Higher Education Institutions Participate in Webinar

On June 1 the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Centers at the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Department of Education sponsored the second in a series of three webinars. The webinars are designed to provide resources for colleges, universities, and community colleges as they prepare plans to participate in the President's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge.

Over 400 higher education institutions responded to the President's challenge. They are in the process of preparing plans that make the vision for interfaith cooperation and community service a reality on campuses across the country. Students at participating institutions will participate in a year of interfaith and community service programming. In the spring of 2012, there will be a gathering at the White House to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage institutions of higher education to make interfaith service a reality on all campuses.

Participants in the webinar were welcomed by Marco Davis, Director of Public Engagement at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Mary Ellen Giess, Director of Campus Partnerships at Interfaith Youth Core, shared why interfaith cooperation is important. Maggie Stevens from Indiana Campus Compact described best practices in community service. The webinar concluded with Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Director of the Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Center at the Department of Education responding to questions.

The support that the President is receiving for this project is encouraging evidence that by working together on solving community problems we can also develop interfaith understanding.

Ken Bedell serves as Senior Advisor to the Center For Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Education.