Stories

Interfaith America Summit 2025

Hope, connection, and courage; three simple words that participating SCU students carried home from the Interfaith America’s 2025 Leadership Summit in Chicago. The Summit is an annual event organized by Interfaith America for college students and educators to learn more about religious pluralism and civic unity. Participants took part in a variety of events, such as interactive workshops, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and panel discussions. This summer, Santa Clara students joined 700 attendees (largest summit known to date) from around the world to reflect on diverse religions and worldviews, spark friendships, and inspire change on campus and beyond.

This year’s SCU contingent of students was led by Shingai Chigwedere, Administrative Associate of Campus Ministry. Shingai witnessed firsthand the impact of the Summit and reflected on the joy of observing the SCU students engage in the content and translate their learning into possibilities for our campus. “It gave me great hope, especially in this time of seeming darkness, to see their faces light up with excitement and joy,” she shared. “Together through authentic bridges we can bring about tangible and lasting change.”

Shingai’s words capture the Summit’s theme of Chords of Democracy, which emphasizes how communities flourish when each person brings their full self to the table. Guided by this spirit, the students reflected on their experiences in four key ways: their renewed commitment to interfaith work, skills they gained, the impact of powerful sessions, and the lasting takeaways they carry forward.

Many students left the summit with a renewed sense of hope that is rooted in faith, dialogue, and the power of human connection through a shared purpose. For Amy-Elyzabeth Torrico ‘26, her experience was a reminder that faith and conviction is meant to be lived openly, not hidden away. “The shared desire for community was one of the first things I could feel at the Summit,” she explained. “There wasn’t a moment where I felt alone…This solidified my beliefs, as I was given a space to believe, in a time where hope and faith often feels like an obligation rather than a choice.”

For Janella Herrera ‘28 that same sense of hope emerged in seeing interfaith work not just as an intellectual exercise, but also as a deeply human experience. “I saw firsthand how powerful it is when people of different backgrounds come together not to agree, but to understand each other better.” Despite the polarization present in today’s world, both students found that the Summit fostered a spirit of unity and purpose. “There is HOPE,” Amy Elyzabeth reflected. “All students and educators were able to come together with a purpose bigger than ourselves.”

This hope was also made tangible through the Jesuit value of cura personalis, care for the whole person, which both students observed in relationships formed at the Summit. “I left with more friends than I can count who shared the same values while having completely different religious and cultural differences,” Amy-Elyzabeth shared. Janella reflected this experience, noting that the deepest impact came from slowing down and honoring people in their wholeness: “Cura personalis came alive for me during informal conversations with students and educators who shared their personal journeys, struggles, and beliefs. It encouraged me to slow down, listen more deeply, and build relationships rooted in trust and care.”

While the core speakers left a lasting impression, many students found that the most meaningful moments of the Summit emerged through unexpected connections with one another. Amy-Elyzabeth said it was the diversity of her peers that made the experience unforgettable.  “Students came together from all across the world: Nigeria, India, Japan, and locations throughout the United States,” she explained. “Where else could I have experienced this level of diversity?”

For Janella, the theme of connection was captured in the opening session of Chords of Democracy, which reshaped her understanding of leadership. “I realized that as a leader, it’s not just about making space for others to speak, it’s about making sure they feel invited to sing in their own rhythm,” she shared. To her, true leadership and true connection meant recognizing the unique voices in the room and weaving them together into something stronger and more harmonious.

Both students left with a renewed awareness that connection is not accidental, but intentional. Whether that’s through building friendships across different continents, listening deeply to others’ stories, or creating space for every person's rhythm to be heard, the Summit reminded them that lasting change begins when people take the chance to connect across differences.

Along with inspiration, the Summit provided students with practical tools for courageous leadership. Janella reflected on how the experience helped her develop the skills to navigate dialogue across many differences: “One of the most valuable skills I gained was the ability to facilitate dialogue that embraces respectful disagreement. When navigated compassionately, it can strengthen relationships rather than break them,” she explained.

Beyond skill building, the Summit challenged students to practice courage in their interactions. Janella noted the importance of creating brave spaces where participants can lead into discomfort and grow. “This subtle but powerful shift allows participants to sit with discomfort, ask challenging questions, and grow together,” she said. For her, courage was not only about speaking up, but also about listening deeply, asking hard questions, and taking risks to build understanding in spaces where agreement is not guaranteed. The Summit reminded students that leadership often requires stepping into uncertainty with empathy and conviction.

Carrying the Summit Forward

The message of the Summit highlighted the idea that meaningful change begins with hope, connection, and courage. SCU students left with new skills and insights, as well as a renewed sense of hope for what interfaith dialogue can achieve, the power of connection across all differences, and the courage to engage in challenging conversations with empathy and openness. Their experiences show that, even in uncertain or polarized times, living with hope, fostering genuine connections, and acting with courage can light the way toward a more compassionate and united community.

~ Camila Perez '27