The event was developed by Professors Joe Faryniarz and Peter Cisek, advisors of NVCC’s Interfaith Center and the Newman Club, in response to President Obama’s plea to address public violence in our own communities beyond memorial services. NVCC College President, Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., requested the College faculty respond to this need as it was expressed by President Obama. “We welcome this timely conversation about the power of love to sustain our own humanity. Our faculty members exemplify kind, thoughtful and engaged pedagogy. I thank Professors Faryniarz and Cisek for proposing and organizing this panel. I welcome the diversity and experiences our speakers bring to NVCC. Bendiciones todos.”

The expertise of the event’s panelists offered dimension to the discussion of Judaism, Islamic and Christian principles in respect to humanity and the causes of and solutions for violence.  Speakers included Vanessa J. Avery, Ph.D., Hartford Seminary, author of several books on Judaism and an Adjunct Professor at Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University; Ayse K. Coskun, M.D.,Istanbul University Medical School, Associate Research Scientist in Infectious Disease Medicine at Yale University, Hartford Seminary graduate degree in Islamic Studies and Muslim-Christian relations, and organizer with the Peace Islands Institute; Father Michael J. Dolan, Official Hartford Archdiocesan Liaison to the Muslim Community, CT State Police Chaplain, Pastor at Saint Margaret-Mary Church, South Windsor; and Reverend Mark L. Heilshorn, Ph.D., Hartford Seminary, author, motivational speaker, church youth organizer, and expert in men’s spirituality across the Abrahamic spectrum and inter-religious dialogue.

A thoughtful exchange of ideas amongst the NVCC students, faculty, staff and members of the public who attended followed the speaker presentations.

Professor Faryniarz expressed, “The InterFaith Center at NVCC coordinated today’s event to help our campus community to meaningfully deal with public violence amidst a diverse society.”