago, this is exactly what happened to me.

We were at home watching the U-17 World Cup Final (Mexico v. Uruguay), and the game had just ended. After Mexico won, the camera panned across the crowd in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. There were images upon images of the home crowd celebrating their victory. At one point, the screen showed a group of young girls in the crowd celebrating, and I thought, “Hey, they look just like Americans.” It was this thought that gave me pause. Wait, wait, wait . . . What do “Americans” look like anyway? I live in one of the most diverse countries in the world; there is no typical-looking American. I know this, and yet I couldn’t help but think that the crowd of Mexicans I was watching looked a lot like the people I see every day (Now granted, I do live in South Omaha).

My thought train then brought me to something Roger had told me a long time ago: that many people refer to the U.S. Soccer Team as “The Team of Everybody,” because it is made up of such a diverse group of players. I like thinking about the United States as the Team of Everybody, because we have such incredible diversity here in this country, whether that be ethnically, racially, religiously, or even politically. There are so many people here who come from such different backgrounds, who’ve had such different experiences, all of whom can exist in equality and harmony due to the very unique rights, freedoms, and protections that we all have.

This Team of Everybody includes people of all faiths, belief systems and cultures. No member of this team is any more important than the other, and not one is expendable. But having a team like this comes with an added challenge: the incredible complexity of identity. Just like there is no one face that looks “American,” there is no one face that looks Muslim, no one face that captures what it is to be Christian. We must recognize and respect this complexity and realize that any label we use comes with its own set of limitations.

While working on our Community Mosaic Video Project, I saw this illustrated to the greatest extent. There is great diversity of belief among different faiths and belief systems, but the diversity within those traditions is too often overlooked. Kael Sagheer, Project Interfaith Board member, once said it best: “If you’re a Christian, think of all the people you know who are Christian, or if you’re Jewish, think of all of the people you know who are Jewish. Think about the range of diversity that exists among all of those people that you know. Now realize that this diversity exists within every faith or belief system.”

Whenever we label someone, be that label American, Hindu or Republican, we must realize that no one word can encompass somebody’s identity in its entirety. There are many things that make up who we are and there is no set definition for what makes someone an [insert label here]. As we live, work and play together on our “Team of Everybody,” we must acknowledge these limitations and take the complexities of identity into account. I, for one, am proud to play for the Team of Everybody, and in my work at Project Interfaith, have gained an incredible amount of respect for the different faiths, belief systems and cultures that I have encountered—all of which are just as “American” as I.

Sierra Pirigyi is the Coordinator of Project Interfaith's Community Mosaic Video Project. She will be transferring to the University of Nebraska-Omaha this fall, to complete a dual Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Spanish. Sierra has previously attended the University of Colorado-Denver and Metropolitan Community College.

Sierra previously worked as an Administrative Assistant for Project WISE, a Denver, Colorado non-profit working with low-income women. This is what first sparked her interest in not-for-profit work. Sierra began interning with Project Interfaith in February 2010, assisting in various fields until discovering her passion for programming. Although currently undecided about her exact career plans, Sierra intends to continue working in the non-profit field, hoping someday to do humanitarian work with children and youth. Her regional interests lie primarily within Latin America and the Middle East.

Sierra enjoys learning about history, religion, philosophy and international politics. In her spare time, she also likes to read and write.