RLPI Internal Report Summary
The Religious Literacy and the Professions Initiative (RLPI) works collaboratively with 12 experienced professionals who represent expertise across a range of vocations and issues related to just peace. These fellows co-teach the course “Religious Literacy and the Professions” and mentor students. In working with Certificate in Religion and Public Life (CRPL) students pursuing vocations in professional fields, RLPI helps them develop the knowledge, skills, and networks to leverage their Master of Theological Studies (MTS) and Master of Divinity (MDiv) degrees in a professional context. RLPI also facilitates events and trainings to advance the public understanding of religion in service of just peace.
RPL Fellows
In Fall 2022, we welcomed our new RPL Government Fellow, the Rev. Naomi Washington-Leaphart. Washington-Leaphart brought her experiences as director for faith-based and interfaith affairs for the city of Philadelphia, as a member of the interfaith advisory boards to the Department of Homeland Security and the nongovernmental organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and as the former faith work director for the National LGBTQ Task Force.
We also welcomed two additional fellows: John Camardella, MRPL ’22, and Ans Irfan, MRPL ’22, to support our work engaging professionals in education and public health, respectively. Camardella, RPL’s Education Program Fellow, developed and delivered religious literacy training workshops in public school districts in Illinois for both teachers and school administrators. Irfan, RPL’s Religion and Public Health Fellow, helped develop an online course to provide religious literacy for public health professionals, which will be piloted in summer 2023.
Phil Torrey, RPL Immigrant Rights Fellow
From day one, I was impressed with the depth of thought and reflection with which RPL students engaged the class material. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from students at RPL, both in and out of the classroom. I’ve enjoyed witnessing their passion and am eager to see where their careers take them. I was unsure what to expect going into the program, but I am leaving with lifelong friendships and a better understanding of how the tenets of religious literacy permeate our everyday life.
My goal, now, is to bring a religious literacy lens to my work at the law school. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this community!
Philip L. Torrey is the first Immigrant Rights Fellow for the Religious Literacy and the Professions Initiative of Religion and Public Life. Torrey is the director of the Harvard Law School Crimmigration Clinic, managing attorney of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program, and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School.
Events and Skills-Training Opportunities
Community Forums
RLPI hosted four HDS community forums to analyze the religious dimensions of current events and to consider ways to respond. These events were organized by RPL graduate assistants, with HDS community members and featured guest experts and students.
The first forum focused on the summer 2022 Supreme Court decisions related to prayer in school, funding for religious schools, and reproductive rights. The second forum discussed the protests in Iran and the Iranian government’s repressive response, followed by a vigil for victims of political violence in Iran and elsewhere. The third forum focused on current events in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis’s efforts to restrict LGBTQI+ rights, the creation of Advanced Placement African American history courses in public schools, and programs advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The final forum discussed religious nationalism in India, specifically the dynamics of Hindutva and its effects on India’s diverse religious communities.
Public Engagement Skills-Training Workshops
Two workshops were held this year to provide training in skills necessary for advancing the public understanding of religion. The first featured HDS alumnus Simran Jeet Singh, who currently serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program. Jeet Singh brought his decades of experience as a media commentator and journalist to provide a halfday introductory workshop on writing and pitching opinion pieces.
“I walked away with tools and insights I didn’t have before on how to write an op-ed. It was an exceptional afternoon of learning a new skill.” —participant response
The second workshop featured HDS alumna Nadiya Brock, now with Essential Partners, who provided a full-day training on facilitating dialogue on contentious issues. Students were introduced to Essential Partner’s method of reflective structured dialogue and then taken through exercises in crafting dialogue questions, developing guidelines for safe conversations, and techniques for responding to difficult moments.
“I learned an entirely new facilitation approach that I can apply to specific and unique settings.” —participant response
Leading Toward Justice Series
This year, the Leading Toward Justice event series, created by RPL and the HDS alumni relations team in the Office of Development and External Relations, featured HDS alumnx reflecting on how their religion studies have informed their secular-defined work. Moderated by RLPI Associate Director Susie Hayward, the first panel focused on government and public sector settings, and the second focused on community organizing to advance social justice.
“Thoughtful questions from the moderator and very helpful insights from the panel. It raised new issues for me that I hadn’t thought about and gave me some actionable ways to move forward. Love hearing the stories and practical ways to make positive change in society.” —Community Organizing attendee
“The authenticity of the speakers, the great questions by the moderator, the range of different positions and faiths presented, and how they all navigate the very real messiness of life in authentic ways true to themselves no matter how different they are. A heartfelt thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt much from it.” —Government attendee