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Tri-Faith Commons: A Case Study in Community Engagement

AIAU24-IDKC01R
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1 LU
Course expires on: 01/23/2027
$30
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Description

Tri-Faith Commons serves as an international model for interfaith learning, collaboration, and community-building. This unique project brings together a synagogue, church, mosque, and interfaith center on a 38-acre campus in Omaha, Nebraska. Using Countryside Community Church—the most-recent architectural addition to Tri-Faith Commons—as a case study, discover how these diverse communities worked with the design team to find common ground to create a built space that unites populations that have been traditionally perceived to be in conflict in an ongoing conversation.  Through a conversation with Executive Director Wendy Goldberg, explore how the project evolved to create four distinct spaces that coexist within an intentionally planned landscape. 

This session was recorded live on February 15, 2024.

Learning Objectives

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Describe the value and benefits of community engagement in the design process. 

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Discuss how community spaces can serve as a means of encouraging social interaction between distinct communities. 

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Using Tri-Faith Commons as a case study, describe methods of engaging diverse communities to design built spaces that serve a variety of needs while still honoring and respecting the distinct needs and traditions of each population. 

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Describe the role that landscape design plays as a connective tissue between the different congregations and how landscape can be a thoughtful inclusion in designing community spaces.

Presented in partnership with the Interfaith Design Knowledge Community (IDKC).

IDKC

Instructors
Rebekah Coffman

Rebekah Coffman is a historian, preservationist, and curator currently serving as curator of religion and community history for the Chicago History Museum. Her interdisciplinary work is at the intersection of religious identity and the built environment and explores themes of tangible and intangible heritages in material and visual culture through place-based, community-centered approaches. She holds an MA in Historical and Sustainable Architecture from NYU London, where her research centered on the adaptive reuse of religious buildings.  ​ 

Peter F. Gaito, Jr.
AIA

Peter's experience with large- and small-scale projects enables his eponymous office to create unique architectural solutions defined by the volume, aesthetics and experiential spatial quality for a variety of project typologies including commercial, civic, religious and residential. His work bridges architectural design ambitions with public understanding to foster advanced design incorporating sustainable measures and improved technology. He complements work in his firm within the fields of architecture, master planning and real estate development through lectures, written publications, social media, professional organizations and philanthropy to increase public awareness of the benefits to carefully crafting design solutions for the built environment. His personal aim is to continually try to make the world a better place thru thoughtful design, sustainability and planning for the future. He lives and works following the guiding notion that every place can inspire talent and foster a better world for all. He is a husband, father, cyclist, snowboarder, golfer, drummer, dog owner.​ 

Wendy Goldberg

Wendy Goldberg, an advocate for interfaith cooperation and courageous living, has dedicated over 15 years to fostering social change. As a founding board member and now Executive Director of Tri-Faith Initiative, she has been pivotal in reshaping the dialogue around religious pluralism and inclusivity. Wendy's leadership is rooted in her unwavering commitment to bridging differences and understanding the shifting religious landscape. She envisions a world where diverse communities unite to transform lives and foster a sense of belonging. Her work has made her a thought leader and go-to regional advisor on religious pluralism and cultivating inclusive environments. Her passion for promoting equitable pluralism is evident in her work and involvement in initiatives such as the Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference and training for spiritual leaders. Her deep roots in the community, including her tenure on Temple Israel's Board of Trustees and as Program Director, have solidified her as a trusted and influential figure in the region. In addition to her role at Tri-Faith, Wendy chairs the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce's Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity, and Equity (CODE)Advisory Council. She is also an advisory board member of The Journal of Interreligious Studies and UNO’s Tell All the Truth project and an alumna of the LeadDiversity and Racial Equity Institute's Racial Equity Workshop. The community has emphatically affirmed Wendy's contributions. She's been honored as a member of the Elluminate Cohort V, a “50 Over 50 NE” awardee, and recognized as a Visionary Finalist for Omaha's Inspire Awards. Wendy holds a Master of Arts in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Outside of her professional endeavors, Wendy enjoys gardening, biking, and sharing her passion for yoga. She and her husband, David, are proud parents of three adult children. Wendy Goldberg's journey is a testament to the transformative power of interfaith cooperation and the unwavering commitment to creating a better world for all. She is a leader and a beacon of hope and understanding in her community.​

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