Bolz tries to build a bridge between faiths.

Question: Why did 9/11 happen?

Julia Bolz: What I’ve been seeing is that when we first went in, they didn’t know who we were, what our interests were. But today if you go into the classes, there is a real interest in getting to know America. They like Americans. In fact I think many of them would like to come here. But what I’ve also seen is that many of the kids here in America are learning about another culture.

After 9/11, I was very much affected by protests that were held around the world. I remember one in particular. There was a sign held by a Pakistani protester, and it said: “Americans think. Why are you hated all over the world?”

Well that was something that really struck me. And having lived extensively in the developing world, I wasn’t necessarily surprised by what happened at 9/11. But I wanted to go into the communities and to teach people about poverty; what was causing terrorism; why would people be willing to become a martyr and do this?