Dr. Suri spends today’s episode with Sean Hassan and Alison Tate discussing Catholicism, Islam, and how to represent communities of minority faiths – particularly in Texas, where leadership roles are usually held by people of the majority holding traditional Christian beliefs.

Zachary Suri recites his poem “An American Jew.”

Alison Tate serves the Catholic Church in twenty-five counties in Central Texas as the secretariat director of formation and spirituality and the director of youth, young adult and campus ministry at the Diocese of Austin, as well as the coordinator of Region 10 Catholic Youth Ministry which encompasses Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. She received a B.A. in history from Loyola University New Orleans, an M.A. in theology from St. Mary’s University of San Antonio and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Having grown up in Austin, Alison stays busy with her husband, sons and extended family in her free time.

Sean Hassan was elected to the Austin Community College Board of Trustees in 2016, the first Muslim American elected in Austin, Travis County, and potentially all of Central Texas. Last month, the Board approved the opening of a Childcare Facility at the ACC Highland campus, so that ACC students who have young children and no childcare can drop their children off for a couple of hours, on campus, while they study, get tutoring, or take an exam. This was one of Sean’s key campaign issues, though he is the first to say that this is only a start to addressing the needs of parents who are attending ACC to improve their future. Sean spent much of his professional life in the non-profit sector including as a Vice-President with the Boys & Girls Clubs.