The
Ethical Culture
Society of Essex CountyHome
The Ethical Culture Society of Essex County
Programs each Sunday at 11:00 AM
516 Prospect Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
Corner of Parker and Prospect
Phone 973-763-1905
Current Week
Sept 11, 2015 WELCOME BACK COLLOQUY
Morris Silver on: Islam to be rescheduled
At this time when there is so much in the news about Islam and its followers, we have a chance to learn more. Dr. Morris Silver, thenew president of our Ethical Society, explained how he became interested in Islam and about his focus on Muhammad. He said, "Twenty years ago I had the chance to read the Quran, so I began to learn more about the history of Islam and how Muhammad was able to convert Arabia to Islam." He continued, "In world history once in a while a single individual comes along who, with his forward vision and stubborn determination and persistence against all odds, is determined to change history in a way that will affect the rest of the world forever. Such people were Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, Hertzl — and Muhammad. It happens at certain turning times in history, when the world is waiting for such a change.
Dr. Silver is a longtime member of the Ethical Culture Society. He says, " I am a dentist as my profession but an ethical culturist as a full time job. I am married to Ruth and I have three adult children from a previous marriage. I travel a lot, I am a reader and love life.
Sept 18 Martha Gallahue: International Peace Day
Martha Gallahue will offer an update on the Campaign for a Culture of Peace at theUN and at the Ethical Socie
ty. She will share what approaches are bipartisan in our polarized world. She will also make note of the extreme danger both journalists and NGOs face in the growing climate of radicalization. She will invite conversation with those in attendance as to our part in the promotion of a culture of peace.
Martha is in her 20th year of NGO representation at the UN through National Ethical Service and now United Religions Initiative. She is both an Alumna of National Peace Academy and (by special invitation) of the Seminar Series sponsored by the Army War College in Carlysle, PA.
Sept 25 Family Colloquy on Education: Community Event Featuring Stone Soup
We invite all those interested in getting to know us and all members and friends to c
ome to our Stone Soup Event from 11am to 12:30pm. Please bring one vegetable cut and washed to go into the soup. This event will include a reading with conversation about the story. In addition to story, there will be singing and crafts as we make the soup to be shared. We want to thank all those children who have heard about stone soup before and ask that they bring their parents to participate.
The fourth Sunday of every month will be dedicated to all parents with their children who are interested in the growth of the ethical education initiative in the Society. We
welcome all members and friends in the Society who are also interested in this initiative. We will begin with some brief description of the ethical culture movement as it works today with special focus on ethical education in different Societies in the movement. We hope to hear from these parents and encourage their active participation in the development of this initiative. Our Curriculum Director and long time teacher in the Hartshorne School in Millburn, Amy Blake, will conduct classes with the children. Rosy Evans, Outreach Coordinator for the initiative and or Martha Gallahue, former Leader with ECSEC, will co-facilitate these sessions. [There will be activities for children in classrooms during the Program for Families in the meeting room.]
Oct. 2 Brenda Comissiong and E. Betty Levin, “Our Revolution: The Future of the Bernie Sanders Movement”
On August 24, 2016, Bernie Sanders announced the creation of a new organization called “Our Revolution,” described as the continuation of Bernie’s 2016 campaign for President. The new organization plans to mobilize support for the issues that defined the campaign, especially: environmental, social and economic justice.
From the “Our Revolution” website [About Our Revolution — Campaigns End. Revolutions Endure]: “Our Revolution will reclaim democracy for the working people of our country by harnessing the transformative energy of the ‘political revolution.’ Through supporting a new generation of progressive leaders, empowering millions to fight for progressive change and elevating the political consciousness, Our Revolution will transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families.”
Sanders wrote to supporters: “You should know that in the weeks since the last primary, both campaigns have worked together in good faith to bridge some of the policy issues that divided us during the election. Did we come to agreement on everything? Of course not. But we made important steps forward.”
On the progressive website, ourfuture.org, Robert Borosage [Sanders: The Struggle Continues], wrote observations from the Democratic convention’s first day: “The Glaring Omission: War, Peace and the World … Remarkably, there was virtually no mention of our global policies outside of climate change and trade from Sanders or any of the first night’s speakers. The silence reflected stark differences, not consensus. Here the gulf between Clinton’s interventionist temper and the majority of Democrats is the greatest. Here the effort to gain progress in the platform had the least success.”
Will “Our Revolution” be able to sustain the mass movement for progressive change that arose during Bernie’s campaign? A new group has formed that is supportive of Bernie’s “Our Revolution” but critical of its omission of War and Peace issues.
The speakers will discuss how they were drawn to a commitment to Bernie Sanders because his philosophy, especially with regard to education and healthcare, was consistent with their own values.
A native of Grenada, West Indies, where she was a physics teacher, Brenda Comissiong has been in the US since 1984. Brenda lives in South Orange, has been tutoring in mathematics and physics at Columbia High School and elsewhere, and is also a tennis instructor and fitness coach. Brenda earned her MS in Computer Science from Steven’s Institute of Technology; BS in Theoretical Physics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
The program will be co-led by E. Betty Levin who has been a longtime Ethical Culture Society member, peace educator and psychotherapist. As a private practice psychotherapist for over 40 years, Betty has a broad understanding of contemporary society and tradition-anchored humanistic values, vital for a meaningful human journey. An indefatigible member of the Ethical Culture Movement almost all her adult life, Betty is also currently active in the Peace Movement.
Oct 9 Zia Durrani,“Ethics as a Religion”
The book Zia Durrani will be reviewing, “picked out of several piles put in front of us,” she tells us, “because I was intrigued by the title, Ethics as a Religion. As I read the book it answered many questions I have had for a while, and couldn’t find the words to formulate an answer: What do I believe in? Is Ethics enough?”
Ethics as a Religion, by David Saville Muzzey, traces the history and heritage of the Ethical Culture Society, and emphasizes important elements of the Ethical fellowship. And it comes to the conclusion that Ethics is a religion for adults. Dr. Muzzey accepts that there are several widely recognized religions in which the ethical factor is prominent. His quest in this book is to find “faith in the reasonableness, the timeliness, the adequacy, and the eventual triumph of the Religion of Ethics.”
Since we consider the Ethical Culture movement to be a religion, it is incumbent upon us to explain the principles on which this claim rests. This is the main thrust of the argument in the book.
ECS Board Member Zia Durrani was born and raised in Kashmir, India, where she lived until 1963. Educated in India and England, she was a teacher of English in a women’s college in Srinagar, her home town, until she married and left Kashmir to live briefly in Madras, and then moved to London. Zia came to the US in 1976, and lived in various places before coming to South Orange.
Oct 16 Laura Ingoglia,“Dancing at Jacob’s Pillow”
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the country’s only National Historic Landmark for dance, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors to experience dance each summer in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Laura Ingoglia spent two pivotal summers at the Pillow as a young dancer on scholarship in the 1960s, and she now makes it possible for talented young people to follow in her footsteps. In this presentation, she shares fascinating film excerpts and speaks about her connections to this special place.
Laura has spoken at Jacob’s Pillow donor events and luncheons and recently gave a presentation about the Pillow at the Lasalle Dance Lecture Series in Woods Hole, MA. A resident of North Caldwell, Laura spent her career in the arts. She was an editor of Worrall Community Newspapers’ Arts & Entertainment supplement and has been associated with The Arts Council of the Essex Area, Nicholas Rodriguez and Dance Compass, the New Jersey Chamber Music Society, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Oct 23 “Using our Voices”
Amy Blake and Martha Gallahue will offer a family program dedicated to the topic Using our Voices. We will promote anintergenerational conversation as to how children can use their voices and how it makes a difference, how grownups use their voices and then we will ask the children to comment on their parents’ views. We will include using our voices to vote, using our voices to alertothers to something that they may not know about such as helping parents to work on the computer. We will hear how grandparents use their voices and why we need to listen. We have invited a few teens to engage us in this conversation. And we have some surprises as well to keep the younger children occupied.
Oct 30 Susan Rose, “Raising Ethical Children”
How do we raise ethical children and how do we keep them connected to Ethical Culture? Susan is uniquely poised to address this topic, having been a lifelong Ethical Culturist, growing up at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture and having raised two children herself.
Susan is a certified Ethical Culture leader and works for the American Ethical Union as dean of Leadership Training. Susan has served in many roles in the ethical movement, including two years as president of the Essex Society.
Nov. 6 Morris Silver, "Islam" (Postponed from Sept. 11)
At this time when there is so much in the news about Islam and its followers, we have a chance to learn more. Dr. Morris Silver, the
Dr. Silver is a longtime member of the Ethical Culture Society. He says, " I am a dentist as my profession but an ethical culturist as a full time job. I am married to Ruth and I have three adult children from a previous marriage. I travel a lot, I am a reader and love life.
Nov. 13 Bart Worden, "Bridging the Divide: Finding Ourselves in Others"
We live, so we often hear, in a highly connected age. Wherever we go, so go our tethers to the information age: our smart phones, tablets, notebooks and PCs. We now know many of our acquaintances' birthdays, can share our opinions about just about anything far and wide with exceptional ease. We can send money, advice, or encouragement at the press of a button. And yet, despite having the technology to connect, we seem to be living in a time of growing divisions between people. The usual suspects for division: race, wealth, religion and politics are, it seems, stronger than ever, and our capacity to influence those divisions appears to be diminishing rapidly. Bart Worden's talk, "Bridging the Divide: Finding Ourselves in Others" examines some ways we can ethically enhance our connections with others - and especially with people whose outlook differs greatly from one's own.
Bart Worden is the Executive Director for the American Ethical Union in New York City and the Clergy Leader for the Ethical Culture Society of Westchester in White Plains, New York. Bart has, in addition, worked in human services as a Social Worker for over thirty years with a focus on serving individuals with psychiatric disabilities and has been an administrator for a variety of rehabilitative and recovery-oriented programs. Bart's recent social justice efforts have focused on addressing bias and discrimination in communities in Westchester County in New York and he is a member several civil rights organizations.
Nov. 20 Nichole Cropp, "An English Teacher's View of 21st Century China"
Nichole Cropp will present her observations and experience as a teacher of young people in China: what she has seen of her students' values and aspirations, and their view of the world. Topics to be discussed:
• Acclimating to Chinese Culture: Expectations of Foreigners in Education Settings
• Western and Eastern Cultural Exchange: Share Experiences, Don't Import Foreign Ideas/Beliefs
• The Three T's: Never Discuss Them with Chinese Citizens ... on or off the school campus
• Collective Education Mind set: Academic Success Translates into Building a Powerful China
• China's Century: Students' Expressed Sentiments on Issues of the Day (pollution, fast economic growth, increased political power, China's relations with neighboring countries, and China's large Muslim population in Xinjiang Province)
Nichole Cropp started her U.S. teaching career as a New York City Teaching Fellow over
15 years ago. Teaching Fellows devote themselves to the children of New York City's struggling public schools. Nichole selected an elementary school in the Bronx as the beneficiary of her commitment to addressing the inadequacies of urban education. She taught English as a Second Language (ESL). While doing so, she earned her master's degrees in elementary education and literacy from CUNY's City College of NY.
As she began work on her doctorate, she became fascinated by the sustained academic performance of the Asian community. In such communities, scholastic excellence was a common goal and students were driven to incredible levels of achievement. Nichole wanted to conduct real-time research in a classroom of Asian learners on their turf. She chose China as her destination bcause of her previous work with Chinese students in Queens, NY, communities. For four years, she taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at a large private science and technology university in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
After her university stint, she taught SAT preparatory classes at a foreign language high school in Henan Province. The students' rigorous courses prepared them to earn high scores on the SAT exam and gain admittance into a prestigious American or UK university. During her final years in Central China, she taught elementary (kindergarten and grade 1) and middle school ESL classes. Having taught at all education levels in China, Nichole obtained full insight into the phenomenon of Chinese excellence. China is indeed rising!
Nov. 27 Amy Blake, "What is Gratitude?"
Amy Blake's intergenerational family program for November is: What is gratitude? What does it mean to be thankful? What's behind "thank you"? We teach children to puppet thank you but do they really know what it means? Do we know what it means? This is a time of year where we explore those "big ideas." Come be part of our conversation and exploration. Through talk, art and music we will engage everyone of any age. Think, what does gratitude mean to you? Come let us know!
Dec 4 Sarah Price, “Amish Culture”
Sarah Price grew up with close relationships with Mennonite families and has a deep respect for their values and practices. She will discuss aspects of their lifestyle, like their attitude toward technology, their approach to bringing up children, and how they deal with the outside world.
Sarah Price is a former professor of marketing, and prolific author, known for her line of Amish romance novels, and many others. A Morristown resident now, Sarah Price self-published her first book, Fields of Corn, in 2009, a book she wrote thirty years earlier while
studying anthropology and writing at Drew University (Madison, NJ). With her Anabaptist upbringing, she was drawn to the amazing culture of the Amish of Lancaster County where Ms. Price is heavily involved with numerous Amish communities where she is considered family by some and friend by most others. Fields of Corn became an Amazon bestseller and fans began asking her for more books. In 2013, she signed with Realms, a division of Charisma House, to publish the Amish Classics series. Initially focusing on the retelling of Jane Austen's timeless classics from within an Amish setting, her first traditionally published book, First Impressions, A Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, debuted on the ECPA bestseller list. She intends to continue retelling classics, including the Bronte sisters and Victor Hugo, as she enjoys "raising the bar" on her own intellectual stimulation as well as that of her expansive base of loyal readers. In 2014, she signed with Waterfall Press and published An Amish Buggy Ride which became a #1 bestseller in Religious Romance.
December 11 Amy Blake and Martha Gallahue, Educational Initiative program —“Celebrating”
This is the time of year for many celebrations. Why do we celebrate? What do we celebrate? How do we celebrate? When do
Dec. 18 Abdul-Alim Mubarak-Rowe, "Islam and Social Justice"
Abdul-Alim Mubarak-Rowe spoke on this topic at Essex Ethical in 2001. We feel, especially in view of the interest stirred by our Nov. 6 program on Islam, that it was a good time for him to revisit the subject for us. Mr. Mubarak-Rowe is Communications Director for the New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), serving as
spokesperson to news media and to the public. He develops content for the organization’s newsletter, website and press releases. He is CAIR-NJ’s liaison to the New Jersey Congressional delegation, representing voices of the state’s diverse Muslim population.
Abdul-Alim Mubarak-Rowe is a communications expert, journalist and educator. He conducts workshops on political empowerment and civic engagement. For 30 years he worked in television broadcasting as an editor, cameraman and producer. Previously he was with CNN, New York, producing and editing.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Mr. Mubarak-Rowe has extensive experience as an educator and lecturer. He teaches religious history and comparative religion at churches and synagogues throughout New Jersey. In addition, he consults to Islamic organizations nationwide.
Mr. Mubarak-Rowe lives in Maplewood, NJ, with his wife and two daughters.
Dec. 25 Colloquy, “Healing and Bridge-building in Post-Election USA”
In the spirit of Christmas Day, we plan to explore how we and the country can move forward in such a way that we bring out the best in others and thereby in ourselves.
Jan. 1 “Day One Colloquy – with or without hangovers,”
.... a very laid-back gathering exploring visions for the year, hopes, fears and — of course — new resolutions. (With mimosas, if anyone cares to be the sponsor).
Jan. 8 Edgar Brisbon, “Planning ‘til the End: Preparing for Life's Possibilities”
The good news, we are living longer and hopefully have
planned for a long and active chapter. But have you considered what changes/adjustments may be required as you age and particularly should you need assistance with daily activities? Do your loved ones know your plans and preferences?
Having a Plan that articulates your desires should you need assistance — the Who, Where and How — is a gift to those you love, allowing them to follow and supervise your wishes as opposed to running around in crisis.
Join us in a discussion about how you continue to prepare for some of life’s possibilities and continue to look after not only yourself but also those you care about.
Edgar A. Brisbon is a locally based, independent consultant with varied experience in healthcare administration and senior advocacy. For the last twelve years, Edgar has assisted individuals and families in navigating the financial, medical and logistical concerns of aging with care and respect. Website: www.Silverliningadvantage.com
Jan. 15 Kathleen Pierz, “The On-going Evolution Alternative Dispute Resolution”
There are a wide range of alternative dispute resolution tools available, and widely used today. They range from a friendly conversation all the way through an arbitration. They can be a formal part of the judicial system, or provided as independent resources outside of the court system. Kathleen will focus on mediation and how it has grown as a tool not just for resolving personal matters, but for large international commercial cases as well. In addition, Ms Pierz will tell us about the current global conference series called The Global Pound Conference: Shaping the Future of Dispute Resolution & Access to Justice. Ms. Pierz is coordinating the eight N. American events in this 40-city global conference series.
Ms. Pierz, A South Orange resident, works with mediators and arbitrators, law firms, in-house counsel, law schools and professional organizations around the world to develop and promote the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services. She is engaged in projects to expand the use of ADR services in cross-border disputes for commercial as well as investor – state disputes. She has also worked extensively on consumer privacy protection issues.
She holds a Master’s Degree in International Management from The Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BSBA from the University of Colorado.
Jan. 22 Amy Blake and Martha Gallahue, “Family Education Program”
Please join us as we examine Sameness and Difference. How does this
May we be the same and different at the same time?
These will be topics for all ages. Grown-ups will be in the main meeting room with children right across the hall with Master Teacher Amy Blake.
Children: please bring a clean washed apple for exploration!
The Educational Initiative is for all generations.
Bring a family member or friend. Deeper thinking will help move our world in a better direction.
Jan. 29 Mark Riesenberg: The Five Foundations of Living an Ethical Life in Difficult Times-
Mark Riesenberg, will share his five foundations for living an ethical life and how it all starts with knowing your personal mission. He will lead us through several exercises to help us all get clearer on our missions. Mark has been aware of his personal mission since turning twenty, which was when he consciously stepped into his own spiritual path. Mark will also share the four phases that shaped his life philosophy all culminating in living and expressing the six heart virtues of Appreciation: Compassion, Forgiveness, Humility, Understanding, and Valor. It is these virtues that will help us survive and thrive in these challenging times. Riesenberg is a graduate of Columbia High School Class of 1965 having moved to Maplewood in 1955. He has a BA in Economics from C.W. Post College, Class of 1969, has been a teacher of Transcendental Meditation (TM) since 1970, and a business/executive coach specializing in the goal achievement time management process since 1987. Mark is the author of How to Stop Whining and Start Winning, and Brightening Your Life’s Path. Mark is married to Terry, they live in Springfield and have two magnificent daughters Kate and Courtney. www.markriesenberg.com
Miriam O'Mahony a/k/a Kelsang Dechok, “Breaking the Taboo: A Discussion about How Life Ends or Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Dying but Were Too Afraid to Ask”
Miriam will lead a discussion, modeled on the popular “Death Cafes” that have sprung up in countries around the world. Using her training in Reflective Agreement Process, i.e. active listening, she will support participants as they air their questions, beliefs, fears and hopes about the final chapter of life.
Miriam O'Mahony, also known as Kelsang Dechok, has a background in world religions, philosophy and theology, nutrition and alternative medicine. She worked as a Polarity therapist, Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, workshop leader and teacher on Long Island and NYC for 30 years. Dechok, is an ordained Kadampa Buddhist nun. She has meditated for over 40 years, and has been a student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for 16 years. She is a widow with 2 children and 5 grandchildren.
Dechok, is an ordained Kadampa Buddhist nun, has meditated for over 40 years, and has worked with many clients, relatives and friends in their transition.
Feb. 5 - Suruchi Saini:“Bringing ease and peace to your daily life”
Suruchi Saini will offer guidance on how to manage challenges that we face at home, at work and in community. Her presentation will include a yoga stretch, some mindfulness exercises and a brief meditation, all techniques that ease stress, and help us bring more balance into our lives.
She says that these ancient practices help almost everyone to focus and become calmer, and better manage mood swings, anxiety and depression-related symptoms.
Suruchi Saini is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) with Holistic approach. For over 10 years, she has been conducting workshops/seminars on Holistic Living, Mindfulness and self-development in various organizations/schools/conferences, utilizing research in Psychology and Neuroscience, along with Yoga Philosophy.
She also has extensive experience in counseling and providing psychotherapy to groups, individuals, couples and families. She practices at Holistic Bonfire, Hoboken, and CMI Somerset. Also, she serves on NAMI Middlesex board & on advisory committee for SAMHAJ and SAMHIN, NJ. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from University of Texas at San Antonio.
February 12- Amy Blake & Reggie Harris: "Family Education Program"
This month The Educational Initiative will explore our family trees. Where are we from? Who
We will be joined by Reggie Harris, a truly gifted and inspiring storyteller. Reggie’s storytelling ranges from the historical, cultural base of the Underground Railroad and the Modern Civil Rights Movement to stories that frame the rich context of our American past and present. He is also a master of sharing inspiring personal tales of lessons learned in the twists and turns along life’s moments of discovery. Today he will share with the adults the story of
his family, his history. It is quite a story. While Reggie is sharing with the adults children will be making their own family trees. Please have children bring pictures of family members as well as any information they’d like to share about their family. Please check out Reggie’s website: http://reggieharrismusic.com/
Amy Blake is a second grade teacher at Hartshorn Elementary School in Short Hills, New Jersey. She believes that if children (adults as well) were taught how to ask the big ethical questions and internalized the inquiry process, we can change the world.
Amy is passionate about modeling and teaching “big ideas” through all aspects of the curriculum. Using literature, reading, writing and the arts, Amy is hoping to model and grow “global citizens,” children with an honest desire to know and think deeply.
She believes the world will change if we just ask three questions as a “big umbrella” for everything: Is it safe? Is it kind? and Does it show respect? Take the personal and put it into the philosophical and we are all on a level playing field.
Amy creates a classroom where peace is learned, valued, and nurtured with the hope of all students taking and using this education as they walk forward in their lives.
February 19-- E. Betty Levin: Aging as a Spiritual Practice
Deepening my previous “Wisdom of Aging” presentation, this talk will discuss issues of meaningfulness, celebration, regrets, forgiveness, adaptation and new beginnings, even in one’s 50s. Betty explains: “‘Aging as a Spiritual Practice’ by Lewis Richmond represents a climax to a trilogy I was fortunate to have gifted to me: ‘Being Mortal,’ by Atul Gawande, and ‘When Breath Becomes Air,’ by Paul Kalanithi.”
E. Betty Levin has been a member of the Essex Ethical Culture Society for over 50 years, introduced to the Movement in Chicago by her Orthodox Jewish surrogate mother when she was eleven years old. At Essex, she has served as President, Board of Trustees member and Membership Chair. She was previously Founder and Director of the Society’s Educational Center, a community school offering innovative humanistic courses and varied creative arts for all family members. She currently serves on the Planning Committee for the emerging Family Education Program, with the goal of helping parents raise their children to become global citizens.
February 26- Rana and Huda Shanawani, Hanna Cox, and Talia White: "Helping Syrian Refugees Make a New Life in New Jersey."
Rana Shanawani and her mother Huda (if timing permits) together with teenagers Hanna
Cox and Talia White will tell us about their work with Syrian refugees who have settled in New Jersey. While the two youngsters have been tutoring the children, helping them learn English and tackle other school subjects, the Shanawanis have been assisting the adults with everything from housing to language, employment, and cultural adjustments.
Rana Shanawani has been working on founding Refugee Outreach International (ROI), a nonprofit which secures local technical resources for refugees both in the US and overseas. Rana will discuss some of the challenges that local Syrian refugees have been experiencing here in NJ, and her experience at a Syrian refugee camp in Greece.
Rana is currently the Executive Director for the Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship Corp. in Chatham, NJ (WCEC). Before working at the WCEC, she was a non-profit consultant helping international organizations in strategic management. In 2004, after working as a UN consultant for several years, she served as the CEO of BIDAYA, a chapter of the Prince’s Youth Business International in Syria providing under-served entrepreneurs with training, micro-loans and mentoring. During her tenure there she received the Takreem Achievement Award for Best Young Entrepreneur and was selected to meet with President Barack Obama and Secretary Clinton at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship. Ms. Shanawani has received her Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins, and her Bachelors in biology from Cornell University. “I see all development work, through a health and human rights lens. When socioeconomic human rights are secured, it cascades into public health improvement for all.”
Born and raised in Damascus, Syria, Huda Shanawani came to live in the United States when she was 16, with her new husband. She finished her college education while raising four children and learning everything she could from what the free culture of America offered.
She has been translating for the official courts of New Jersey for over 30 years. Teaching Arabic privately for many years led Huda to her starting the Arabic program at Union County College after receiving her Masters degree. She has been teaching Arabic at the college for several years.
Over the years, Huda has visited family in Damascus. She creates art work with references to the vivid landscapes and vibrant cities she grew up with.
Hanna Cox and Talia White are juniors at Columbia High School. They got involved in helping the refugees through a group at Talia’s synagogue. Among other efforts, Hanna and Talia have sought to organize a collection of hygiene products at their school.
March 5 Richard White, "The Spiritual Guide: Four Steps on the Path of Enlightenment"
Professor Richard White is returning to ECS, this time to speak about his new book, The Spiritual Guide, a very practical exploration — without dogmatic answers — to the questions that concern us all about the search for meaning and purpose. His starting point is the question, "How can I live a more spiritual life, a life than can ultimately lead to enlightenment?" The most important steps, he suggests, are staying open to suffering, living a generous life, cultivating mindfulness and wonder, and accepting death but affirming joy.
Richard J. White, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he is also the Director of the MALS (Master of Arts in Liberal Studies) Program.
March 12
Colloquy on Ethical Social Action
Betty Levin and others
To be rescheduled:
Robert Carey, "Refugees and the Federal Government"
In testimony before the Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, Bob Carey said, “Despite experiencing unimaginable hardships, violence, and oppression, refugees arrive in this country seeking opportunities, rather than handouts, to re-establish their self-sufficiency and to become productive, integrated members of their communities. HHS’ programs assist refugees and other vulnerable populations in doing just that.”
Robert Carey will provide an overview of the United States Refugee Resettlement Program (USRP). His talk will include a description of the screening and admissions processes for refugees, the legal framework under which the program operates and the services provided to refugees who are admitted to the United States under the Refugee Act of 1980.
Bob was until recently the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the US Department of Health and Human Services. In this role he was responsible for the office charged with the provision of a range of resettlement and support services to refugees, asylees, victims of torture and unaccompanied children through state governments and non-profit organizations across the US.
Prior to his service in the Obama Administration at ORR, Bob served as Vice-President, Resettlement and Migration Policy at the International Rescue Committee. In this capacity Bob led IRC’s efforts in supporting systematic change in domestic and international refugee resettlement, refugee protection, immigration policy and human trafficking. He worked to improve both the way refugees are resettled and supported in the U.S., and the mechanisms through which the UN, the United States and the international community identifies and addresses the needs of those requiring protection and resettlement.
March 19 Food: Where Eating, Health and Ethical Practices Meet: The Suppers Programs
Join Karen Rose Tank and Dor Mullen of Princeton, NJ as they share an exciting program that promotes optimal and sustainable health and healing.
Suppers is a Central New Jersey-based network of support groups serving people who must cook and eat well to be well. The Program started 11 years ago and now hosts about 40 events per month. Suppers is a peer-led, community-based program that runs in private homes and community kitchens. Our members cook with real, whole food, creating simple and delicious meals that help us live according to our intentions instead of our impulses. In this non-judgmental, supportive environment, people run personal experiments to discover the way of eating that works best for them. The discussion will include responsible practices and ethical eating.
Karen Rose Tank is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with Rose Health Coaching and The CogniDiet specializing in diabetes, weight loss and blood sugar management. She helps people take control of their health by discovering what foods and lifestyles work for them and how to incorporate these into daily life… turning knowing into doing. Using her personal experience of 21 years of living with type 1 diabetes, Karen enthusiastically shares how she turned her lemons into lemonade (sugar-free). She is a firm believer in peer-based support, facilitating Stable Blood Sugar and Diabetes Success Suppers meetings as well as monthly groups for DiabetesSisters, the national organization for women living with diabetes.
Dor Mullen is the Founder of The Suppers Programs. She has a masters degree in addictions counseling from The College of New Jersey and worked for 13 years in the garden-based education programs in the Princeton Public School District. In addition to teaching people how to prepare delicious meals from whole foods running about 7 Suppers meetings each week, Dor also hosts workshops on fermenting such foods as sauerkraut, kimchee and kombucha and lectures nationally. Her book, Logical Miracles, presents the founding principles of The Suppers Programs along with over 100 compelling stories of participants and the recipes that supported their success. Many more stories, recipes and additional materials can be found at www.thesuppersprograms.org and www.dormullen.com.
March 26 Amy Blake and Family Education, “Becoming Who We Are”
How did it happen? What did you learn? What's shaped you? What have you unlearned? Are we in a constant process of reshaping? Joining this exploration conversation will be Greg
Apr. 2 Ann Hoffner, "Bury Me Naturally Under the High-bush Blueberries"
Ann Hoffner is a journalist and author, and an expert in green or natural burial. She will outline what that means
and describe her own fatherÕs natural burial in South Jersey and then discuss options for local people who want an alternative to the traditional interment or cremation. She will also introduce us to her book The Natural Burial Cemetery Guide and how it works with those options. She says that during research on the subject of natural burial, she recognized the need for a guide. It took several years to connect with the cemeteries and funeral homes that do natural burial and the work is ongoing as the business grows. Ann Hoffner began her career writing articles for sailing magazines and with her husband, photographer Tom Bailey, with whom she spent 10 years living and traveling on a 44-foot sailboat. She currently lives in New Jersey.
Apr. 9 Noemi Giszpenc, The Cooperative Path to a Prosperous, Equitable Economy.
Human beings evolved over millions of years as a highly cooperative species. We are deeply programmed to desire and thrive in a mutually supportive, interdependent and reciprocal
environment. Can we make where we spend the greatest part of our lives Ñ i.e., work Ñ into this kind of social environment? WeÕll discuss democratic workplaces, worker cooperatives and why they are crucial to creating the world we want to live in and pass on to our children and explore how you can get involved. NoŽmi Giszpenc is executive director of the Cooperative Development Institute (www.cdi.coop) a nonprofit whose mission is to work with people in the Northeast to create cooperative businesses and networks that grow a prosperous, equitable economy. She began her career as an economics researcher at the World Bank, worked as an editor at Nonprofit Quarterly and became a principal at Ownership Associates, Inc., a consulting firm in Cambridge, MA specializing in developing an ownership culture at employee-owned firms. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young children and is vice president at her synagogue of "Tikkun Olam" (Òworld repair" which connotes social action and the pursuit of social justice).
Apr. 16 Craig Podell: "Raising Boys: Helping Boys Grow in Their Emotional Development and Emotional Literacy"
Boys today are in real trouble. Confused by a host of internal and societal influences, many boys who appear Ònormal" and appear to be doing fine are struggling with feelings of sadness, fear and confusion they cannot even name. This presentation and discussion will focus on the interacting influences on a youngster's development: environment, social culture, technology and biology in shaping a young male's emotional development. A focus will be directed to the role of parents, teachers and loved ones in serving as a boy's auxiliary ego to help him learn to identify, verbalize and use emotions in their various relationships both to self and others. Craig Podell, LCSW, is in private practice in Brooklyn, NY and Maplewood, NJ. He has been a mental health consultant to numerous public and private schools, hospitals and social service organizations including the clown care unit of The Big Apple Circus. He was formerly a clinical supervisor for many years at the Jewish Board of Family Children's Services in NY and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work. Craig has published numerous clinical papers on issues of adolescent treatment and bereavement.
Apr. 23 Sheena Collum, "The Ethics of Affordable Housing"
Sheena Collum, Village President of South Orange, will discuss the challenges--ethically, economically and politically-- of providing affordable housing in a community like ours. Together with redevelopment and sustainability, affordable housing has been one of her primary professional concerns. Sheena is the Executive Director of the American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter, a statewide
planning organization whose mission is to help build stronger communities and provide more choices for how people work and live while meeting the challenges of both growth and change. In her role, Sheena works regularly with local and state officials, professional and nonprofit organizations and state and federal agencies on a range of public policy issues affecting New Jersey's municipalities including smart growth, state and regional planning, transportation and economic development. Sheena Collum is a 12-year resident of South Orange and was elected in May 2013 to serve on the Board of Trustees. She currently chairs the Public Safety Committee and serves as a member on the Legal and Personnel Committee and the Planning and Zoning Committee.
Apr. 30 Amy Blake and Martha Gallahue, Family Education Program
This month the Educational Initiative will explore the topic "What do/should we pass on to others?" How many of us have sworn never to be like our parents in some way and then out of our mouth comes something and you think "I sound just like my mother". What are the things you are grateful for that come from others and what are the things you wish you never received? What do we pass on, as an individual, as a community, knowingly and unknowingly? This conversation will be led by Martha Gallahue. Students kindergarten age and older will be exploring the topic with Ms. Blake, the director of our Educational Initiative and baby sitting is available for pre-schoolers.
May 7 Double program: 10:30 am Solidarity Singers Annual Performance in honor of May Day
[PLEASE note early 10:30 start]11:00am Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes: “Mental Illness and the Family”
Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes will read from her book, Losing Aaron, which tells the story of her
son, the devastation of his mind by schizophrenia and the ways that his illness reverberated through his family. She will also speak about some issues faced by people who live with major mental illness and their families. Since one out of five people in the US is living with a mental illness severe enough to affect their daily lives, most of our population is either mentally ill or closely related to someone who is.
Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes was born in London in 1945 and grew up in New York, Athens, Saigon, Singapore, Colorado and Washington D.C. She settled in New York, where she spent most of her adult life, raised her children and taught English to immigrants and native New Yorkers at the City University of New York. Her poems and stories have appeared in a number of literary periodicals. Her interest in mental illness developed out of her experience with her son, who suffered from schizophrenia for ten years before he chose to end his life.
May 14 Ingrid Hill honored as Local Hero of the Year; Larry Hamm will speak about “The work of the People’s Organization for Progress”
In recognition of the many acts and projects taking place every day that enhance our communities, but don’t always receive general recognition, the Social Action Committee of the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County instituted a Local Heroes Award to be presented yearly to someone who has enriched the lives of our community and region. This year, the Local Heroes award is being presented to local activist Ingrid S. Hill.
Employed in higher education for over 36 years, Ingrid Hill worked as Associate Director of the Educational Opportunity Program at Seton Hall University and has taught college courses in the Department of Psychology, Department of African-American Studies and the Educational Opportunity Program. She has served as chair, co-chair, representative, advisor and member on numerous committees and councils. Moreover, she has presented workshops and seminars on education, youth leadership development, male/female relationships, diversity, community empowerment, crime, delinquency, violence and cross-cultural counseling.
Ms. Hill is also a long-standing member of the People’s Organization for Progress where she presently serves as both Corresponding Secretary and Vice Chair of Internal Affairs, and she has served both as the coordinator of the 381-day Daily People’s Protest Campaign for Jobs, Peace, Equality, and Justice, and as chair of the People’s Conference on the Fight for Jobs, Peace, Equality, and Justice. She is also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Leadership New Jersey. Ingrid has served as Vice President of the New Jersey Association of Black Psychologists, member of the Statewide Coordinating Committee for the Conferences on Reparations, and as Northeastern Representative in a nationwide study regarding the issues of testing and its implications for African Americans.
Ingrid Hill can be seen working for social justice at most of the important events and demonstrations in our region.
Speaker Lawrence Hamm has been a relentless advocate for African-American people
and the cause of human rights for more than 30 years. Raised in Newark, New Jersey, he attended public schools and emerged at age 17 as a forceful and articulate spokesperson for the educational needs and aspirations of Newark students and the community. He was appointed to the Newark Board of Education, making him the youngest school board member in the United States. While at Princeton University (he received his Bachelor’s degree there in 1978) Mr. Hamm distinguished himself during the anti-apartheid movement by organizing student protests and calling attention to Princeton’s financial investment in apartheid South Africa. He helped organize the People’s Organization for Progress (POP), an independent, grass roots, political organization that is active in the Newark and northern New Jersey area. As chairman he has consistently worked toward building unity among community organizations. Through the efforts of Mr. Hamm, the struggle continues for quality education, employment opportunities, access to health care and against racial profiling and police brutality.
May 21 Annual General Meeting
Election of officers for the 2017–18 season. Also, Amy Blake will provide a brief update on the hopes and plans for the Family Education Program and how they have progressed this past year. For children in attendance, while the adults hold the AGM, she will conduct a discussion about ideas and values.
May 28 Memorial Weekend Colloquy: Memory and Remembering
We will honor those we remember with love, and reflect on the way time and age change what stands out as most significant in our minds, highlighting some people and events, as others fade.
