Photos and stories of several of these events can be found on the President Obama’s Interfaith Challenge Tumblr page.

Upcoming Events

Fall Programs 2012
Sept 11 Flesh the Movie
Flesh the Movie is a powerful  documentary about Sex Trafficking in the U.S. that calls into question our definitions of slavery, human trafficking, and prostitution in the United States. This is a story told by girls who have escaped and by those still enslaved. It is told by former and current pimps. It is told by the abolitionists of today, including numerous directors of non-profit organizations, a former U.S. Ambassador, LAPD vice and the L.A. City Task Force on Human Trafficking. FLESH goes beyond presenting trafficking, but delves into its causes. 
Sept 18 Human Trafficking and Migration   
This panel, in cunjunction with Free Austin 2012, is an annual 2-week campaign in Austin sponsored by Allies Against Slavery, to end human trafficking in the City of Austin.  The panel featured: Larry Megason, founder of Restore a Voice, David Walding of the Barnardo Kholer Center, and Jessica Richardson, founder of Freedom’s Breath.  This program was sponsored in cooperation of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Kozmetsky Center, and Campus Ministry.
Oct 4 Sun Come Up  
A film of the world's first "Climate Refugees." This Academy Award-nominated film depicts some of the world's first "climate refugees," inhabitants of the Carteret Islands just north of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. This film was offered by The Catholic Climate Covenant in commemoration of the Feast Day of St. Francis and is sponsored by Campus Ministry.
Nov 12 The Gray Area: Imperialism or Innovation? 
This films explores the effects of globalization and western imperialism on culture and tradition. There is no black and white-only a lot of gray.  This film was presented as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. 
Nov 13 Well Fair
The Well Fair is an interactive simulation of the welfare system designed to educate about the realities of applying for and using welfare, types of services available, and qualification requirements.  The Fair was sponsored by the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the Social Work Student Association.
Nov. 13 Walk a Mile Through Homelessness
Step into the shoes of your homeless neighbor’s eye-opening experience. This powerful experience begins with a professional simulation from the Missouri Association for Community Action that plunges attendees out of their comfort zones and into the real-life situations of Austin’s homeless. Attendees were be given personas and must accomplish tasks, such as finding food or shelter for a family or applying for benefits while volunteers represent community service providers. The simulation provided a safe way to experience the harsh realities of homelessness and poverty, while also learning about services and groups in Central Texas that help people in these situations.
Nov 15 Hunger Awareness Banquet
At this interactive event, the place where you sit, and the meal that you eat, are determined by the luck of the draw; just as in real life some of us are born into relative prosperity and others into poverty.

Spring Programs 2012
February 25 Project 2012
St. Edward’s collaborated with the University of Texas at Austin for Project 2012, UT’s largest day of service.  Approximately 2,000 individuals including over 100 students from St. Edward’s worked on several projects in the neighborhood of Dove Springs, a community just southeast of St. Edward’s.
Mar. 4 Austin Crop Walk-The annual Austin Crop Walk is an interfaith effort to raise money in relief of local and global poverty. Contributing to this year’s educational aspect of the Crop Walk, Freshmen Jonathan Romero, a member of Dr. Peter Beck’s Environment and People class, created an interactive model of a sand dam to educate participants on a new means of collecting water in arid climates.  The sand dams reduce the daily water retrieval process from up to nine hours down to one hour.
March 7  Passion & Civility Debate Tournament
This year’s debate featured various debate topics related to displacement highlighting issues of immigration, disabilities, the DREAM Act, and racial exclusion.
March 10-17 Alternative Spring Break
Students participated in nine Service Break Experiences visiting New York City, Denver, Appalachia, the Gulf Coast, El Paso, the Whiteriver Apache Reservation, Phoenix, and Chicago.  Students engaged issues of immigration, homelessness, urban and rural poverty, disaster relief and education.
Mar 24 Holy Cross Day of Service
On Saturday, March 24th, St. Edward's participated in the National Holy Cross Day of Service.  The Congregation of Holy Cross has founded many high schools and colleges across the United States and this day united each institution in service.  At St. Edward's, this day of collaborative brought together Reach Out, SJSO and the Office of Community Engagement along with community partner Mobile Loaves and Fishes to offer a variety of opportunity to serve the local Austin community through a Homelessness Fair and several other projects.
April 12 "Beyond Beliefs" Documentary Screening
In March 2007, Australian voters took over Old Parliament House in Canberra for three days to consider how Muslims and non-Muslims live in Australia and how they might live in the future. Beyond Beliefs follows four people through this journey as they question what it means to be Australian. This screening included an introduction and Q&A by Dr. Pamela Ryan, Chari and Co-Founder of Psychology Beyond Borders. This event was also part of the Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project.
April 19 “Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law 10 years After 9/11" Public Talk by David Cole
This public lecture discussed the exploration of the ways that the war on terror has or has not transformed the rule of law in the United States, with special attention to the role of the Obama administration, the courts, and civil society. Co-sponsored by the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence in Global Finance and the Center for Ethics and Leadership. This event was also part of the Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project.
April 20 SOURCE
Senior Shirley Green, a Brown Scholar, and Brannen, Junior Art Major, Graphic Design Minor, presented at the Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression. Through her work with Casa Marianella, Ms. Green shares a composite of stories composed into one story of a refugee from the conflict in Sudan, presented in a graphic novel format.

Fall Programs 2011
Fall  Global Understanding Workshop: Water Mediation
Fall  Culf 3331 Global Understandings – Religious Migrations
The migration of people is an increasing phenomena challenging governments and institutions in managing the growth of pluralistic societies.  Heightening the tension is the variable of religious pluralism.  This course focuses upon the migration of religions across cultural, political, and technological borders.
Aug. 29 Iftar Dinner
Traditional Iftar dinner celebrating the daily breaking of the fast during the month of Ramadan.  Sponsored by the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, this event promotes interfaith cooperation. 
Sept. 6  Climate change and migration movements
A discussion on the effects of climate change on how people migrate around the globe and how we can mitigate the effects of climate change, especially in developing countries. Sponsored by the Kozmetsky Center.
Sept. 13 Climate risks and the challenges for development
A discussion on how to reduce the risks of climate change through controlling greenhouse gasses while providing energy, jobs and food for the poor, and the significant impact climate change has upon migration movements, especially from the South to the North. Sponsored by the Kozmetsky Center.
Sept. 18-20 El Camino Real de los Tejas: Past and Present
Commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, this exhibit pays tribute to a long period of the history of Texas (the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries) when Spain and later Mexico were intertwined with the Lone Star State.  This exhibit contributes to the understanding of the present Texas whose population is the result of Native Americans and migrant populations from different parts of the globe including Europe.  Sponsored by the Kozmetsky Center.
Sept. 19 “Casgo: Innocence Lost” – film presentation
Sept. 20 Texas Along the Caminos Reales: Nature and Development
Sept. 22 “I, too, have a story.” – story presentation
Storytellers for Social Justice and the Hilltop Speakers will present stories of those who have been enslaved and those who worked to free them. Using classical tales and modern narrative the power of the human voice will weave an event not soon to be forgotten.  Sponsored by University Programs.
Sept. 27  Nostra Aetate Panel -Speaking Across Difference: Challenges and Promises of Public Discourse on Religion
Faculty panel discussion on "Speaking Across Difference: Challenges and Promises of Public Discourse on Religion," part of a year-long conversation on "Religious Violence and Interreligious Dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities." Sponsored by Campus Ministry and the School of Humanities
Oct. 11 Iraqi Women of Three Generations: Challenges, Education, and Hopes for Peace
An Exhibit of Images and Stories by Sister Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, of Iraqi women's resilience, courage, and compassion encourage understanding and healing across cultures and religions.
Oct. 11 Celebrate Sukkot
Join the HillelToppers in celebrating Sukkot and build St. Edward's first sukkah!  Sukkot celebrates our appreciation for and trust in God, and the sukkah itself serves as a visual manifestation of our new journey in the new year.
Oct. 17 Ending Religious Terrorism: Transforming the Apocalyptic Mindset Sponsored by Campus Ministry and the School of Humanities
Dr. Frances Flannery, Associate Professor of Religion, James Madison University
Oct. 19  Diversity, Ethnicity and Minority Status in China The talk will focus on the different ethnic and minority groups in China to examine how the Chinese state defines ethnic categories. More specifically the talk analyzes the perspective of Uyghurs, a minority population living in Xinjiang Uyghur in Northwestern China, while providing insights into what it means to be "Chinese" today.  Sponsored by the Kozmetsky Center
Oct. 22 Founder’s Day Service Project Every October, the St. Edward's University community celebrates Founders Day to honor our Holy Cross founders and French heritage. A central part of the event is the Founders Service Project, which invites you to roll up your sleeves and assist multiple organizations throughout the city of Austin.  This year’s service will include providing relief to those displaced by the Bastrop fires. This event is sponsored by the Social Justice and Service Outreach (SJSO)
Nov. 2 Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel This luncheon will feature two Israeli high school students, Haneen Kinani, a Muslim Arab, and Yael Keinan, who is Jewish, from Hand in Hand's Jerusalem school who will share their experiences of attending the Hand in Hand school.  Founded in 1997, Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education is a unique network of integrated, bilingual schools for Arab and Jewish children in Israel. The schools are accredited and funded by the Israeli Ministry of Education and have received awards for teaching and for promoting coexistence.  This program is sponsored by New College, the Center for Ethics and Leadership, and Campus Ministry
Nov. 12 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Service Project: Bastrop
A morning of service to kick off Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! Students will be working with the Bastrop Volunteer Center to help continue cleaning up neighborhoods and residences affected by the fires.
Nov. 16 Class Warfare: An Interactive Dialogue 
An interactive discussion regarding the systemic problems that individuals of lower income face, where students will participate in a simulation of the online game, Spent. Students will confront preconceived notions on those facing poverty and the conditions that they are forced to deal with on a daily basis.  This event is part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and is sponsored by the Multicultural Leadership Board.
Nov. 30 “One Water” Documentary Screening "One Water" adopts an innovative approach to reach a wide audience with visual stories about our changing relationship to water.  Sponsored by the Kozmetsky Center
Nov. 30 BUTTER - Being Understanding & Tactful Toward Everyone’s Religion
Food is a common element within any cultural setting.  This program will use Food as a means to promote and foster interfaith dialogue.  Sponsored by Residence Life and the Peer Ministry leadership program of Campus Ministry
Dec. 9 Festival of Lights The Festival of Lights is a night of remembrance and hope. Each Advent Season, the St. Edwardʼs community gives thanks for the gifts and knowledge we have received on our journey to this point, as we seek to foster a peaceful and just world.  Our Catholic heritage calls us to remember those who are today displaced, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Items will be collected to assist in Bastrop Fire Relief.