Soulforce and AIM at Manchester College are proud to be partnering on special events happening on campus October 3rd – October 4th!
Here you will find a description of each event and their locations. All of these events are open to the public. Folks from the community and other schools are encouraged to attend! You can come to one of the events, or be a real daredevil and attend all three!
The events:
Soulforce Leadership and Nonviolent Strategies Training
Monday, October 3rd – 8PM – Union Lahman Room
This training is perfect for student leaders, faculty and anyone interested in developing leadership skills. Infusing Nonviolent strategies and principles as taught by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr into team and group management this leadership training will be unlike any other.
Performance by J Mase III preceded by an hour of open mic poetry/spoken word/story telling
Tuesday, October 4th – 7:30PM – Wine Recital Hall
Join us for a performance by renowned performer J Mase III! Attendees will also have a chance to show off their own talent for an hour of open mic. J Mase III takes the stage at 8:30PM. Find out more about J Mase at www.jmaseiii.com
A landmark Panel on Intersectional Justice
Tuesday, October 4th – 3:30PM – Union Hoff/Lahman
What exactly is intersectional justice? Manchester welcomes local and national participants to a panel on social justice and equality. Especially poignant to students and faculty in sociology, psychology, and social justice fields this panel will take an in-depth look at unique identities and how they intersect with one another. This is a VIA event.
I am writing in response to the article in the 9/28/2011 issue of the Windy City Times titled “Catholic conference creates anti-gay marriage initiative.”
It is unfortunate that the Windy City times author Kate Sosin appears not to have outreached to any Gay Catholic Organizations for input. I find it very curious given the large size of the Gay Catholic population in the city of Chicago that our voices were not included in the article.
While I appreciate what Rev. Cindi Love, the executive director of Soulforce was quoted as saying in the article. I hope it is not Rev. Cindi’s intent to speak for other faith communities when it comes to the Civil Rights of Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender people such a behavior could be interpreted as being anti-Catholic.
It is true that the Illinois Catholic Conference is opposed to Gay Marriage as it was opposed to Civil Unions. In my opinion, that diversity of voices within the LGBT Community, and that includes Catholic LGBT Voices, are not dismissed just because they are Catholic.
Hopefully this was an oversight, and the Windy City Times will make a concerted effort to try to network within our LGBT Catholic Community for future articles.
Joe Murray
Executive Director
Rainbow Sash Movement
Soulforce’s history says that we don’t change the minds of the world about LGBT people unless we change the minds of faith leaders and particularly those who are heads of denominations and colleges/universities that produce the next generation of faith leaders. I think it is always important to join with these voices.
With that in mind, I am sharing a message I received from Rev. Steven Baines.
We are pleased to spread the word about this groundbreaking and life-saving event in New York City on October 11 & 12.
Compass to Compassion Consultation – a common strategy to deal with the global impact of Christian Fundamentalism on rising LGBT persecution.
What:
The Compass to Compassion Consultation brings faith and secular leadership together to understand more clearly the reach of powerful fundamentalist networks around the globe and their effects on LGBT people globally. Using the case of Uganda as a starting point, discussion will focus on how attempts to further criminalize LGBT people globally will profoundly shape the future of theology and foreign policy in the United States.
When:
October 11-12, 2011
Where:
Union Theological Seminary
3041 Broadway at 121st Street, New York, NY
Who:
Jeff Sharlet: Nationally bestselling author of THE FAMILY (2008) and co-creator of KillingTheBuddha.com
Rt. Rev. Bishop Disani Christopher Senyonjo: Former Diocesan Bishop of West Buganda at Masaka
Daniel B. Baer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Rev. Kapya Kaoma: Author of Globalization of the Culture Wars
Rev. Mark Kayimbe: Ugandan Pastor
Leah Burton: Author of God, Guns and Greed
Why: Uganda has been the most well-known “experiment” in recent so-called “ex-gay” Christian Right politics. Emerging LGBT leadership in 76 countries where homosexuality is criminalized need partnerships with US and European based organizations. The consultation will mobilize grass roots concerns with policy and strategic direction for everyone concerned about LGBT rights everywhere. Compass to Compassion will create the coalition to bring relationship, stories and technical resources needed to make global equality a reality within our lifetime.
Alexey Bulokhov worked with Soulforce from 2005 to 2009, first as an Equality Rider then as Director of International Outreach. Thanks to Alexey, Soulforce’s work traveled to Russia, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, with participants from all over the world. Alexey now resides in Russia and has continued to work with Equality Rider Anna Kirey in Kyrgyzstan. We like to let you know what our alumni are up to because they remain powerful, important activists.
From Alexey:
I just got back from Kyrgyzstan where I had the privilege and the pleasure of working with a group of amazing activists on a campaign called Equality Caravan, the first of its kind project in Central Asia! It was inspired three years ago by the Equality Ride and our 2008 Rider Anna Kirey helped develop the proposals and secure funding. The following is our report:
Activists from several Kyrgyz non-profit organizations created a new mobile advocacy campaign “Equality Caravan” which toured the northern shore of legendary Lake Issyk-Kul in August 4-11, 2011.
Equality Caravan is a collaborative project between seven NGOs that serve at-risk social groups, members of which are often marginalized and silenced within Kyrgyz society: people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, recovering drug users, sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS and others. Among the participants are organizations Labrys, Asteria, Youth with Disabilities Movement, Nazik Kyz, Center for People with Disabilities, Subbotnik Q, Kyrgyz Indigo, and. Thirteen Caravan riders spent an eventful week on the road.
In pursuit of greater acceptance and equal opportunities for all, Equality Caravan visited three largest resorts of the Issyk-Kul region – Karakol, Cholpon Ata and Balykchi. Each city presented a unique set of challenges and chances. Residents and visitors of Karakol and Cholpon Ata were invited to view an exhibition and attend “live library” sessions at a strategic central location. In Balykchi riders went to the public beach and directly interacted with those in attendance sparking conversations about vulnerable groups and the life saving work of participating organizations.
The campaign format aspired to provide its audience with unique opportunities to share positive personal experiences with each Caravan participant. The riders approached both locals and tourists, presented an exhibition of photographs and crafts and told their life stories. Such dialogues and monologues enabled the Caravan to lift the veil of taboo off questions of equality, tolerance and respect for human rights regardless of any external or internal factors that may challenge mainstream perceptions.
During the campaign, over 800 people learned more about the lives, needs and contributions of people with disabilities, sex workers, recovering drug users, people living with HIV/AIDS, and LGBT people. Many extensive interviews regarding human rights and their violations were recorded for the subsequent documentary film.
Over 200 sets of informational brochures and promotional flyers were given out by the members of participating organizations. It all adds up to the invaluable experience of mobile advocacy campaigning which will inform and enhance future efforts to advance the cause of human rights in Kyrgyzstan.
The activist crew returned home exhausted, but inspired by the quality of their engagement with the Issyk-Kul residents and guests. A plan to expand geographical reach and timeline of the Caravan is in store for next year’s campaign. “Our main accomplishment is setting the example of how to successfully tackle difficult matters in public discourse without prejudice and provocation. Several invitations from local initiative groups and the fact that all participants want to continue collaborating in this creative format serves as a testament to its efficacy,” says campaign consultant Alexey Bulokhov. Equality Caravan is part of “Through awareness to inclusion in Central Asia” project run by Labrys and underwritten by Civil Rights Defenders (Sweden).
To learn more about the Caravan, visit their online diary.
Activists from several Kyrgyz non-profit organizations created a new mobile advocacy campaign «Equality Caravan» which toured the northern shore of legendary Lake Issyk-Kul in August 4-11, 2011.
Equality Caravan is a collaborative project between seven NGOs that serve at-risk social groups, members of which are often marginalized and silenced within Kyrgyz society: people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, recovering drug users, sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS and others. Among the participants are organizations Labrys, Asteria, Youth with Disabilities Movement, Nazik Kyz, Center for People with Disabilities, Subbotnik Q, Kyrgyz Indigo, and. Thirteen Caravan riders spent an eventful week on the road.
In pursuit of greater acceptance and equal opportunities for all, Equality Caravan visited three largest resorts of the Issyk-Kul region – Karakol, Cholpon Ata and Balykchi. Each city presented a unique set of challenges and chances. Residents and visitors of Karakol and Cholpon Ata were invited to view an exhibition and attend “live library” sessions at a strategic central location. In Balykchi riders went to the public beach and directly interacted with those in attendance sparking conversations about vulnerable groups and the life saving work of participating organizations.
The campaign format aspired to provide its audience with unique opportunities to share positive personal experiences with each Caravan participant. The riders approached both locals and tourists, presented an exhibition of photographs and crafts and told their life stories. Such dialogues and monologues enabled the Caravan to lift the veil of taboo off questions of equality, tolerance and respect for human rights regardless of any external or internal factors that may challenge mainstream perceptions.
Thanks for the great work for Justice that you are doing at Soul Force. I live in Botswana the last 30 years and we are also going through the process of Justice for all. Keep up the good work. ~JM
We encourage productive dialogue which we believe to be a path to healing & reconciliation. We also intend to cultivate a safe space for LGBTQ people, as well as women, people of color, non-Americans, and all other groups & individuals experiencing oppression.
Soulforce and AIM at Manchester College are proud to be partnering on special events happening on campus October 3rd – October 4th!
Soulforce’s history says that we don’t change the minds of the world about LGBT people unless we change the minds of faith leaders and particularly those who are heads of denominations and colleges/universities that produce the next generation of faith leaders. I think it is always important to join with these voices.
Activists from several Kyrgyz non-profit organizations created a new mobile advocacy campaign «Equality Caravan» which toured the northern shore of legendary Lake Issyk-Kul in August 4-11, 2011.
