Last month we told you about COEXIST Oglethorpe, a new campus-wide organization of students and staff, which emphasizes interfaith cooperation and community service as an important way to build understanding between different communities. Now, with the tenth anniversary of 9/11 this Sunday, COEXIST Oglethorpe has planned events and service projects this Sunday—also National Day of Service. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate.
COEXIST will host a Community Interfaith Dialogue and Roundtable Discussion in Emerson Student Center on Sunday, September 11 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. The Dialogue will include various community and faith leaders who will answer questions about cultural and religious diversity and the implications of 9/11.
The panel will include moderator and OU alumnus Dr. G. Gil Watson ’68, senior pastor at Northside United Methodist Church. Panelists include Reverend Mr. Bill Garrett, deacon at All Saints Catholic Church; Rabbi Chiam Neiditch, from the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Atlanta; Mr. Gogi Basi, President of the Sikh Study Circle, Inc.; Reverend Marthame Sanders from Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church; and, Soumaya Khalifa, founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta.
Refreshments will be served following the discussion when everyone will get a chance to write letters to U.S. soldiers and veterans. If you are able, please bring a healthy non-perishable food item to donate to the Suthers Food Pantry in Chamblee (beans, fruit, nuts, peanut butter, tuna, veggies, etc.). COEXIST also is hosting a blood drive that same day in Emerson Student Center from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The drive is in collaboration with the American Red Cross and will support victims of Hurricane Irene. Sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org using the sponsor code: Oglethorpe.
Center for Civic Engagement Director Tamara Nash and Assistant Director Heather Staniszewski have credited staff and student members of COEXIST Oglethorpe as instrumental in planning these events—in particular, Clair Carter ’12, Ruwa Romman ’15, Emily Sharfstein ’14, Zach Robinson ’15 and Kendra Hunter, director of student leadership and activities.
