The Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley State University, established in 2007, advances equity and belonging for persons of all religious, secular, and spiritual identities both on campus and in the West Michigan community. We do this work in three general program areas:
Youth Programming
Campus Programming
Community Programming
What is the Kaufman Interfaith Institute?
Building upon the legacy and vision of our founder, Sylvia Kaufman, we promote interfaith understanding and mutual acceptance through sustained partnerships with colleges and universities, congregations, and community organizations throughout our region.
We offer opportunities to learn about the diversity of faith traditions in our region and the people who practice them. In doing so, we aim to build bridges of relationship and connection across differences to grow an interwoven and flourishing community for all.
General Kaufman FAQs
While 'multifaith' may be used to describe spaces where different traditions and perspectives coexist in their respective circles, the way we understand and employ the term 'interfaith' refers to the active engagement of difference between people of different religious, secular, or spiritual cultures and identities - the intentional interaction of our circles - with the goal of deeper understanding of and respect for another person's lived experiences.
Absolutely not. Your truth is your truth, and you are the expert in your own experience.
The interfaith philosophy we follow at Kaufman encourages people to show up as their authentic selves and invites them to engage with one another through curiosity—not to change or dilute their own beliefs. That said, we will invite everyone in the group to think critically about their own identity and to enter into the world of someone else's beliefs, experiences, and feelings, which may even seem contrary to their own. The conversations may be challenging but are not intended to persuade anyone to abandon or water down a central part of their identity.
We offer a variety of programs, events, and opportunities for conversation and connection. These range from scholarly lectures and panels to dialogue-based dinners to visits to local sacred sites and many more.
For those looking to dive deeper, we offer three Interfaith Leadership Cohorts - one for middle/high school students, one for GVSU undergraduate and graduate students, and one for interested adult community members in the West Michigan area. Through these cohorts, participants engage in leadership training, travel to various culturally and religiously significant sites in Michigan, and learn to share their own stories while hearing and holding the stories of others - all designed to help them develop a global interfaith perspective.
Upcoming Events
Interfaith Table Talk - Healing Ourselves and Our World: Contemplation and Action
Sacred Site Visit - Native American Burial Mounds
