Understanding Various Religions Can Benefit Workplaces, New Webinar Series to Launch

Hartford International University for Religion & Peace, formerly the Hartford Seminary, is spreading its wings internationally and close to home.  The institution has announced plans to offer a four-part webinar series this year, Holidays in the Workplace, focusing on how various religions and ethnic groups celebrate major holidays, in an effort to promote understanding in workplaces and throughout the community.

The series will make its debut next month on March 30 with a session focusing on the Muslim observance of Ramadan.  It will be followed by a June 15 session on the African American observance of Kwanza and the United States newest federal holiday, Juneteenth.  Later in the year, a September session will explore the Jewish observance of the “High Holidays” and in December, Christianity’s observance of Christmas.

Each of the sessions will be led by two Hartford international University faculty/trainers, who will begin with a 30 minute presentation, directly followed by a 20 minute question-and-answer interactive session.  The cost is $45 per session, with discounts for groups.  The sessions are held during the workday, at 10:00 am.

Officials indicate that the sessions can help to “create an inclusive environment of safety and belonging” for businesses and organizations. Additional information, and registration for the sessions, is available at  at  https://www.hartfordinternational.edu/holiday-series-2022

Looking ahead to 2023, sessions on Baha’s, Hinduism, Wicca and Paganism, and Buddhism are planned.

The University’s name change last year “deepens our mission and more accurately reflects the new strategic plan with renewed focus on peacebuilding, interreligious dialogue, and conflict resolution,” the website explains.  “We plan to expand the range and quality of our graduate and certificate programs, executive and professional education, religion research, and global and community partnerships.”

The new Holiday in the Workplace webinar series is a reflection of that commitment, bringing education offerings directly to individuals in the workplace, extending awareness and understand that can provide benefits to individuals, teams and organizations.  University President Joel Lohr points out that the institution’s academic and education programs are developed “always with an eye toward interreligious understanding and dialogue.”