Living with Our Deepest Differences: Religious Liberty in the Schools, A Community Conversation with First Amendment Center Scholar Dr. Charles Haynes

Religious Liberty in the Public Schools: Two Community Workshops with Dr. Charles Haynes, Senior Scholar at the First Amendment Center and Author of Finding Common Ground: A Guide to Religious Liberty in the Public Schools

Part of Project Interfaith's 2008-2009 Community Conversations Annual Speaker Series

Both workshops will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008

Workshop 1: Creating Policies, Procedures and Practices for Religious Liberty and Inclusive Schools
A Luncheon Workshop for School Administrators, School Board Members, Curriculum Facilitators, and Educators
11:30 am- 1:00 pm, UNO Thompson Alumni Center
6705 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182
Cost: $30 per person (Lunch and resources included)
**Registration is required as space is limited. For a registration form, email info@projectinterfaithusa.org .**

This workshop will explore the policy issues that schools face in terms of religious diversity and liberty issues and will provide an opportunity for participants to share and discuss some of the needs and concerns that they are seeing in their districts and schools. Dr. Haynes also will highlight some practices and policies with which other districts have found success and will review some of the legal parameters connected to religious liberty and religion in the public schools.


Workshop 2: Religious Liberty in the Public Schools and in the Public Square
A Community Conversation for Educators, Parents, Students, and all Community Members
7:00 pm, UNO Scott Conference Center
6450 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68106
Cost: This program is offered at no charge thanks to the support of private donors.
This evening workshop is co-sponsored by: UNO College of Education, UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service, Creighton University Department of Education and KIOS 91.5 FM Omaha Public Radio.
**Registration is required. Email info@projectinterfaithusa.org to register for this evening workshop.**

Dr. Haynes will explore some of the most pressing religious liberty issues facing schools and public institutions and offer suggestions for how schools, public institutions, and communities can be inclusive of religious diversity and honor religious liberty. Dr. Haynes talk will be followed a question and answer session.

About Dr. Charles Haynes
Dr. Charles Haynes is one of the country's leading scholars and experts on religious liberty and religion in American public life. He is best known for his work on First Amendment issues in the public schools. Over the past two decades, he has been the principal organizer and drafter of consensus guidelines on religious liberty in the schools, which has been endorsed by a broad range of religious and educational organizations. Haynes is the author/co-author of six books and his column, Inside the First Amendment, appears in newspapers nationwide. He is the founding board member of the Character Education Partnership and serves on the steering committee of the Campaign for the Mission of Schools and the American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Public Education.

About Project Interfaith
Founded in December 2005, Project Interfaith serves as a leader and resource on interfaith and religious diversity issues. We work with religious and community groups, educators, corporations, and all members of the community to promote a deeper understanding of and respect for religious diversity. We offer innovative, community-building programs that educate and engage audiences on issues of faith, religion, identity, and interfaith relations. For information about our programs, trainings, and services, please visit our website: www.projectinterfaithusa.org or contact us by calling (402) 933-4647 or emailing info@projectinterfaithusa.org.