Two years ago, Lorraine and her friend and fellow storyteller Muriel Horowitz strolled through the Vassar campus on a sunny, summer afternoon, discussing ways to promote dialogue between the many faith communities in their local area of Poughkeepsie, NY. Stories seemed a natural way to bring people together and they formed the idea of an interfaith story circle where people would gather to share stories from their specific faith traditions. They contacted Rev. Gail Burger of the Dutchess Interfaith Council and, along with Kusum Gupta from the Hindu Samaj and Cultural Center, the Dutchess Interfaith Story Circle was created.

The very first circle was entitled “Looking Over the Fence: Stories to Bridge Boundaries” and the flyer carried the following description:

“I see the many ways people within specific faith communities serve the needs of those within their faith community, the community-at-large and the global community. It is a profound lesson about the way people live out their beliefs and react to those around them.”

Muriel Horowitz has worked to obtain a grant from the Dutchess County Arts Council for an Interfaith Story Program entitled “Building Bridges Through Stories.” On May 21, Kusum Gupta, Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi, Muriel Horowitz and Fatima Thompson told a collection of stories from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu traditions at the First Presbyterian Church in Millerton, NY. Another evening of stories is planned for Sept. 17th at the Beacon Hebrew Alliance in Beacon, NY.