Interfaith Conference Of Greater Milwaukee Inc

Programs: Committee for interfaith understanding (ciu) this committee has become vitally important as the interfaith conference strives to counter fear, hate, and anxiety in a religiously and racially diverse society where domestic and geopolitical issues have contributed to an ominous rise in white supremacist, neo-nazi and white nationalist groups. The increasing tendency of everyday americans to live, recreate and worship among like-minded, like-looking people also has contributed to a fear of "the other" that manifests itself in demonization of faiths, heightened racial tensions, and distrust of new immigrants. The committee and interfaith conference staff organized and/or assisted with a range of important programs and activities in 2017. A few highlights: . . Aug. 17, 2017 wisconsin assembly prayers -- at the request of wisconsin assembly speaker robin vos, the interfaith conference provided representatives of five faiths to offer prayers for hope and unity in front of the assembly at the start of its session after violence at a white nationalist rally in charlottesville, va. , captured nationwide attention. Presenters were: father tim kitzke, vicar general for urban ministry for the catholic archdiocese of milwaukee; rev. Dr. Marie onwubuariri, regional executive minister of the american baptist churches of wisconsin and a member of the interfaith conference cabinet; janan najeeb, a founder and president of the milwaukee muslim womens coalition; rabbi jonathan biatch, spiritual leader of temple beth el in madison; amarjot singh, a 20-year participant in the wisconsin sikh community who is active in the oak creek and brookfield sikh temples. Wisconsineye archived the video from that date on its website: www. Wisconsineye. Org. Throughout the year -- industrial outreach -- working with global corporation rockwell automation and its faith friendly and allies employee resource group at its corporate headquarters, we continued to hold lunchtime dialogues and to provide speakers of various faiths to give presentations to employees. This year, these included mormon, baha'i and zoroastrian speakers. Wel also helped the rockwell interfaith employees create and hold a lunchtime dialogue on the importance of families. Oct. 19, 2017 sabbath panel -- we partnered with the jewish museum milwauke to present an interfaith panel discussion on how people of faith set aside time for prayer and rest. Held at the museum, the event was held in conjunction with an international art exhibit there titled "the seventh day: revisiting shabbat. " the moderator and presenter on traditional and not-so-traditional observances of the jewish sabbath known as shabbat was rabbi ronald shapiro, rabbit emeritus of congregation shalom. He and interfaith conference executive director tom heinen served on the art exhibit planning committee. Topics and panelists included: . The evolution of the sabbath from the times of slavery and the strong traditions that endure in the african methodist episcopal church -- rev. Joseph baring, jr. Of the st. Paul ame church, madison, a member of the interfaith conference cabinet. The history and current sabbath practices of roman catholics -- dean daniels, director of the office for worship of the archdiocese of milwaukee. Islamic practices and traditions, including how muslims do not have a sabbath, yet set time aside every day for contemplation and rest during the five daily muslim prayers -- janan najeeb, a founder and president of the milwaukee muslim women's coalition, director of the islamic resource center, and a longtime member of the interfaith conferences committee for interfaith understanding. The mormon sabbath tradition that encompasses a day-long balance of worship, resting, and experiencing delight -- dr. Glen allgaier, an ordained patriarch in the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints and a member of the interfaith conference cabinet. The baha faiths origin, worship practices and emphasis on peace -- patricia kubala, one of nine people elected to the spiritual assembly of the cedarburg bahai community. Oct. 15, 2017 -- roles of women in faiths -- about 90 people, an impressive number for a theater that seats slightly more than 200, stayed for a talkback by an interfaith panel of christian and non-christian women religious leaders about womanhood in their faiths after a performance at the milwaukee repertory theater of the play the who and the what in the stiemke studio theater. The interfaith conference partnered with the rep by curating the panelists, who included:sister kathy slesar, vice president and former director of vocations for the racine dominicansshauna singh baldwin, award-winning novelist and playwright, and sikh community memberrev. Sandra banks, pastor of jerusalem empowered african methodist episcopal church, milwaukeerabbi toba schaller, rabbi-director of lifelong learning at congregation emanu-el bne jeshurun, in river hills armita saleki, representative of school of islamic sufism, in franksville, northern racine countyfeb. 16, 2017 -- stereotypes & identity -- we rented the main stage of the milwaukee repertory theater for an evening program as a follow-up to the rep's production of the play disgraced. The title of our program was "disgraced: stereotypes and identity. . . . An interfaith conversation from muslim, jewish & christian perspectives, with audience q&a. " it drew more than 60 people for insightful presentations by four panelists and a lively question and answer session. This event also was a follow-up to the intercultural dinner dialogues that we and the rep held for about 400 people in the rep's rehearsal halls on four monday nights during the run of the play. The panelists were: rev. Dr. John r. Walton, jr. , vice chair of the interfaith conference and pastor of calvary baptist church,the oldest african-american baptist church in the city; rabbi david b. Cohen from congregation sinai in fox point; janan najeeb, a founder and current president of the milwaukee muslim womens coalition, based in greenfield; imam noman hussain from the islamic society of milwaukee west, the mosque that opened in brookfield in 2015. The moderator was interfaith conference executive director tom heinen.

interfaith earth network of southeastern wisconsin the mission of ien: to inspire and support people of all faiths and faith communities to care for earth based on their own sacred teachings. Through education, advocacy, actions, and networking, we serve as a catalyst for people of faith to live, work, and worship in environmentally sustainable ways. Our steering committee consists of individuals with a passionate concern for the environment who represent diverse faith groups. . Throughout 2017 -- getting the lead out -- kirsten shead, then program director of our interfaith earth network, served as our representative with the milwaukee water commons and also worked part-time with mwc as co-chair of a major, multi-organization effort to address serious health threats caused by lead pipes in milwaukee's water delivery system. Pregnant women and young children, especially those in poor neighborhoods, are particularly vulnerable to lead in their water. A woman of deep faith, kirsten also is uniquely qualified for this on the secular level. She has an undergraduate degree in chemistry and prior professional experience doing power plant testing, including water analysis, for we energies. The interfaith conference cabinet endorsed this effort. (kirsten transitioned in early 2018 to become co-executive director of mwc. We hired a new program director and, using two grants, made the lead issue ien's major focus for 2018. ) . March 19, 2017 -- ien 10th anniversary: renewing hope -- our interfaith earth network marked its 10th anniversary with a free, dynamic open house titled "renewing hope" that drew more than 200 people to the urban ecology center in milwaukee's riverside park on the city's east side. There were interactive displays by nearly 30 community organizations offering inspiration and practical ideas on water, food, education, energy, advocacy, consumption, waste, transportation, natural and human-made environments, and more. There also were engaging workshops; discussions; music; delicious sustainable refreshments; kids activities amid a family-friendly atmosphere; and a henna artist painting free environmentally-themed and traditional designs on hands and arms. "renewing hope" was organized in partnership with the urban ecology center with the generous support of the high wind association. Now a program of the interfaith conference, the interfaith earth network returned to its roots for this event. It was founded as a collaboration of the urban ecology center, the interfaith conference and the house of peace. . April 5, 2017 -- adding spirituality to statewide lake associations/organizations gathering -- kirsten shead, program director of our interfaith earth network, added voices of faith to the 2017 wisconsin lakes partnership convention in stevens point by organizing and leading a workshop titled "spirituality and water: how faith communities connect with water and how lake groups can connect with faith communities. " she arranged for in-person panelists and short video presentations from jewish, muslim, buddhist and christian perspectives and faith leaders. She also led participants in dialoguing with water-themed questions using our amazing faiths appreciative inquiry method. The description of the workshop was: spiritual beliefs can be foundational to how people of faith perceive and practice their relationship with nature and their communities. To many spiritual traditions, water is integral to symbolism, story and ceremony. In this workshop, leaders from various faith communities in wisconsin will share how water is part of their spiritual tradition, which will lead us to reflect on and share our own spiritual connections with water through an exercise called water dialoguing. We will wrap up our experience with a practical discussion on how lake associations can connect with faith communities in their areas and work together to protect their waters. . Spring of 2017 -- waking up a generation of young adults -- using a grant from the high wind association, we began ratcheting up our presentations of the generation waking up experience for youth adults and others in the region . This is an interactive, peer-led workshop, that empowers young people to wake up to a clear sense of identity and purpose, as members of a generation-wide movement for a thriving, just, sustainable world. Through inspiring multimedia presentation, dynamic group interaction, and engaging dialogue, participants explore critical questions facing this generation and our society today. Led by interfaith staff member kirsten shead, these two- to three-hour experiences are a great opportunity for congregations and other groups to energize, inspire and engage people in their own programs or in other activities in their areas. She gave:the full experience for 29 young-adults from the public allies milwaukee national service program here at a genup experience held at outpost wellness center,1617 w. North ave. , milwaukee. An overview and promotion to five people as a workshop at the annual sustainability summit, held this year at milwaukee area technical college. An overview of the experience, its curriculum and format with half a dozen key young leaders at bethel-bethany united church of christ on milwaukee's near west side. This included a discussion of how and when to hold a full wake up experience at the church this spring for church members and people of other denominations/faiths in the area. . . Oct. 17, 2017-- "on the table" social justice dialogues -- our interfaith earth network partnered with the urban ecology center to jointly host six tables at the riverside park urban ecology center to dialogue about the environment and social justice the evening of oct. 17. This gathering was registered as one of hundreds of dialogues that took place in the morning, afternoon or evening of oct. 17 as part of the greater milwaukee foundations on the table project to get many organizations and groups talking about how to improve their local and regional community. About 30 people participated.

amazing faiths dinner dialoguesthese dinner dialogues and variations of them bring people of diverse faiths, philosophies, races, and cultures together for a process that evokes deep personal sharing and mutual understanding. Free dinner dialogues for 8 to 12 people are offered about twice per month, most often in private homes, with a trained moderator. We also adapt this process for special events involving large groups at multiple tables. A few highlights: january and february 2017 -- dialogues for 400 at milwaukee repertory theater -- one of our highly impactful efforts was our partnering with the milwaukee repertory theater in crafting, organizing, and holding free intercultural dinner dialogues for a total of about 400 people on four successive monday nights in the rep's rehearsal halls in conjunction with its production of the pulitzer prize-winning play disgraced. Two of the plays main characters are a muslim man and a jewish man who are struggling with their identities and are not observant in their faiths. The play is galvanizing and controversial. Demand for the dinner-dialogues was so great that we had to turn down 160 applicants. We organized eleven 10-person tables each night that were highly diverse in faith, philosophy, race, culture, gender, occupation and other ways. This included our recruiting of muslims, jews and people of other minority faiths. There were major community and corporate leaders among the attendees. Responses on evaluation forms were very positive. We used our amazing faiths dinner dialogue method as the model for this. We worked with the rep in creating questions related to the plays themes of identity. We handled all registrations and seating assignments, and we trained the moderators. The rep provided significant staff support and nearly all of the funding through sponsoring organizations. We funded one table each night. Our amazing faiths program director handled all of the processing of applications and assigning of tables to achieve identity-diversity at every table. Aug. 30, 2017 -- dialogues for 70 at medical college -- we partnered with the medical college of wisconsin to do a multi-table interfaith dialogue dinner at the college for 70 people and 10 moderators. A majority of the participants were medical students and faculty, with some participation by medical personnel and staff from nearby children's hospital of wisconsin and froedtert hospital, interfaith conference representatives, and others. We used our amazing faiths dinner dialogue process to evoke personal storytelling during the first half of the evening and then opened it up to general conversation on topics ranging from the importance of interreligious knowledge in the practice of medicine to the value of such interactions at faith-diverse tables. The evaluation forms were overwhelmingly positive. March 29, 2017 -- interfaith dialogues at catholic seminary -- several of our volunteers and leaders from various denominations and faiths took part in sample dialogues at lunch tables with more than 100 catholic seminarians, faculty and others at sacred heart seminary in hales corners as part of a symposium on interreligious dialogue organized by the lux center for catholic-jewish studies, which is based at the seminary. Interfaith executive director tom heinen have an overview of the interfaith conference and a description of our amazing faiths dinner dialogue program, which has engaged more than 1,000 people throughout the metro area in the basic program and adaptations of it. Small groups at lunch tables used some of our program's dialogue questions and its appreciative inguiry process, which evokes deep personal sharing.

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