Workshops
Depolarizing Within: Strategies for Engaging in Politics Without Demonizing the Other Side
Braver angels
Braver Angels is a national grass-roots organization that brings Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic.
Much of today’s epidemic of toxic polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders, and its policies. Although political polarization in some form has always been around, it was less problematic when people interacted more outside their own silos. Nowadays, people on the other side have become not just strangers, but enemies. How we talk among ourselves about them fuels fires that threaten our democracy.
This session, modeled on the Braver Angels Depolarizing Within workshop will:
● Help you become more aware of your inner polarizer
● Help you learn ways to depolarize yourself so that you can disagree without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping the millions of people who differ from you politically
● Teach you skills for how to intervene in social conversations with like-minded people when those conversations veer into contempt and ridicule for people who hold other views
A Faith-Rooted Primer for Understanding and Addressing Bigotry in the U.S. Amid the Violence in Israel-Palestine
Shoulder to shoulder
No one should fear for their lives and safety because of their religious, ethnic, or cultural identity. Yet amid the surge in violence and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank, and in the lead up to a U.S. presidential election, there has been a rise in prejudice and discrimination in the United States. Dehumanizing rhetoric and dehumanizing policies are a stain on our country and harm us all. We believe that people of faith and goodwill (especially women!) are powerful agents of change who can resist this dehumanization and forge another path. Focusing on a newly published resource, A Faith-Rooted Primer for Understanding and Addressing Bigotry in the U.S. amid the Violence in Israel-Palestine, participants will explore key recommendations for understanding, countering and preventing anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim discrimination, among other intersecting bigotries. This session will be facilitated by Nina M. Fernando who serves as Executive Director of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, a national, multifaith coalition that envisions an inclusive and pluralistic United States where all people, regardless of their faith or background, are treated with dignity. Nina comes from a Christian background with close family and loved ones who are Jewish and Muslim, among other faith & cultural backgrounds. She believes that all people are inherently worthy of dignity and is most inspired when at the intersection of faith and social justice. Check out the condensed, Reader's Guide linked here and download the full-primer here.
Sisterhood Activism: From Dialogue to Action
Rabbi nancy fuchs kreimer & DR. samah elhajibrahim
Join your fellow sisters, Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Dr. Samah Elhajibrahim, for an exploration into the important work of collective action and activism. This workshop will focus not only on the activities of Sisters Wage Peace – a collective of activist leaders from the newly established Philadelphia chapter - but also share tools you can use to organize and take action in your local community and beyond. Activism training will be provided by the Sisters Wage Peace chapter member Lynn Iser and a robust Q&A will be included in this workshop.
Healing and Hope in Hard Times
rabbi simcha zevit & rachel baldi
Join us in this experiential session as we explore teachings from both the Jewish and Muslim traditions about centering hope - even in the hardest times - as a foundation and catalyst for change and healing. We’ll engage in healing practices, based in both spirituality and science, that can help us to nurture and sustain our own well-being and healing, and thereby enhance our capacity to serve as a force of healing for others, and for our world. Hope and healing in times of despair are forms of activism, and even defiance, of the status quo. Together we’ll open to the fullness of all that we are in body-heart-mind–and spirit, to cultivate hope and healing at a time when they are both so essential.
Bios:
Rabbi Simcha Zevit is an experienced educator, spiritual leader, community builder and interfaith chaplain. In addition to her service as rabbi, she is a certified mindfulness teacher, and a wholebeing leadership and life coach, speaker and trainer. She works with individuals and teams in a variety of settings to support clients in whole-being wellness, in creating lives and work in alignment with values and personal or organizational purpose, and achieving individual and team goals. Learn more about Simcha at simchazevitcoaching.com
Rachel Baldi is a Leadership and Executive Coach, Facilitator and Consultant, an Interfaith Advocate, Grief and End-of-Life Coach. She is the co-founder of Uplevel Productions, a Leadership development company serving 300+ orgs that equips teams and workforces to lead more purposefully and bring more humanity into the workplace. As Faculty and official Licensees of the world renowned co-active coaching Coaching and Relationship products from CTI, Rachel is an expert at training cadres of internal coaches, developing coaching cultures and organizational leaders to take a coach approach. Rachel is passionate about educating and providing essential safe space for people to acknowledge,express, and process their grief. She is on a mission to train organizations on how to be End-Of-Life safe and how to support grief in the workplace. Learn more about Rachel at rachelbaldi.com.
