The Institute of Interfaith Dialog organized "Advancing Interfaith Understanding Dinner" with Unitarian Universalist Church on February 16, 2012. Rev. Terri Massengale, Pastor of Unitarian Universalist Church of Brazos Valley, gave a presentation in which she introduced the fundamentals of the Unitarian Universalism followed by a question-and-answer session. A dinner followed where the participants shared a meal and learned more about their neighbors. 

February Talk Series will feature a well known name in our city, Pastor Wendell Griffen. Since this month is celebrated as Black History Month in the United States Griffen will talk about Racial Justice. His talk's title is "Racial Justice and Black History-An Un-Sentimental Assessment of Current Realities"

Please note that the event is open to public, however, registration and/or RSVP is reguired!

February is Black History Month and we will continue our monthly talk series. The Insititute of Interfaith Dialog Little Rock branch is happy to announce that Pastor Wendell Griffen will be guest speaker. The title of his talk is "Racial Justice and Black History-An Un-Sentimental Assessment of Current Realities".

After skipping two months due to the Annual Banquet and the holiday season the Monthly Talk Series return with another distinguished speaker from academia. Dr. Jay McDaniel of Hendrix College will be with us on Thursday, January 19, 2012 and talk about one of the unique aspects of interfaith dialog. The title of his talk is "The Wisdom of Multiplicity". Below you will find a short bio of Dr. McDaniel.

Please note that the event is free and open to everyone BUT do not forget to RSVP/register.

On December 8, 2011, The Institute of Interfaith Dialog hosted the First Baptist Church of College Station for a dinner program. Rev. Troy Allen, Pastor of  First Baptist Church, gave a presentation where he introduced the fundamentals of the Baptism and its beliefs and practices. Following the presentation, a question and answer session was held. Pastor Allen also discussed the position of Baptist Church on various controversial topics. A dinner followed where the participants shared a meal and learned more about their neighbours.

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID), in collaboration with Raindrop Turkish House, held its first annual Thanksgiving Dinner on November 18th evening to a large number of people from College Station and Bryan cities. The event started with welcoming remarks by Dr. Zeytuncu, IDD College Station/Bryan volunteer member.  Then, Mr. Andrew Card, Acting Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public School at Texas A&M University, and his wife Mrs. Kathleen Card gave a brief speech regarding the history and importance of the Thanksgiving.  Mr. Andrew Card took the lead in cutting the turkey to start the course for the dinner program.

On November 18th, 2010, The Institute of Interfaith Dialog and the Office of Diversity and Access at UMKC along with Raindrop Turkish House held the 7th Annual Dialog and Friendship Dinner to promote mutual understanding, friendship, and reiterate the importance of common human values in pursuing peace among all humanity. The event took place at UMKC Pierson Auditorium.

Around 250 distinguished guests consisted of Senators, State Representatives, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, City Prosecutors, Academicians, Pastors and Mayors participated to the dinner and shared their tables with one another. It was a successful event where everybody could get to know each other; attendees had a chance to start new friendships and break down the barriers of stereotypes and misunderstandings. Dinner started by an introduction speech by Welcome speech by Karen Dace, Ph.D. - Deputy Chancellor, Division of Diversity, Access and Equity at University of Missouri-Kansas Cityand continued with an Introduction Speech by Greg Rieke -Director of IID Advisory Board.

Annual Friendship and Dialog Dinner 2011 was held in Hilton-Austin on October 30th, 2011. About 200 guests including prominent civic and religous leaders attended the event. 

The Annual Dialog and Friendship Dinner was held Tuesday, November 15 at the Overton Hotel.  John Kirby, General Manager for KTXT-TV, was the Master of Ceremonies. The keynote address was delivered by the Honorable Tom Martin, mayor of the city of Lubbock.  His theme was “Why we all Get Along in West Texas.”  He described how changes in transportation technology over the years have changed how we think of who our neighbors are.  He noted that, like Turkey, West Texas is a crossroads where many cultures meet.  Because they are similar in this way, he said, they both are places known for their tolerance and welcoming attitude.

The 2011 Annual Friendship Dinner & Awards Ceremony of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Oklahoma City took place on Tuesday November 15, 2011. The event was held in Petroleum Club, Oklahoma City.

The dinner gathered about two hundred and fifty people most of whom were academicians, State Representatives, businessmen and volunteers of nonprofit organizations. Mrs. Nurcihan Uysal, the outreach director of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog made a welcome speech and delivered a presentation of the Interfaith Garden, a new project of the IID. And the program started with the invocation which was done by Bruce Prescott, Executive Director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists.