The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

James Stallman

Washington Middle School, Aurora, IL

H.A.R.V.A.R.D., Helping Adolescents Research and Visit America's Religious Diversity, is a group of 7th grade scholars from Washington Middle School in Aurora, Illinois, who have entered into a partnership with Harvard University's Pluralism Project to do just what their acronym states. In addition, they are helping other middle school students at Washington learn about the world's religions and the rich religious diversity of the United States.

Since its founding last spring, H.A.R.V.A.R.D. has already visited a local Hindu temple and an Islamic mosque, and has visited with Tibetan monks as they created a sand peace mandala. As of this writing, the work of the group is still an unfolding process.

In the coming weeks a visit to a local Jewish synagogue and a workshop by the internationally known religious researcher, writer, and Pluralism Project Affiliate Dr. Paul Numrich are in the works.

Washington Middle School scholars at the Fox Valley Muslim Community Center in Aurora, IL on the last Friday prayer service during Ramadan, 2001

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