Don Abram, the visionary founder of , will be the next speaker in the Dialogue Vanderbilt faith leader series. His conversation with Vanderbilt Divinity School Dean is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 6 at the .听听
Pride in the Pews is an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ people in religious communities. Abram, who has a master of divinity from Harvard, founded it in 2021 with a $40,000 grant with the mission of bridging the gap between the Black Church and the LGBTQ+ community through storytelling, political education and civic engagement.听
The event is hosted by the , which focuses, among its , on the as part of its efforts to reframe conversation around controversial topics using research and evidence-based reasoning. Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff can register to attend the event in person. Alumni, Nashville community members and anyone interested in watching the conversation can register for the livestream.听
The鈥�鈥�initiative offers programs for students, faculty and the public that promote civil discourse and better understanding in today鈥檚 politically polarized society. The conversation with Abram will be a deep dive into the intersections of faith, identity and advocacy, spotlighting his pioneering work with Pride in the Pews.听
This event was made possible by a generous donation from Jennifer and Abe Friedman in the new series the Vanderbilt Forum on Unity & Democracy. Previously in the series, to discuss his life鈥檚 work in faith and community building. , founder and executive director of Islamic Networks Group, joined Pierce to discuss the complex history of the conflict in the Middle East and her work combating Islamophobia.听
About Dean Yolanda Pierce听
Dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School and Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair, Pierce was appointed the founding director of the鈥疌enter for African American Religious Life鈥痑t the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Pierce is the creator and curator of Touching the Sacred, an exhibit on material religion and the Black church. Pierce鈥檚 newest book is鈥疘n My Grandmother鈥檚 House: Black Women, Faith and the Stories We Inherit. Her most recent essays are in鈥�The Christian Century, where she is a contributing columnist.听
