[Philadelphia, PA] — We are excited to announce the launch of the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) program on religious diversity and democracy for the summer of 2024. This prestigious program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and co-managed with Meridian International, aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, civic and religious literacy, and develop future leaders in their home countries of Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, India, and Indonesia.
The SUSI Summer Program is an immersive and interactive experience designed to empower young leaders and equip them with the necessary skills to make a positive impact in their communities. Students selected for the program will spend four weeks in Philadelphia before traveling to Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, Arizona. During their time in Philadelphia, students will stay on campus at Temple University and engage in a range of activities, including lectures by Temple faculty, site visits to area synagogues, churches, mosques, and museums, networking opportunities with American civic and religious leaders, and community events, such as the Welcome America festivities on July 4.
Notably, students will visit the Temple Kornberg School of Dentistry, where they will engage in a dialogue with Dr. Amid Ismail and Dr. Gity Etemad about how religious values impact professional and community-based work. The dental school community is invited to participate in this event, which includes a group meal and a guided tour of the facilities.
As part of their cultural exchange, the students are encouraged to engage with American peers. To facilitate this experience, we invite local families in the greater Philadelphia area to apply as hosts for a weekend homestay for 1-2 SUSI students from July 12-14th, 2024. Host families are encouraged to stick to their routines and attend regularly scheduled events like religious services, sporting/ practice schedules, etc., while including their host students in the activities. In the past, host families have taken excursions with their students to sports events, shopping malls, local beaches, arts festivals and galleries, historical sites, local parks to hike or bike, movie theatres, libraries, museums, and more.
Interested families can use the SUSI Religious Diversity and Democracy Host Family Application to apply to host during the SUSI weekend homestay.
The program will culminate with a public Community Action Plan presentation, showcasing the projects generated by the SUSI 2024 Students. This public event will take place Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 4 PM to 6:00 PM, in Temple University’s Mazur Hall 7 Lecture Hall. Program participants will be presented a certificate titled “Global Leaders in Religious Diversity and Democracy” issued by Temple’s Department of Religion and the Office of Noncredit and Continuing Education.
All are welcome to attend the presentations and mingle with our student leaders! Please use this form to RSVP for this event.
About The Dialogue Institute:
The Dialogue Institute trains civic, religious, and academic leaders to be agents of change in the U.S. and around the globe who practice pluralism, and democracy, and advance understanding, compassion, and dialogue across differences. Learn more on the Dialogue Institute website.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Sayge Martin
The Dialogue Institute
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