Quadcast: Sharing sacred spaces and radical hospitality with Vanessa Avery

In the new episode of the YDS “Quadcast” series, Vanessa Avery ‘02 M.A.R. speaks with host Emily Judd ‘19 M.A.R. about lessons learned from her decades of interfaith peacebuilding work and her insights on how architecture can be used as a tool to bring people together. 

In the interview, Avery recalls poignant moments that have unfolded at peacebuilding sessions, including one in which a participant realized her idea about Muslims was wrong. ”She was crying,” Avery said, “and she looked at the Muslims in our group and she said, ‘I’m so sorry for having thought this way about you.’” She also elaborates on the power of architecture—”Architecture tells stories about people”—and the ability of hospitality to transform prejudiced ideas. “Hospitality is the way we turn a prejudiced world around,” she says, “one heart at a time.” 

​
For more than 25 years, Vanessa Avery has been a builder of interfaith relations, a pioneer and advocate for workplace religious diversity and inclusion, and a religious studies scholar and educator. She is the Executive Director of Sharing Sacred Spaces, which uses a community-building structure focused on architecture and space to bring people together in a compelling, non-threatening way. She is an Executive and Professional Education Fellow at Hartford International University and a former YDS lecturer.
​
The YDS Quadcast is hosted by Emily Judd, who is Senior Communications Specialist at the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, an international humanitarian organization supported by Pope Francis, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and the leadership of the United Arab Emirates. She previously worked as a journalist in the Middle East.
 

Download a transcript of the episode (pdf)

September 9, 2024