Women of all ages came together during the online conference, “Kindle and Connect: An Interfaith Gathering of Women Leaders,” organized by Allyson Zacharoff ’14. Participants from across North America (and a few beyond) met on June 16, 2021, with the goal that each participant would learn something new, meet someone new, and take something meaningful away from the conference.
There was a significant degree of diversity among the participants, with many backgrounds represented including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, non-religious, pagan, Sikh, and Zoroastrian. Participants hailed from over 30 U.S. states and 5 Canadian provinces.
The half-day conference boasted a robust and varied program with over twenty sessions including a keynote address given by Dr. Diana L. Eck of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University; affinity groups offering the opportunity to meet others with similar identities; workshops on a great variety of topics; musical performances; and a closing panel with national leaders on the topic of women’s leadership.
The conference led to the creation of a Facebook group, allowing participants to foster a growing network of female leaders committed to dialogue across lines of difference.
- 150 registered participants
- 20+ sessions
- 30+ US States and 5 Canadian Provinces represented
“What a delight to bring together the voices of powerful women leaders from so many different traditions. We started a network and developed friendships—who knows where it may lead?” – Workshop participant.
