Erin Williams works as the Media Coordinator at Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago; she has made various documentary shorts and helps young people to develop their own video, radio, and written stories. "Exchange" was a finalist for the 60-second spot category.
Erin has also worked at the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago and Barcelona, apprenticed in Boston with media educator Roberto Arevalo and his company, Beyond Documentary, and interned with The Faith & Politics Institute on Capitol Hill. Erin studied Religion at Carleton College in Minnesota and spent her senior year of high school in Johannesburg, South Africa on a Rotary Youth Exchange.
In the summer of 2007, forty young people from Chicago and Amman come together in Chicago for a week-long interfaith youth exchange. Two of the participants are Shawn and Tariq, both from Chicago. Shawn is a very shy 17 year old Christian from the South Side of the city, a star high school athlete and a former gang member who loves piano playing, jewelry, and his faith. Tariq is a very outgoing 16 year old Muslim from the North Side of the city whose family is steeped in activism and who loves his little brother, fried chicken, and fashion. What emerges between them is a story of faith and friendship.
