Interfaith Peace Education & Community Spiritual Peacemaking

Women’s Interfaith Network of Sarasota-Bradenton

The Women’s Interfaith Network (WIN) of Sarasota-Bradenton completed its second year of local organizing in December, 2009. Currently there are over 80 members representing Judaism, several forms of Christianity, Islam, Quakerism, Buddhism and Humanism as well as indigenous and spiritual traditions. WIN’s mission is to work towards harmony and cooperation across religious, racial, ethnic, cultural and national boundaries. All meetings and events are open to the public.

Activities currently being planned for 2010 include an expansion of the Common Ground program to include dinners as well as lunches, a film fest at the North County Library featuring films from the Middle East, Europe and America followed by discussion, and a book discussion club at the Women’s Resource Center. For further information, contact any of the WIN Co-Chairs.

In January, 2009, WIN helped to organize two local forums for peace during the violence in Gaza. Other activities in 2009 included Common Ground luncheons where women had an opportunity to learn about each others’ religions, several interfaith Seders held at members’ houses, and an interfaith celebration of Grandparents’ Day, co-hosted by the Sarasota Sailors’ Circus, held at a local nursing home.

Quotes from participants in Common Ground luncheons:

• “I loved the diversity in our group and am surprised at how much I learned.”
• “I had never heard of the Wiccan religion. It pleased me to learn how the earth and seasonal cycles are celebrated. I can now dispel the idea that Wiccans are devil worshippers.”
• “I gained a completely new perspective on Muslims and how their customs vary in different countries.”
• “It was comforting to hear other women expressing doubts about their own religious teachings.”
• “I made friends with people I’d never have known and am richer for it.”

Highlights of 2008 included an interfaith food drive and blessing in support of a local food bank; an interfaith Ramadan dinner at the local mosque; community action regarding the anti-Islamic DVD Obsession; and an interfaith holiday celebration of Advent and Christmas, Channukah, Eid al Adha, Kwanzaa and the Winter Solstice.

For more information, contact:
Arlene Pearlman: ajp474@comcast.net - 941-377-1003
Sarah Zazaoul: sarahzaouzal@hotmail.com - 941-232-9854
Jacci Tutt: jaccisam@aol.com - 941-378-3087

Teaching Tolerance in High School

Funded with a small grant from Teaching Tolerance, a program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, CRT recently began pilot testing an application of Study Circle technology in Sarasota High School. The project provided training for teachers in how to create conflict-free classrooms and defuse potentially threatening situations. The project also provided weekly sessions in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classroom, focusing on increasing tolerance towards others who are different. Discussion focused on issues of racism, religious intolerance, and stereotypes about people with disabilities. Both students and teachers were enthusiastic about the course, which is being continued through another grant, with plans for replication in other classrooms and schools. Click here to read an evaluation of the project.