Dr. Eboo Patel, founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), served as
a Lake Distinguished Visitor on October 21 and 22. Speaking at four events to over 200 college
students and professors, hand-selected high school students and their advisers, clergy,
business executives and civic leaders, Dr. Patel engaged audiences with an articulate depiction
of his world view.
Patel cited statistics from his book, Acts of Faith, to demonstrate the young face of religious
conflict: there are more people under the age of 21 in India than there are total people in the
United States, eight-five percent of Palestinian residents are under 33, two-thirds of Iran’s
population is under 30, and the median age of Iraqis is 19.5. Bringing youth up in an
environment that respects differences, he said, is the best way to keep them from falling into
the charming arms of extremists.
More topics Patel discussed:
