LSTC to partner with American Islamic College for training January 28-29

On Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29, the Lutheran School of Theology (LSTC) and the American Islamic College (AIC) are partnering together to offer the “Faith Over Fear” training, a training of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign. This training is for faith leaders in Chicago, and aims to reduce and to counter anti-Muslim bias, discrimination, and violence in the U.S. Persons from the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), Re-Think Media, American Islamic College, and many national congregational leaders will lead this workshop.

During the training, participants will be offered the opportunity to:

• improve skills and confidence to speak against anti-Muslim rhetoric/discrimination
• build stronger local multi-religious networks
• understand and contextualize Islamophobia (recognize the complexity of the issue)
• explore how negative speech resonates and develop messaging recommendations and communications tips
• examine practical ideas and tactics for moving people towards engagement and change

“Faith Over Fear trainings come highly recommended for faith leaders,” Sara Trumm, Director of the Center for Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice said. “It provides practical and caring ways to address anti-Muslim bigotry – skills that are applicable to many of our society’s ‘-isms.’”

The training will take place both days between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Both in-person (proof of vaccination and masking required) or fully-online participation is available. For in-person participants, the training will take place at AIC (640 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613) on January 28 and at LSTC (1100 E. 55 St, Chicago, IL 60615) on January 29.

Should in-person engagement be cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, in-person participants will be contacted via e-mail.

LSTC and AIC students may register to participate at no cost. All other participants are asked to provide a minimum $20 donation due at registration.

Registration is now open through January 26.

Contact

Sara Trumm

Director, Center for Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice

strumm@lstc.edu