Funding is provided by grants from anonymous donors, SMC's Office of Mission, and the College Committee for Inclusive Excellence. Our on-campus partners and supporters often include the Mission and Ministry Center and the Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action.

Annual Interfaith Speaker Event

Since Fall 2009, the Center has taken the lead in producing annual interfaith speaker events. 

2009 Eboo Patel

Eboo Patel, Founder and President of the Interfaith Youth Core, and member of President Obama's inaugural Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighorhood Partnerships, spoke on "Acts of FAith: Building an Interfaith Youth Movement for the 21st Century." 

2010 Father Dennis Holtschneider

Father Dennis Holtschneider, president of DePaul University, spoke on "A Call to Interfaith Engagement: Every Voice Matters."" 

2011 Patrick McCollum

Patrick McCollum, Winner of the Mahatma Gandhi Award for the Advancement of Religious Pluralism and board member of Children of the Earth spoke on "Young Leaders on the World Stage: Cultivating Spirituality and Building a Global Community."  He was joined by Center Intern Chloe Doan who shared her Children of the Earth experiences in Nepal.

Other Interfaith Initiatives & Intern Projects

Understanding the World Religions

Center intern Chloe Doan took the lead in developing and producing events to promote understanding of the world religions.  This year, Chloe Doan invited Hindus from SMC and the wider community to speak on "Exploring Hinduism."

Children of the Earth Hub Project

Intern Chloe Doan has started a Children of the Earth hub project under the aspices of the Center.  Children of the Earth is a United Nations NGO dedicated to uniting young people to create a peaceful and sustainable world. Chloe traveled to Nepal with members of Children of the Earth to do interfaith service and education projects.  She spoke on her experiences at the Center's annual interfaith speaker event with Patrick McCollum fall 2011, and produced "Letters to Nepal," a follow-up event on campus.

Interfaith Leadership Workshops

The Center produces interfaith leadership workshops for students, faculty, and staff on the model developed by the Interfaith Youth Core.

Interfaith Events for Faculty and Staff

These events provide faculty and staff with opportunities to learn about methods for interfaith dialogue and to share their faith stories. 

De La Salle Week: Religious Pluralism in the Lasallian Tradition

Center interns' presentations on how the Center's work supports the Lasallian Tradition of the College have been a part of De La Salle Week, which is organized by the Mission and Ministry Center.

Interfaith Prayer Wall at the Legacy Garden

New students and their supporters gathered to construct and dedicate the Interfaith Prayer Wall above SMC's organic garden as a part of SMC's Fall "Weekend of Welcome."

(Click image to view slide show)

Intern Research Projects for College Credit

College credit is available to interns who wish to explore a Center-related topic for a researched term paper. 

Interfaith Education and Charter Schools

Thomas Bell, Center intern spring 2009, researched and wrote a proposal for interfaith education in charter schools.  His work contemplates an overall interfaith approach to charter school education.

Religious Pluralism and the U.S. Congress

Skylar Kovich, Center intern spring 2009, researched the impact that religion has on the political careers of current and former U.S. congressmen who are not Christian or Jewish. The project included profiles of current Muslim congress members Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Andre Carson (D-IN), current Buddhist congress members Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), former Sikh congressman Dalip Singh Saund (D-CA), current congressman Tom Cole (R-OK), and former senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), who are both Native American. Congress members who identify with no religion were addressed, as well, particularly current congressman Pete Stark (D-CA), who became the first congressman to identify himself as an atheist.

Prison Religion

Callan Smith and Laura Klink, Center interns spring 2009, conducted research in support of the Center’s Prison Religion Project.