Obama invites Catholic university to collaborate on community projects
![Fr Dennis Holtschneider CM](https://cdn.indcatholicnews.com/articles/148243141210346732292881521197.png?width=330)
Fr Dennis Holtschneider CM
Source: Vincentian Family
The president of DePaul University in Chicago, Fr Dennis Holtschneider, CM, is among campus leaders from across the US who have been invited to join with the Obama administration working on college-based community and interfaith projects.
Fr Dennis was invited during a White House event hosted by the office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the White House Office for Social Innovation and Civic Participation. He was one of five panelists who spoke on 'Successful Models of Interfaith and Community Collaborations on Campuses and Seminaries.'
They discussed best practices and recommendations for further integrating interfaith and community service initiatives on college campuses and using the resources of universities and colleges to address social needs in the broader community.
Social needs described as 'critical' by the office, include economic recovery, fatherlessness, building common ground on difficult issues and interfaith cooperation and service, using the strength of religious and faith communities to address community needs.
In a statement the office said it sees colleges and universities as "playing a vital role in this undertaking because they define and help shape what is important - educationally and civically - for the country; act as a microcosm or laboratory for best practices; advance knowledge of interfaith understanding and an appreciation for the contributions of diverse communities; and train and prepare the next generation of leaders."
With more than 25,000 students, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, non-profit university in the Midwest. The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on two Chicago campuses, four suburban campuses and three international locations. Founded in 1898, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.