14th Annual Illinois Interfaith Conference
February 21-22, 2025
With Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith
Psychologist and Senior Fellow at University of California, Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of the “beloved community,” a place where justice and love come together to overcome hate. Our religious, spiritual and secular identities may call us to act together to care for one another. How can we come together across our differences? Can we use those differences as strengths rather than dividing lines? Join us for the Illinois Interfaith Conference at the University of Illinois where we will explore these issues and more. Visit our website for more information. Registration is free!
Keynote speaker Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith combines her love of teaching and advocacy by serving as a professor, by directing mental health programs for children experiencing trauma, homelessness or foster care and developing her own consultancy. Much of her work has been with schools, higher education, philanthropy and health care organizations, as a clinician, consultant and trainer. She currently serves as the Diversity Lead of Student Life at the University of Washington, as the founder and principal of Soft River Consultation and as a Senior Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center where she focuses on developing and implementing the science of bridging (connecting across our differences). Allison will also be speaking at the Friday Forum + Conversation Cafe at noon on Friday at the University YMCA.
Co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Diversity & Social Justice Education, Illini Hillel, Interfaith in Action, Department of Religion, Interfaith Alliance of Champaign County, Religious Workers Association, the College of Education, the School of Social Work Community Learning Lab, and the University YMCA.
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email diversity@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.