Podcasts about pico national network

Sneak Peek of our podcast, Fundamentals of Organizing where host George Goehl is talking to fellow organizers about their organizing journey, and what they see as the essentials we most need to center in the months and years to come. George Goehl is one of the nation's leading progressive organizers and these conversations will fill you with clarity and purpose.Check out this episode from Season 3 right here!Starting From WithIn with Scott ReedSo much of organizing is about radical imagination; in order to struggle for change, we must believe that another way of living is possible. In this episode, I talk with Scott Reed, whose own work reminds us that this radical imagining must start within and spread outward. Join us as we discuss the transformative power of agency, what power can look like, the role of faith-based organizations in broader movements and more.Scott Reed has been a community organizer since the early 70's, working with leaders, clergy and staff to build organizations throughout the country that are able to effective negotiate values and interests of working families. For more than 40 years, Scott Reed helped build the PICO National Network, renamed Faith in Action in 2018. Faith in Action organizes people through faith-based congregations in over 150 American cities, and multiple other countries. Scott stepped down as Director in 2018.Subscribe to the Fundamentals of Organizing substack here. And listen to the full season wherever you are listening to this!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So much of organizing is about radical imagination; in order to struggle for change, we must believe that another way of living is possible. In this episode, George talks with Scott Reed, whose own work reminds us that this radical imagining must start within and spread outward. Join us as we discuss the transformative power of agency, what power can look like, the role of faith-based organizations in broader movements and more.About Scott Reed: Scott Reed has been a community organizer since the early 70's, working with leaders, clergy and staff to build organizations throughout the country that are able to effective negotiate values and interests of working families. For more than 40 years, Scott Reed helped build the PICO National Network, renamed Faith in Action in 2018. Faith in Action organizes people through faith-based congregations in over 150 American cities, and multiple other countries. Scott stepped down as Director in 2018.Subscribe to our Substack here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael-Ray Mathews joins this episode of Love Period to discuss the theme of Chapter Two: "Speak Truthfully. It Will Set You Free." Michael-Ray Mathews brings over 30 years of leadership experience – as a senior pastor, grassroots leader, psalmist and community organizer – to his work as Deputy Director for Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network). He is the host of the Prophetic Resistance Podcast, where he engages multi-faith leaders in conversations about cultivating communities of belonging and sacred resistance to injustice. Rev. Mathews is president of the Alliance of Baptists, a progressive movement for justice and healing, and co-editor of Trouble the Waters: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice. A visiting professor of public theology at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, he is also a senior fellow at Auburn Seminary in New York. Michael-Ray is co-founder of and public theologian-in-residence with Sympara, a multifaith/interspiritual community of practice, repurposing spiritual assets for the common good. New to Season 2, after the interview, Jacqui concludes with a reflection on making this practical in everyday life. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode will be available Friday, November 19th. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Michael-Ray Mathews: Twitter | Instagram Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

In Gabrielle's latest podcast, she had the pleasure of interviewing Denise Padin Collazo. She has just published her first book, Thriving in the Fight - A Survival Manual for Latinas on the Front Lines of Change. The messages in the book are applicable to any woman of colour as well as those that lead women of colour. Gabrielle first met Denise at Harvard when they attended the same Executive Education program. A couple of years later, Denise joined Gabrielle in New York for her Thought Leadership and Storytelling training. Denise is a social justice leader, a mentor to fellow women of colour, and a family work integration innovator. She is squarely focused on encouraging women of colour to lead into their vision, live into their fullest selves, and love past negatives that hold them back. Denise is the senior advisor for external affairs and director of institutional advancement at Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network), the largest faith-based, progressive organising network in the U.S., where she has advanced the cause of social justice over the past twenty-five years. Listen in to their conversation about Denise’s experience of writing and publishing her first book. You will witness first-hand how she is an extraordinary storyteller and thought leader as she shares some inspiring stories and wonderful insights. Her book is available now for pre-order at your favourite book retailer.

As a special bonus for our listeners, we have created a series to commemorate Inverse Podcast co-host Dr Drew Hart's brand new book Who Will Be a Witness: Igniting Activism For God's Justice, Love and Deliverance. In these additional episodes we will interview friends and co-workers to discuss chapter by chapter Drew's new book. These conversations were recorded in community with friends from around the world as past of Inverse's ongoing work to create formation experiences that deepen our witness to God's justice, love and deliverance. Who Will Be a Witness offers a vision for communities of faith to organize for deliverance and justice in their neighborhoods, states, and nation as an essential part of living out the call of Jesus. Drew provides incisive insights into Scripture and history, along with illuminating personal stories, to help us identify how the witness of the church has become mangled by Christendom, white supremacy, and religious nationalism. He provides a wide range of options for congregations seeking to give witness to Jesus' ethic of love for and solidarity with the vulnerable. At a time when many feel disillusioned and distressed, Drew calls the church to action, offering a way forward that is deeply rooted in the life and witness of Jesus. Drew's testimony is powerful, personal, and profound, serving as a compass that points the church to the future and offers us a path toward meaningful social change and a more faithful witness to the way of Jesus. (Buy Drew's new book here.) This conversation discusses Chapter Eight of Who Will Be a Witness with Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews. Michael-Ray Mathews (he/him/his) brings over 30 years of leadership experience – as a senior pastor, grassroots leader, psalmist and community organizer – to his work as Deputy Director for Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network). He is the host of the Prophetic Resistance Podcast, where he engages multi-faith leaders in conversations about cultivating communities of belonging and sacred resistance to injustice. Rev. Mathews is president of the Alliance of Baptists, a progressive movement for justice and healing, and co-editor of Trouble the Waters: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice. A visiting professor of public theology at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, he is also a senior fellow at Auburn Seminary in New York. Michael-Ray is co-founder of and public theologian-in-residence with Sympara, a multifaith/interspiritual community of practice, repurposing spiritual assets for the common good. Follow Michael-Ray on Twitter: @mrmathews, Facebook: /mrmathews, and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/michaelraymathews/): @michaelraymathews. Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna Music: We Fly Free by Julie Kerr @juliekkerr

As a special bonus for our listeners, we have created a series to commemorate Inverse Podcast co-host Dr Drew Hart's brand new book Who Will Be a Witness: Igniting Activism For God's Justice, Love and Deliverance. In these additional episodes we will interview friends and co-workers to discuss chapter by chapter Drew's new book. These conversations were recorded in community with friends from around the world as past of Inverse's ongoing work to create formation experiences that deepen our witness to God's justice, love and deliverance. Who Will Be a Witness offers a vision for communities of faith to organize for deliverance and justice in their neighborhoods, states, and nation as an essential part of living out the call of Jesus. Drew provides incisive insights into Scripture and history, along with illuminating personal stories, to help us identify how the witness of the church has become mangled by Christendom, white supremacy, and religious nationalism. He provides a wide range of options for congregations seeking to give witness to Jesus' ethic of love for and solidarity with the vulnerable. At a time when many feel disillusioned and distressed, Drew calls the church to action, offering a way forward that is deeply rooted in the life and witness of Jesus. Drew's testimony is powerful, personal, and profound, serving as a compass that points the church to the future and offers us a path toward meaningful social change and a more faithful witness to the way of Jesus. (Buy Drew's new book here.) This conversation discusses Chapter Eight of Who Will Be a Witness with Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews. Michael-Ray Mathews (he/him/his) brings over 30 years of leadership experience – as a senior pastor, grassroots leader, psalmist and community organizer – to his work as Deputy Director for Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network). He is the host of the Prophetic Resistance Podcast, where he engages multi-faith leaders in conversations about cultivating communities of belonging and sacred resistance to injustice. Rev. Mathews is president of the Alliance of Baptists, a progressive movement for justice and healing, and co-editor of Trouble the Waters: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice. A visiting professor of public theology at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, he is also a senior fellow at Auburn Seminary in New York. Michael-Ray is co-founder of and public theologian-in-residence with Sympara, a multifaith/interspiritual community of practice, repurposing spiritual assets for the common good. Follow Michael-Ray on Twitter: @mrmathews, Facebook: /mrmathews, and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/michaelraymathews/): @michaelraymathews. Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna Music: We Fly Free by Julie Kerr @juliekkerr

This July 2019 podcast is a conversation with Gordon Whitman, senior advisor of the interfaith group Faith in Action: Building a People-Powered Movement (formerly PICO National Network; https://faithinaction.org). He has a B.A. in history and urban studies and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Gordon did his initial work in community organizing in Santiago, … Continue reading "Organizing for a Just World: A Conversation with Gordon Whitman, Act 1" The post Organizing for a Just World: A Conversation with Gordon Whitman, Act 1 appeared first on Nothing Never Happens.

Scott Reed is a master craftsman in the field of community organizing and the executive director of PICO National Network.  At the time of this recording, he was preparing to retire from a career spanning more than 40 years. In April, the podcast traveled to San Diego, CA to talk with Scott about how he made community organizing a lifelong career, why he put race at the center of PICO’s organizing work, and why PICO National Network is now rebranded Faith in Action. Show Notes: Learn more about Faith In Action, https://www.faithinaction.org. Read the Nonprofit Quarterly feature story about Scott Reed, https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2018/05/02/national-network-leader-looks-back-40-years-community-organizing/.  

Today’s guest is  Pastor Michael McBride, founding pastor of The Way Christian Center in Berkley; and director of the Live Free Project of the PICO National Network. In this episode we talk about Ferguson, therapy for faith leaders, the justice roots of Pentecostalism and what Pastor Mike is learning about toxic masculinity.This episode was recorded live in November 2017 at the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California during a session of the Public Theology Certificate program, a joint project of the seminary and PICO National Network. Show Notes: Learn more about Live Free by visiting www.livefreeusa.org. Listen to the previous podcast episodes that are referenced in this episode. Episode 12: Dr. Leah Gunning Francis Episode 7: Rev. Ben McBride Episode 6: Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould

Michael McBride, pastor of the Way Christian Center in Berkeley, California, and national director for Urban Strategies at the PICO National Network, reflects on faithful discipleship in the context of racialized violence, economic exploitation, and white supremacy.   For more resources on a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Seasons greetings! We are on the cusp of ushering in the New Year. I hope you’re finding some time to take a breath, chillax and slow the chaotic pace of the holiday season. Speaking of changing pace and not racing so much, my guest this week, Jennifer Farmer, shares her experience with setting a work pace that is sustainable, practicing grace while redefining her flow, and so much more. Jennifer is an author and leading professional in communications strategy, an industry known for moving at breakneck speeds. Jennifer’s debut book, "Extraordinary PR, Ordinary Budget: A Strategy Guide" was released June 2017. She is the managing director of communications for PICO National Network, and the founder of Spotlight PR LLC, a boutique communications consultancy which provides strategic communications counsel and public relations coaching. She is one hard-working woman. Not only do we talk about work pace, we talk about her work at PICO National Network, a faith-based community organization, and how she transitioned from working in politics to communications. She also talks about PICO’s Live Free Campaign, which addresses gun violence and mass incarceration in many cities across the United States. Because much of what Jennifer does is mission-focused, advocative and so very humanizing, she always feels drawn to do more. When she was heading straight towards a major burnout, she had to assess what was happening and to turn everything around. Jennifer and I cover so much ground about what it’s like to achieve without overworking. I truly hope that you come away from this podcast with some clarity, inspiration, calm or a combo platter of all three. The episode is ready for your listening pleasure. Grab a cup of hot tea (or your favorite beverage of choice), get cozy, and press play. Check out the full show notes for this episode at: https://www.vitalcorpswellness.com/blog/lvcs-0032-jennifer-farmer  

Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) with Onleilove Alston Our Guest:  This time on “Interfaith Matters,” host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Onleilove Alston, executive director of Faith in New York, an affiliate of the PICO National Network, committed to the work of justice and faith-rooted community organizing.  Onleilove knows the vital importance of this work more intimately than most: as a child, Onleilove experienced homelessness, shelters and foster care before she was ten years old.  Today, she is a contributing writer and board member of Sojourners magazine, and founder of “Prophetic Whirlwind,” an organization – and forthcoming book – about the Black presence in the Bible. Onleilove will be one of the experts working with faith leaders at ICNY’s upcoming “Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy.” Podcast Highlights: On her conversion experience and the call to work on behalf of social justice causes: “Encountering a God of the orphan and the widow was empowering because I was an orphan.  Reading about a God who preached good news to the poor was good news to me because I was poor.  And I began to think I could do something to change my community and to help other young people like myself.” On faith-based advocacy: “[It is] harnessing the power of faith communities to make a difference in public life – to bring a moral imperative to public life. It’s a moral travesty that families are going to sleep homeless every night.” On spirituality in NYC: “The Bible Belt may be the most Christian-active part of the country, but as far as spiritual activity of any faith, New York City is actually the most spiritual place in America. If just 10% of those people who are spiritual were infused in public life to support progressive policies, we could change this city.” Three things faith leaders stand to gain from attending the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy: “One, to build relationships with like-minded faith leaders. Two, to build relationships with organizations doing [social justice] work. And three, to gain strategic tools they can use to change conditions in our city.”  On how faith leaders can avoid burnout while responding to the political crises that come up seemingly every day: “Discern the one, two or three issues you’re going to work on, so that when things happen, that guides you, and share the burden, with people in your congregation, with other partners, so you are not overwhelmed.”   ___________________________________________________   This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live.” ___________________________________________________ Beginning in November 2017, ICNY will sponsor 20 faith community leaders to participate in evening training workshops on a bi-monthly basis in civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing. These workshops will be led by expert partners including: The Center for Court Innovation, Faith in New York, The Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, CUNY CLEAR as well as the NYPD. Individual participants will each receive a $1,000 stipend + seed funding for community projects. The application deadline is October 2, 2017 Program details and application info is available at http://interfaithcenter.org/icla For more info, email Iman Boukadoum or call 212.870.3515. ___________________________________________________ Podcast Questions? Comments? Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!

This week we say farewell to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and face an uncertain future with a new president and administration. In this episode, which originally aired after the election, co-hosts Brandy Liebscher and Danielle Beck share, with rawness and openness, their own emotional response to the election and how to push forward. ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: In episode 4, Drs. Brandy Liebscher and Danielle Beck grapple with the reality of a Trump presidency. They share their own emotional turmoil in the wake of this election, mindful of the fear, pain, and anger of those already vulnerable and marginalized in the United States. They also discuss their resolve to support white people who are committed to anti-racism and racial justice and what that means for the Facing Ourselves podcast. And if you're worried about those upcoming conversations with friends and family at Thanksgiving, they got you covered there, too. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Brandy’s article about the importance of "repurposed space" for white people committed to racial justice. For support and guidance on moving forward, including how to handle those difficult conversations at Thanksgiving, be sure to check out these resources: Brittany Packnett's article White People: What is your plan for the Trump presidency? Southern Poverty Law Center's Speak Up: Responding to Everyday Bigotry Showing Up for Racial Justice Thanksgiving discussion guide PICO National Network (multi-faith community organizing)

In episode 4, Drs. Brandy Liebscher and Danielle Beck grapple with the reality of a Trump presidency. They share their own emotional turmoil in the wake of this election, mindful of the fear, pain, and anger of those already vulnerable and marginalized in the United States. They also discuss their resolve to support white people who are committed to anti-racism and racial justice and what that means for the Facing Ourselves podcast. And if you're worried about those upcoming conversations with friends and family at Thanksgiving, they got you covered there, too. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Brandy’s article about the importance of "repurposed space" for white people committed to racial justice. For support and guidance on moving forward, including how to handle those difficult conversations at Thanksgiving, be sure to check out these resources: Brittany Packnett's article White People: What is your plan for the Trump presidency? Southern Poverty Law Center's Speak Up: Responding to Everyday Bigotry Showing Up for Racial Justice Thanksgiving discussion guide PICO National Network (multi-faith community organizing)

We talk Black Lives Matter and setting white people free.There are two things that Pastor Michael McBride is sure of: Jesus... and white supremacy. The activist and religious leader join W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu in the studio to make sense of last week’s fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, as well as the attack on the Dallas police during a peaceful protest of those killings. For those in search of a little grace and some straight talk about freeing white folks from whiteness (and minorities reaching for that same whiteness), this conversation is for you. Learn more about Pastor Mike’s work on ending gun violence and the incarceration of young people of color at the Pico National Network’s LIVE FREE campaign website: www.livefreeusa.org.And pre-order Hari’s new album “Mainstream American Comic” at www.killrockstars.com/hari.Need more Politically Re-Active? We’re dropping not one, but two episodes this week! Come back tomorrow, Thursday, July 12th for a conversation with guest Robert Reich. And join us every Wednesday throughout the election for a new episode. And and keep tweeting us what you see happening in the political landscape today or any cool topic or guest ideas for us. Tag us with #politicallyreactive

Fellowship of Reconciliation Centennial: 100 Years Of Nonviolence, Action, Peace, and Justice This week on Love (and Revolution) Radio, we speak with four guests who each offer a unique lens into the upcoming, historic Fellowship of Reconciliation Centennial Conference at Seabeck, WA, exploring the past, present, and future of the largest, oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States, and how one hundred years of working for peace, justice, and nonviolence affects us all in our contemporary lives. As Fellowship of Reconciliation celebrates its centennial year, we can almost trace the arc of social justice through their history, for indeed, FOR has been entwined in nearly every struggle for peace and justice in the last hundred years. The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the largest, oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States, working for peace, justice and nonviolence since 1915. As an interfaith organization, FOR-USA’s mission is to organize, train, and grow a diverse movement that welcomes all people of conscience to end structures of violence and war, and create peace through the transformative power of nonviolence. Sign up for our weekly email: http://www.riverasun.com/love-and-revolution-radio/ About Our Guests: Michael Colvin is on the planning committee for the FOR Seabeck Conference and is also a member of the FOR National Conference. Adam Vogal serves on the planning committee for the FOR Seabeck Conference, is the leader of Students United For Nonviolence at Portland State University, a member of the FOR National Council, and a Campaign Nonviolence Associate. Karla Elizarraraz is a board member for the Inland Congregation United for Change based in Southern California, and a part of the PICO National Network, as well as being a youth participant in the FOR Seabeck Conference. Tom Hastings is a life long activist, serves on the communications committee of the NAACP, is a professor of conflict resolution at Portland State University, and a presenter at the FOR Seabeck Conference. Related Links: FOR Seabeck Centennial Conference http://forseabeck.org/ Ask questions of presenters during the Seabeck Conference through Twitter by using: #FORSeabeck and #DandelionInsurrection, or tweeting at @FORSeabeck Fellowship of Reconciliation http://forusa.org/ Erica Chenoweth's TedX Talk on Why Civil Resistance Works https://youtu.be/YJSehRlU34w Jamila Raqib & the Albert Einstein Institution http://www.aeinstein.org/ Students United for Nonviolence https://www.pdx.edu/conflict-resolution/students-united-for-nonviolence Campaign Nonviolence http://www.paceebene.org/ Music by: "Love and Revolution" by Diane Patterson and Spirit Radio www.dianepatterson.org Our featured music this week is "Now Is the Time" by Heather Houston. Find her music at www.heatherhoustonmusic.com About Your Co-hosts: Sherri Mitchell (Penobscot) is an Indigenous rights attorney, writer and activist who melds traditional life-way teachings into spirit-based movements. Follow her at Sherri Mitchell – Wena’gamu’gwasit:https://www.facebook.com/sacredinstructions/timeline Rivera Sun is a novelist and nonviolent mischief-maker. She is the author of The Dandelion Insurrection, Billionaire Buddha, and Steam Drills, Treadmills, and Shooting Stars. She is also the social media coordinator and nonviolence trainer for Campaign Nonviolence and Pace e Bene. Her essays on social justice movements are syndicated on by PeaceVoice, and appear in Truthout and Popular Resistance.http://www.riverasun.com/

This week on Love (and Revolution) Radio, we speak with four guests who each offer a unique lens into the upcoming, historic Fellowship of Reconciliation Centennial Conference at Seabeck, WA, exploring the past, present, and future of the largest, oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States, and how one hundred years of working for peace, justice, and nonviolence affects us all in our contemporary lives. As Fellowship of Reconciliation celebrates its centennial year, we can almost trace the arc of social justice through their history, for indeed, FOR has been entwined in nearly every struggle for peace and justice in the last hundred years. The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the largest, oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States, working for peace, justice and nonviolence since 1915. As an interfaith organization, FOR-USA’s mission is to organize, train, and grow a diverse movement that welcomes all people of conscience to end structures of violence and war, and create peace through the transformative power of nonviolence. Sign up for our weekly email: http://www.riverasun.com/love-and-revolution-radio/ About Our Guests: Michael Colvin is on the planning committee for the FOR Seabeck Conference and is also a member of the FOR National Conference. Adam Vogal serves on the planning committee for the FOR Seabeck Conference, is the leader of Students United For Nonviolence at Portland State University, a member of the FOR National Council, and a Campaign Nonviolence Associate. Karla Elizarraraz is a board member for the Inland Congregation United for Change based in Southern California, and a part of the PICO National Network, as well as being a youth participant in the FOR Seabeck Conference. Tom Hastings is a life long activist, serves on the communications committee of the NAACP, is a professor of conflict resolution at Portland State University, and a presenter at the FOR Seabeck Conference. Related Links: FOR Seabeck Centennial Conference http://forseabeck.org/ Ask questions of presenters during the Seabeck Conference through Twitter by using: #FORSeabeck and #DandelionInsurrection, or tweeting at @FORSeabeck Fellowship of Reconciliation http://forusa.org/ Erica Chenoweth's TedX Talk on Why Civil Resistance Works https://youtu.be/YJSehRlU34w Jamila Raqib & the Albert Einstein Institution http://www.aeinstein.org/ Students United for Nonviolence https://www.pdx.edu/conflict-resolution/students-united-for-nonviolence Campaign Nonviolence http://www.paceebene.org/ Music by: "Love and Revolution" by Diane Patterson and Spirit Radio www.dianepatterson.org Our featured music this week is "Now Is the Time" by Heather Houston. Find her music at www.heatherhoustonmusic.com About Your Co-hosts: Sherri Mitchell (Penobscot) is an Indigenous rights attorney, writer and activist who melds traditional life-way teachings into spirit-based movements. Follow her at Sherri Mitchell – Wena’gamu’gwasit: https://www.facebook.com/sacredinstructions/timeline Rivera Sun is a novelist and nonviolent mischief-maker. She is the author of The Dandelion Insurrection, Billionaire Buddha, and Steam Drills, Treadmills, and Shooting Stars. She is also the social media coordinator and nonviolence trainer for Campaign Nonviolence and Pace e Bene. Her essays on social justice movements are syndicated on by PeaceVoice, and appear in Truthout and Popular Resistance. http://www.riverasun.com/

Analisa Freitas is an extremely busy Peruvian adoptee and the FIRST non-Korean guest to the Rambler!   She is the Bronx Organizer & Climate Justice Campaign Lead for Faith in New York (FINY), the NY state affiliate of the PICO National Network. She was born in Lima, Peru, adopted at two months old, and raised in California's Central Valley. Analisa earned her Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies at Sarah Lawrence College and Lehman College in New York. During her junior year, she returned to her birth country to study sociology and anthropology at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima. She experienced a reunion with her birth mother and birth brother, and returned to her indigenous roots in Huari, her birth family's hometown.  Analisa has focused on developing environmental outreach, education, and leadership programs for local underserved communities as a Community Organizer for the Tuolumne River Trust and an East Coast Coordinator of Latino Outdoors. She has also advocated for state- and national-level clean energy policy in her role as Project Coordinator of Voces Verdes, a national Latino grasstops advocacy program under the Natural Resources Defense Council's Center for Policy Advocacy. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Gift of Identity Fund, and is adjunct staff with The Ties Program, a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, and a Natural Leader for the Children & Nature Network's Natural Leader Network.   She is on Twitter at @doingthemost247, @vocesanalisa, and @finyanalisa.  YES, those are ALL her Twitter handles (that I know of).   Songs from A Collective Effort are available at SoundCloud (Http://soundcloud.com/acollectiveeffortmusic/sets/a-collective-effort-mix-bag) and other music of the podcast comes courtesy of Needle Drop Records by the band, The Bell.   Follow me on Twitter @TheRamblerADHD, email me at TheRamblerADHD@gmail.com, and like/share me on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheRamblerADHD.  If you like the podcast, please be so kind as to leave a nice review on iTunes.  Thanks for listening!

Khateebah Sarah Jawaid delivers the khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America jumma'a servce on March 27th, 2015. In her sermon, Sarah discusses the role humanity has in protecting the earth and God's people. She speaks about environmentalism and social justice, particularly how racial hierarchy impacts people to this day. Sarah also discusses how to overcome the internal challenges one faces in fighting for a just and safe world by using examples from Islamic religious texts. Bio: Sarah Jawaid is a community organizer with LA Voice, a non-profit affiliate of the PICO National Network, where she does faith-based social justice organizing and leadership development in Los Angeles. She has worked on policy change for affordable housing issues, economic opportunity, and criminal justice reform—the most recent win being the passage of Proposition 47, a state-wide ballot initiative to redirect money from prisons to schools. Sarah worked on national transportation policy at the Brookings Institution and the Urban Land Institute and affordable housing advocacy at the National Housing Conference. During this time, she was the Director of Green Muslims, a group started to raise awareness of environmental issues within a Muslim context. Jawaid is also an artist who has exhibited work in several shows and galleries. Her work can be seen at sarahjawaid.com. She has a B.S. from the University of Southern California in Public Policy and a Master's degree from UC Irvine in Urban Planning. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband.

From Charleston to Pluto: Looking To The Heavens and Close To HomeThis week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, Interfaith Alliance Executive Director Rabbi Jack Moline is filling in for Welton Gaddy as host. We’ll check in with PICO National Network’s Pastor Mike McBride about his organization’s broad response to the tragedy in Charleston. We’ll hear from Celene Ibrahim-Lizzio about a new training program for the next generation of interfaith leaders. And Jack and Rabbi Elliot Dorff will reflect on NASA’s mission to Pluto and our spiritual connection to the stars. Finally, Jack leaves us with some thoughts about the American flag and the historical role of religion in American public life. Faith in Times of Tragedy When tragedy struck Chattanooga, Tennessee this week, too many of us had still not healed from last month’s tragic shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Miraculously, though, the struggle to move forward has manifested itself not in hatred, blame, or anger, but, instead, in a new sense of community and support. We have taken the Confederate battle flag down from the South Carolina statehouse and approached the discussion of racism across the country with new, more understanding, eyes. Today the Director of PICO Network’s LiveFree Campaign and pastor of “The Way” Christian Center in West Berkeley, CA, Pastor Mike McBride, joins us to discuss PICO’s activism since Charleston, the meaning of activism, and how to bring faith-based messages to more secular communities. The Necessity and Future of Diversity in Belief Exciting interfaith initiatives have sprung up all over the world as we grow to more fully respect the diverse beliefs in our global community. Nowhere is this newfound necessity more clearly understood than in programming at Newton Andover Theological Seminary and Hebrew College in Boston, Massachusetts. We’re joined today by Islamic Scholar-in-Residence, Celene Ibrahim-Lizzio, to talk about the history of collaboration between these two institutions, and a new interreligious leadership degree program that seeks to meet the need for a new generation of interfaith community. How and Why We Decide Who and What to Believe In This week marked an exciting discovery as NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft became the first mission to reach the dwarf planet, Pluto. In light of this new innovation in the scientific community, we ask ourselves what it is about the sky and stars that inspires so much belief and questioning. We’re joined by Rabbi Elliot Dorff, professor of Jewish Theology at the American Jewish University, to ask what we really are looking for when we look up to the sky, the celestial aspects of Jewish teaching, and the relevance of new space discoveries to faith leaders and scholars. American Christianity: Our State Culture, If Not Religion In the final part of our show, we will reflect on Christianity in America. Though it is officially stated that, “the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,” there is no denying the presence of a Christian culture in American society. However, how does that change when America’s openness towards new definitions of equality, freedom, and accessibility translate into openness towards new, diverse sets of faith in our culture? Rabbi Moline will discuss Christian culture in America’s history and why it is so important to celebrate the diversity of faith in American society.

As a special bonus for our listeners, we have created a series to commemorate Inverse Podcast co-host Dr Drew Hart's brand new book *Who Will Be a Witness: Igniting Activism For God's Justice, Love and Deliverance.* In these additional episodes we will interview friends and co-workers to discuss chapter by chapter Drew's new book. These conversations were recorded in community with friends from around the world as past of Inverse's ongoing work to create formation experiences that deepen our witness to God's justice, love and deliverance. *Who Will Be a Witness* offers a vision for communities of faith to organize for deliverance and justice in their neighborhoods, states, and nation as an essential part of living out the call of Jesus. Drew provides incisive insights into Scripture and history, along with illuminating personal stories, to help us identify how the witness of the church has become mangled by Christendom, white supremacy, and religious nationalism. He provides a wide range of options for congregations seeking to give witness to Jesus' ethic of love for and solidarity with the vulnerable. At a time when many feel disillusioned and distressed, Drew calls the church to action, offering a way forward that is deeply rooted in the life and witness of Jesus. Drew's testimony is powerful, personal, and profound, serving as a compass that points the church to the future and offers us a path toward meaningful social change and a more faithful witness to the way of Jesus. (Buy Drew's new book [here](http://https://www.amazon.com/Who-Will-Be-Witness-Deliverance/dp/1513806580/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=who+will+be+a+witness&qid=1599640684&s=books&sr=1-1).) This conversation discusses Chapter Eight of ***Who Will Be a Witness*** with Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews. Michael-Ray Mathews (he/him/his) brings over 30 years of leadership experience – as a senior pastor, grassroots leader, psalmist and community organizer – to his work as Deputy Director for [Faith in Action](http://https://www.faithinaction.org/) (formerly PICO National Network). He is the host of the [Prophetic Resistance Podcast](https://propheticresistancepodcast.libsyn.com/website), where he engages multi-faith leaders in conversations about cultivating communities of belonging and sacred resistance to injustice. Rev. Mathews is president of the [Alliance of Baptists](https://www.allianceofbaptists.org/), a progressive movement for justice and healing, and co-editor of *Trouble the Waters: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice*. A visiting professor of public theology at [American Baptist Seminary of the West ](http://bst.edu/)in Berkeley, he is also a senior fellow at Auburn Seminary in New York. Michael-Ray is co-founder of and public theologian-in-residence with [Sympara](http://www.sympara.org/), a multifaith/interspiritual community of practice, repurposing spiritual assets for the common good. Follow Michael-Ray on [Twitter](http://twitter.com/mrmathews): @mrmathews, [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mrmathews): /mrmathews, and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/michaelraymathews/): @michaelraymathews. Follow Drew Hart on [Instagram](http://http://instagram.com/druhart) and [Twitter](http://https://twitter.com/druhart) @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on [Instagram](http://https://www.instagram.com/jarrodmckenna) and [Twitter](http://jarrodmckenna) @jarrodmckenna Music: We Fly Free by Julie Kerr @juliekkerr