This year's Building Inclusive Communities (BIC) Through Mindful Intercultural Communication summer conference will bring together leaders from both Christian and non-Christian religions, including representatives from Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

And a newly initiated Spanish track will focus on effective communication and dealing with the challenges of living in an interethnic America.

"We are very excited about adding the Spanish track and we've gotten a very good response from the Spanish community," said Fe Musgrave, coordinator if BIC within the archdiocesan Office of Religious Education.

The sixth annual gathering is set to take place on the Doheny Campus of Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles Aug 5-8. The interfaith workshops and Spanish track are offered Aug. 7 and 8.

The four-day program for parish leaders, educators and catechists offers an immersion experience to develop an understanding and appreciation of culture and ethnicity toward building inclusive communities.

Prominent keynote speakers include Bishop Oscar Solis, the newly appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who is coordinator of Ethnic Ministries; the Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernardino; and Dr. Greer Gordon, professor of African-American Studies and Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth.

Workshops include intercultural communication, cultural diversity and biblical interpretation and leadership in a diverse community on Aug.5; cultural patterns of communication and proclaiming experiences of God, part I on Aug. 6; proclaiming experiences of God, part II and managing conflict on Aug. 7; and interethnic America, yoga, and liturgical celebrations on Aug. 8.

"The goal of the conference is to create an awareness of diversity," said Musgrave. "We want groups to come from each parish so that they can take back what they learned and implement it as a group."

Musgrave noted that the conference is intended to help people develop an appreciation and understanding of culture, ethnicity and differences as they work toward the goal of building inclusive communities.

The institute is sponsored by several departments within the archdiocese in collaboration with the graduate program in religious studies at Mount St. Mary's College.

Editor's note: BIC takes place from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. with additional evening activities for those wishing to participate. The fee for the four-day institute is $200 per person or $50 for one day. Some partial scholarships are available. Housing is also available, as are continuing education credits or graduate credits through Mount St. Mary's College. To register, call (213) 637-7669.