I think it’s fair to say that the Interfaith Youth Work Conference was a great opportunity to work on foundation building for the interfaith movement.  And it is a movement, in case you missed the memo.  Over 500 people gathered over 3 days in Chicago to discuss the interfaith movement and its role in our lives.  The conference was led by the Interfaith Youth Core and topics ranged from faith narratives, to youth organizing, to activities on college campuses, to including marginalized communities in interfaith action.

The conference was pluralism in action.  Pluralism is defined by Merriam Webster as, “a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization.”  Why do we care about pluralism?  Because we are living in a world where if people do not intentionally come together, we are poised to collapse.  So we came together to listen and to share and to support each other in interfaith work.  A wide range of people, from the intensely faithful to the questioning to the self-proclaimed atheists, found common ground in a common vision that was focused on the common good.  Commonality- it’s what keeps the conversation going.

The next time you consider studying abroad, make sure that you check where your fees are going, especially if you attend a private institution.

Ever wondered why the number of study abroad programs approved by your school is so small? Certain travel organizations give schools exclusive perks per student for their participation in the program. Rather than allow students to deal directly with the foreign institutions (which are sometimes more affordable than domestic tuition) schools instead direct them through third party agencies in an effort to turn a profit.