What is the Beach Pluralism Project?

The Beach Pluralism Project, launched in fall 2024, is dedicated to the promotion of constructive engagement with others, regardless of identity and viewpoint, on our CSULB campus and in our local and global communities. Housed in the College of Liberal Arts, it highlights the beautiful tapestry of religious and ethnic diversity we are proud to have at CSULB. It fosters interfaith and intercultural dialogue and supports understanding across social divides. The Beach Pluralism Project seeks to enhance student skills in conflict resolution, fostering belonging, interfaith competency, bridge building and peacemaking. We are also committed to creating space on campus for difficult conversations towards conflict resolution and negotiating respectful disagreement. Let’s learn to turn walls into tables! 

Directed by Dr. Kathryn Chew and Dr. Sophia Pandya, this project is still being developed. The Conoley Fellowship Program is an initiative of the Beach Pluralism Project, and we hope to plan further undertakings such as sponsor symposia, a film series, highlight women’s interfaith activism, and more. Conoley Fellows take courses on pluralism through the Religious Studies Department. 

Here are some images from the Conoley Fellows' first semester projects presented to President Conoley.