Tag Archives: race

The Vision of Race Unity

The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of San Jose is sponsoring a special four session study of “The Vision of Race Unity” — a statement from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, that examines and proposes solutions for America’s most challenging issue: racism.

The study will be co-facilitated by Bob Henderson and Maya Bohnhoff and will run from January 8th to January 29th at the regular Baha’i Family School Sessions from 10:30 to 11:45  AM. Everyone is welcome to join us at 10:00 AM for songs and prayers!

Baha’u’llah, Prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith wrote:

“The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.”
(Bahá’u’lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity, para 2.5)

Racial unity is clearly one of the “present-day afflictions” that Baha’u’llah speaks of in this statement. These study sessions are offered in the hope that we can inspire and empower the friends to work on this most pressing issue in their individual lives and their interactions with others.

About the facilitators:

fullsizerenderBob Henderson lives in Santa Clara County. He is married with six kids. He has worked for the past 25 years as a law enforcement officer. He is a member of the Baha’i Faith and has worked extensively in various areas of community development. He believes a key element in building a peaceful world community begins with constructive and honest dialogue amongst all races, cultures and religions.

 maya1bwMaya Bohnhoff is a New York Times Bestselling writer of speculative fiction. She, her husband and three children are all members of the Baha’i Faith. Maya blogs frequently at mayabohnhoff.com, bahaiteachings.org, commongroundgroup.net and bookviewcafe.com

What is at Stake for Racial and Ethnic Justice in 2016?

What is at Stake for Racial and Ethnic Justice in 2016? Stronger Together, Making America Great Again

Panelists: Brett Solomon, Anthony Hazard, Cruz Medina, & William O’Neill, S.J.

What implications do “make America great again” or being “stronger together” have on racial and ethnic justice for the common good?

The Bannan Institutes Racial and Ethnic Justice Faculty Collaborative will host a panel discussion that explores the role of race and ethnicity in the current presidential campaigns. The panel will also explore the potential implications of the 2016 election on racial and ethnic justice, and reflect on the broader contemporary politics of race in the United States.

The 2016-2018 Bannan Institute: Is There A Common Good in Our Common Home? A Summons to Solidarity will explore pressing issues of racial and ethnic justice, economic justice, gender justice, and environmental justice facing our world today, and advance the Jesuit, Catholic vocation of SCU, building a more humane, just, and sustainable world.

A Night of Hope

June 17 will be one year since the tragic shooting at Mother Emmanuel AME Church. On that fateful evening nine innocent people were gunned down in a house of worship because of the color of their skin. The Palo Alto community will gather together to remember this tragedy and pray for the future of race relations in our country. This moment of remembrance and hope is open to all faith communities.

When we talk about race, I wish I could say that one year after this tragedy we are in better place as a country, but unfortunately we are not. The current incendiary political rhetoric and the general sense of uncertainty in our country has created an atmosphere where those who operate in fear and hate are flourishing.

We as a community need to continue to take a stand. The first way we can do this is to show our unity and come together. As we gather, we will affirm our unity across our diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic differences. This will serve as a powerful sign to those who traffic in fear and wish for us to be divided.

Please join me for a one hour candlelight service.

Hope to see you there!
Rev. Kaloma A. Smith
Pastor, University AME Zion Church
Palo Alto, CA

Interreligious Leaders Forum: The Beloved Community

Beloved Community Movement

As the Black Lives Matter movement was gaining momentum across the U.S., PACT‘s multi faith and multi racial clergy group was reading Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, about Mass Incarceration. This study led us to action as the Beloved Community Movement. The effort began with a dialogue of hundreds of community members, police officers and public officials held at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Hear about the dialogues and policy changes that people of faith are working on together.

Guest presenters include Rev. Jennifer Goto, Pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in San Jose and others.

Please RSVP to rsvp@sivicouncil.org

Listen For A Change: Sacred Conversations For Racial Justice

2016 Trinity Institute: Webcast Conference at St Jude’s: January 28 -30

(Note that the St. Jude’s webcast takes place a week later than the NY conference)

All welcome!  Invite a Friend! Attend all or any of the sessions.

For more detailed information about speakers and sessions, go to https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/trinity-institute/2016/Home.

Suggested donation $10

More information from Bruce Bramlett, brucebramlett@sbcglobal.net

Register by emailing Judy Bailey at rsvp@saintjudes.org

Thursday, Jan 28,

7:00 pm to 9:00: Opening session, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preaches; keynote address by Michele Norris, “Eavesdropping on America’s Conversation on Race” with discussion following.

Friday, Jan 29,

4:00pm – 5:30 pm:

Session 1: “What Is Race, Anyway?” Nicholas Kristof , followed by panel discussion and reflection groups

5.30pm – 7:00pm   Dinner at local restaurants (map and options provided)

7:00pm – 8:45pm  Session 2: “A People’s History of Race”: Emilie Townes, followed by panel discussion and reflection groups

Saturday, Jan 30, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm:

10am  – 12:30pm: Session 3:  “Soul Searching in a Culture of Control”, Talks by Victor Rios and Kelly Brown Douglas, followed by discussion and reflection groups

12:30pm – 2:00pm:  Lunch:  Bring your own or at local restaurants

2:00pm – 3:30pm Session 4:  “Race in America: Accepting Difference, Standing Shoulder to Shoulder”,  Anna Deavere Smith, followed by Q and A.

3:30pm – 4:30pm Session 5: “What Can We Do Together?” Panel discussion and plenary group discussion to brain storm and plan how to follow up locally.

4.30pm: Closing

6:00pm – 8:00 For those who wish to stay, or just attend this optional session, there will be a screening of a documentary related to these issues, 6:00 -8:00pm.