Conference session

How can partnerships between scholars, community leaders, and public thinkers generate new forms of civic imagination in a polarized age? This session explores the Free to Be Faithful initiative of the Institute for Christian Studies as a case study in how humanities-based research can be mobilized through cross-sector networks to strengthen democratic culture. Free to Be Faithful brings together philosophers, theologians, educators, pastors, artists, and journalists across Canada and the United States to explore how faith traditions can contribute constructively to public life. Through online courses, large-scale communal “Big Reads,” podcasts, and in-person gatherings, the initiative translates insights from philosophy, theology, and the social sciences into accessible public learning environments. These collaborative spaces invite participants to wrestle with questions of moral courage, democratic responsibility, and belonging in diverse communities. The session will focus on how this network functions as a model of knowledge co-creation, where ideas move between academic research and grassroots practice. Scholars contribute conceptual frameworks; community leaders and educators adapt them for local contexts; and participants collectively generate new questions about civic life, pluralism, and public trust. Researchers, community organizers, educators, and policymakers interested in knowledge mobilization and public engagement will benefit from attending. Participants will leave with practical insights into building sustainable partnerships between academic institutions and civil society, strategies for translating humanities research into public dialogue, and a deeper understanding of how interdisciplinary networks can cultivate ethical engagement and democratic resilience.