Page 15 - Laker Connection Fall 2013

ILAP follows the mission and goals of the national organiza- tion Interfaith Youth Core, an affiliate of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, the White House, and the Office of Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan. ILAP will provide opportunities for participants to acquire skills to address issues of values, ethics, and morality; and examine the interaction of faith, non-faith, intellectual inquiry and social responsibility as bases for af- firming meaning and satisfaction in life, among other goals.
“Upon completion of the program, participants will become Interfaith Leadership Ambassadors able to contribute to a cam- pus interfaith movement built on religious pluralism,” com- ments Royal.
“The purpose of We Are O.N.E. Interfaith Council is bringing awareness to religious diversity, unifying different religious faiths through service, fostering safe and open dialogue on controversial topics of importance to our communities, and promoting mutual understanding, appreciation, and respect among diverse religions and cultures,” adds the president of the We Are O.N.E. Interfaith Council, Jasmin Gaston.
The council was officially recognized by Clayton State Uni- versity as a student organization on Apr. 15, 2013. Preceding the council, the religiously-affiliated organizations on campus included Baptist Collegiate Ministries and Clayton State’s Gospel Choir, Influence, which both focus on the Christian re- ligion.
“I’m happy to see a student organization on a campus in the South that includes all religions respectfully. Working together at a common goal that benefits all of the community is a great way to get to know each other and realize that we aren’t all that different. We all care about helping, and we all care about our community,” says Sara Omar, a Muslim sophomore at Clayton State.
Royal, Gaston, Vice President Ryan Wilkerson, Corresponding Secretary Alice Keith, Recording Secretary Eriel Hawkins, Treasurer Kyante Gadson, and Promotional Affairs Coordina- tor Erika Smith have all taken the President’s challenge seri- ously and, “are in the midst of working on something great,” states Gaston.
Kicking off their service, the council completed their first ini- tiative at the end of Welcome Week in August. The program, “Clean House” was essentially a campus-wide clean up. The
Representatives from campus religious organizations set up tables at a Welcome Week event on the lawn outside of the Student Activities Center.
Students gather for an We Are O.N.E. Interfaith Council kick-off meeting.
council partnered with Campus Events Council, Student Gov- ernment Association, FSC, Alpha Phi Omega, Student Lead- ership Involvement Council, and AmeriCorps to sponsor the restoration of the campus after the Welcome Week festivities.
Starting off strong, the council held their second event, entitled “Let Me Live: Religious and Spiritual Forum,” on Aug. 28. The forum focused on world religion, spirituality, religious ed- ucation, and other similar topics. A panel of representatives from different faces of religion and spiritual beliefs discussed and debated these topics in an open, informative, and under- standing atmosphere.
The President’s Challenge is alive at Clayton State University. We Are O.N.E. Interfaith Council aims to make the dreams of inclusion, appreciation, and community unity real.
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