We are pleased to share today’s Faith Forum with you and hope you will enjoy it and pose any feedback or questions to our AZIFM office or at our Facebook.com/azifm page.
Video #1 – Panelists Share
Video #2 – Q & A
STANDING UP, SPEAKING OUT: Social Activism
Sometimes we get very comfortable in the insular bubble of our Faith Tradition and avoid controversy at all costs. But many faiths today are speaking out when it comes to topics of social injustice. Some faiths see it as an obligation to promote social causes, overcome inequities in order to improve society for the betterment of all. Today we will talk to panelists who take an active stand in these matters.
Program: Our panelists will speak for 8-10 minutes, followed by Q & A. Please feel free to bring your lunch and join us!
We’d like to thank our panelists!
— Rev. Dr. Kelly Bender, United Methodist and currently a Pastor at UMOM New Day Centers homeless shelters. Dr. Bender served United Methodist congregations for 43 years, the last 11 as Sr. Pastor of the Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, where he was named Pastor Emeritus upon his retirement in July 2012. In addition to his seminary degree from Saint Paul School of Theology, he hold an MS in Family and Child Development, and PhD in Family Life Education, both from Kansas State Univ. Until his retirement he was a nationally certified family life educator.
— Lisa Glow, with
A Mission of Mercy – Ms. Glow is an attorney and a seasoned executive, fundraiser, policy expert, and coalition builder with over 25 years of experience working with nonprofits, governments, foundations, and political campaigns. She is currently serving as the Vice President and Director of Development for Mission of Mercy, a nonprofit that has been bringing free healthcare to Maricopa County’s most medically underserved for nearly 20 years. Lisa has her law degree from the University of Arizona and has served in leadership roles in both the government and private sectors, including as a nonprofit CEO, and as the Director of former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano’s Office for Children, Youth and Families. In 2009, Lisa founded her own consulting firm dedicated to innovation, growth, and impact in the nonprofit sector. Lisa specializes in transformational strategic planning, organizational development, and fundraising campaigns, including tax credit campaigns designed to maximize resources for nonprofits and build infrastructures that will last. She has a deep commitment to the well being of her community and a successful track record of delivering for her clients.
— Timothy J. Schmaltz, Progressive Catholic – Mr. Schmaltz is the retired coordinator and co-founder of Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition, an alliance of health, human services and community groups that provides training and advocacy for vulnerable populations at the Arizona legislature. Currently Tim serves as Adjunct Faulty in the Graduate School of Social Work at ASU teaching public policy and advocacy, as well the College of St. Scholastica Duluth Minnesota. He is also a consultant to the College of Public Programs Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center. Tim is a former Assistant Director of the Department of Economic Security, where he led the social services division, which included Child Protective Services, child welfare, child care, and aging services. He is a past Executive Director of a Catholic Charities agency in Minnesota, vice president of the Foundation for Senior Living, and has also served as president of the Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Tim’s lifetime of work in social justice advocacy has been recognized and honored and by several awards from numerous groups. Tim considers himself an independent, ecumenical, progressive Catholic. Currently he and his wife, Linda, are members of Shadow Rock United Church of Christ.
— Dr. Aneesah Nadir, Muslim – Dr. Nadir has been a dedicated social worker for almost 40 years. While at ASU Dr. Nadir developed an elective course for social workers and others in the human services called the ‘Muslim Reality: Living in America’ which helps students learn about the traditions, beliefs, practices and experiences of the Muslim American community as well as other minority religious communities. She continues to provide continuing education for NASW-AZ, and diversity training for other social service, healthcare and behavioral health agencies throughout the state. “Moving toward culturally competent practice with Muslims: Modifying cognitive therapy with Islamic tenets” in the Journal Social Work, 2008; and “Home-based Social Services” in Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions by Ahmed and Amer, 2012 are among the publications she has coauthored. . She is also a regular columnist for the Arizona Muslim Voice Newspaper. Dr. Nadir serves as the president of the Islamic Social Services Association-USA, a national nonprofit organization which provides education and training regarding social issues among Muslim Americans including marriage and family, domestic violence and mental and behavioral health. She manages ISSA-USA’s Sakinah Healthy Marriage Initiative. Today Dr. Nadir provides diversity education and training. She is also a dedicated advocate in the struggle for healthy marriages and families, and affordable legal services.
— Emrys Staton,Unitarian, an Intern Pastor at Paradise Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Pastor Staton serves the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix as their Director of Pastoral Care and Justice Ministries. He has a long background in activism and justice movement work, including living in Catholic Worker Communities and volunteering with No More Deaths, an immigrant justice organization supporting those crossing the US/Mexico border. His ministry connects the direct involvement of activism with reflection and processing for more sustainable and grounded justice work. For further information, please see: http://www.phoenixuu.org/staff/emrys-staton/
Moderator: Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton
We are pleased to offer Community Faith Forums, monthly, through the school year, to discuss topics of the day together in a respectful manner, listening and considering many different perspectives. While AZIFM doesn’t take positions on issues, through the different viewpoints discussed, hopefully one can have a more sound basis for their own viewpoints.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 pm (please feel free to bring your lunch)
Place: AZ Jewish Historical Society, 122 E. Culver, Phoenix
