January, 2008 We found out last month that we will be partially funded by an Art$Grant from the Arts Center of the Capital District, in addition to having received some generous individual donations. And so, we are able to go ahead with the nucleus of our program this year! Our 2008 Children at the Well group met for the first time on January 13th. We have four students who have already been with us for two years, and are serving as interns. Four others came back for another year, and then we have seven students who are brand new to us. One of these is from a local Malankara Indian Orthodox Church- a group unknown to us before this. Other religious communities represented by our students this year are the Muslim Community of Troy, Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation B’nai Shalom, The Islamic Center of the Capital District, The Hindu Temple Society of the Capital District, St. Helen’s Church and Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church, Schenectady.

January 20th was the annual Winter Lights Telling of the Interfaith Story Circle of the Tri-City Area. Almost all of our Children at the Well participants were there. Several who have been with us some time took part in the program: telling stories, singing songs, and adding immeasurably to a beautiful day. The fifth grade class from AnNur Islamic School sang songs, and we were entertained by a classical Indian dancer from the Schenectady Hindu Temple. It was a wonderful introduction to interfaith storytelling for our new members.

The students will continue to meet with storycoaches Mary Murphy and Marni Gillard each Sunday until the performance on March 16th, which will be held in the new social hall of the Hindu Temple Society of the Capital District, Loudonville, NY.

A Brief History of Children at the Well

The Interfaith Story Circle of the Tri-City Area (Albany, Schenectady and Troy, NY) celebrated 13 years of interfaith telling in September, 2006. Our mission is to be of service to people of all spiritualities and faiths, to use storytelling to honor the richness and diversity of our traditions, to break down the barriers which sometimes divide us, and to build up that which we have in common. For a long time now, we have been especially desirous of involving young people more fully in our mission.

It was with this in mind that a committee from our circle developed “Children at the Well: an Interfaith/Intergenerational Storytelling Venture”. Its purpose was to involve youth in learning the art of storytelling, and in using this art to:

• Deepen their knowledge and understanding of their own faith tradition and that of others
• Get to know people of other faiths
• Participate in the local Interfaith Story Circle meetings and its community events
• Promote peace and understanding among all peoples

For two years, we have conducted the program, ‘Children at the Well,’ bringing young people (and their families) of different faiths together in a subtle way, by developing and sharing stories from each young person’s own tradition, rather than by trying to change minds politically.

To read about our first year, click here.

To read about our second year, click here.

To see the Children at the Well Kit, documentation of our work, click here.

Gert Johnson grsjohnson@aol.com       Paula Weiss pbethweiss@aol.com

It is the shared stories that are breaking down the barriers and building community among us.