Rochester area high school students learn about world religions and interfaith dialogue at Nazareth University, Aug. 8

Interviews available during event with the director of the Nazareth's Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue

Rochester, NY (08/05/2024) — A group of high school students from around Rochester, including several Afghani refugee students, are attending the Global Citizenship Immersion program at Nazareth University this week (August 5-9) to explore the diversity of world religions and learn methods and techniques of interfaith dialogue. The program is run by Nazareth University's Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue.

Students from the Rochester City School District, McQuaid, Hilton, and Pittsford-Sutherland high schools are expanding their interfaith skills learning about religions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. After their workshop session each day, they take trips to local houses of worship or cultural sites to see these religious traditions as they are lived. Throughout the week students visit:

WHEN: Thursday, August 8, 1 p.m.-2 p.m.

WHERE: Nazareth University | Golisano Academic Center

On Thursday, students will hear from Kia Brooks, a minister at GREATER, The Kingdom Church in Rochester, and director of Nazareth's Community Youth Development major. She will talk to them about Christianity and social justice in the church.

MEDIA: Welcome to attend the Global Citizenship program at Nazareth University on Thursday at 1 p.m.

Interviews available: students in the program and Dr. Mummad Shafiq, director of the Hickey Center

Please call PR Officer Julie Long at 585-781-8186 if you are coming. She can bring you to the classroom

Following Thursday's lecture, students will spend the afternoon on a service project working in the community gardens at St. Mark's and St. John's Episcopal Church in Rochester, and end the day with dinner and discussion at Our Lady Queen of Peace church.