Livingstone College News Service 

Livingstone College freshmen Presidential Scholars Robert Osei Bonsu and Joel Thompson have been selected as fellows for BRAID (Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences).

An Interfaith America (IA) initiative designed in response to the recent increase of prejudice and polarization in institutions of higher learning, IA selected a diverse cohort of 20 student fellows representing colleges and universities across the nation.

In alignment with IA’s commitment to promote religious and civic pluralism as foundational principles for achieving the common good, the BRAID Fellowship aims to develop a national network of undergraduate student leaders who will foster an ethos of respect, relationship building and cooperation across differences in the United States. Bonsu, a biology major from Ghana, said he is excited to embrace the goals of IA that includes the development of fundamental literacy in interfaith leadership and bridge building, cultivating meaningful connections with peers and mentors from a variety of backgrounds and institutions, and gaining confidence in engaging and working collaboratively across differences.

“At a time when divisions often dominate headlines, I am humbled to be a part of a platform that explores solutions filled with changemakers to bring our world together,” Bonsu said.

The defining program feature of BRAID is fellows learning in community (through specialized training and education), from community (through interpersonal dialogue and engagement), and with community (through collaborative program development and facilitation). As principles of interfaith cooperation and bridge building are intentionally embedded into the design, Livingstone’s fellows will partner with their Honors Director Dr. Da’Tarvia Parrish, and a joint mentor across worldview.

“As a native of Ghana, a country celebrated for its diversity, but not without its challenges — I have seen how religious misunderstandings and misconceptions can sow seeds of division,” Fellow Joel Thompson said. “My experiences have fueled my passion for promoting interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding whereas I believe BRAID is the perfect avenue to expand this mission.”

The eight-month program concludes with a creative narrative capstone project that encompasses student fellows working collaboratively with each other and IA staff to design a medium for sharing their fellowship experiences at IA’s annual Interfaith Leadership Summit in Chicago, Illinois.

For more information about Interfaith America (IA) and its programs, go to interfaithamerica.org.