Franklin College will host “Come to the Table: Interfaith Understanding Through the Culinary Arts” as part of the 2023 Spirit & Place Festival. The event will begin with a tasting reception on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Johnson Atrium of the Napolitan Student Center, followed by a presentation and panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. in the Branigin Room. The event is free to attend, though registration is required. Guests may register at Franklincollege.edu/interfaitharts.

Adrian Miller, J.D., executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches and award-winning author of Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time, will give a short presentation followed by a panel discussion featuring local practitioners of a variety of faiths.

Food is one of the earliest forms of exploration in our world. By understanding how different religions and cultures interact with food, guests will engage in highlighting the differences and similarities of numerous faiths.

“The Interfaith Through the Arts series provides students and the community an opportunity to learn about multiple religious traditions, not simply through lecture, but through sharing culture,” said Rev. Hannah Adams Ingram, Ph.D., director of religious life and chaplain at Franklin College. “In conversation with others, we can learn more about ourselves and the world.”

At the event, the Interchurch Food Pantry, a local Johnson County community partner, will be recognized by the City of Franklin for its 40 years of service to the community. The organization will be honored for its leadership and mobilization of nutrition resources to serve those in need.

About Interfaith Understanding Through the Arts: In 2020, Franklin College hosted its first annual Interfaith Understanding Through the Arts event during the Spirit & Place Festival. The initiative is the inspiration of Franklin College Professor Emeritus David Carlson, Ph.D., and Adams Ingram, both of whom have long been drawn to interfaith dialogue and understanding. Carlson and Adams Ingram are active with the Center for Interfaith Cooperation based in Indianapolis and have represented Franklin College at various interfaith celebratory events and educational workshops, including the annual Festival of Faiths.

The initiative is funded through a grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. The goal is to bridge understanding of the world’s religions by highlighting the differences and similarities of various faith traditions through artistic expressions rooted in the arts and humanities – such as dance, visual arts, music, poetry and film making.

About Spirit & Place: Spirit & Place is housed in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI and puts the liberal arts into action through the power of the arts, humanities and religion. Year-long projects and events utilize these three “civic tools” to bring people together in a spirit of adventurous civility and collaboration. The signature offering, the Spirit & Place Festival, is a multi-day festival of events independently created and hosted by the community with support from Spirit & Place. Spirit & Place provides a yearly theme, staff coaching on collaborative possibilities and event design, and promotional support. A team of community reviewers select festival events after an application process.

This year’s theme – NOURISH – invites guests to explore new ideas, jump into unique experiences and break down barriers to connect with others who may be quite different from themselves. Together, using the power of the arts, humanities, and religion, we can nourish both individual and community life.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

By: Preston Bertram ’24, Pulliam Fellow

POSTED Oct 19, 2023