Recognizing the special role faith leaders have to promote community peace, the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations and the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture will host a seminar on Wed., March 17 at USC’s Leonard Davis Auditorium. The event will address ways that interfaith peace-building efforts can prevent community violence.

"In many communities, an issue is not an issue until it is spoken about from the pulpit, or the biamh (the Jewish equivalent). This seminar will equip faith leaders in bringing light and preventing violence in all their communities," said Rev. Zedar Broadous, president of the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations.

"We want and need the involvement of the faith community in our human relations work," said Robin Toma, the commission’s executive director. "Faith leaders will have the chance to examine their own challenges and see how they can be catalysts of change."

The event brings together many faith leaders and experts from throughout the county, including speakers from the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, the Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, the West Los Angeles Mediation Center, members of the Jewish/Muslim Dialogue, and members of both the Sheriff’s and Los Angeles City’s Interfaith Councils.

"Religious leaders are vital partners in efforts to end violence. Since they are often trusted members of the community, they can mediate conflicts in ways that are difficult for other institutions," said Grace Dyrness, associate director of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

One of the two keynote speakers for the event is Salam Al-Marayati of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a public service agency aimed at disseminating accurate information about Islam to the American public.

The other keynote speaker is Dr. Glen Stassen, the Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. Stassen is a prolific writer on topics such as peacemaking, social justice, the death penalty and ethical foreign policy.

Cost is $10 and includes lunch, parking and conference materials. For registration, call Sharon Williams at the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations at (213) 974-7606. Additional information is also available online at www.usc.edu/crcc.