This conversation in our Take Heart Now series features Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan, an ordained United Church of Christ minister currently serving in Concord, New Hampshire. Her commitments include inclusive ministries that focus on Open & Affirming covenants, Immigrant Welcoming initiatives, and Racial Justice seeking programs.
This dialogue in our Take Heart Now series showcases Celina Alvarez, the Executive Director of Housing Works, a true leader among Los Angeles’ most pioneering and effective providers of homeless services.
At the Guibord Center, we take immense pride in our partnership with Housing Works, highlighting the recognition of the spiritual dignity that exists within everyone involved in this essential work. In a powerful demonstration of our shared commitment to compassion, Housing Works has wholeheartedly embraced our Take Heart Project, distributing hundreds of exquisitely carved hearts to individuals within their programs, reinforcing our united mission of support and empathy.
Celina Alvarez is Executive Director of Housing Works, recognized as one of Los Angeles’ most innovative and effective homeless services providers. Ms. Alvarez has been involved with Housing Works since 2008 as part of the nationally recognized Mobile Integrated Services Team (MIST). She was mentored by Mollie Lowery, the pioneer of permanent supportive housing in Los Angeles County. Ms. Alvarez holds a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University and a Bachelors in Social Work from California State University Los Angeles. Prior to being tapped for leadership, she worked as a frontline homeless services worker on Skid Row.
Under Celina’s leadership, Housing Works has tripled its staff and budget along with increasing the number of people it serves by scaling services in partnership with multiple affordable housing developers, public agencies and healthcare systems. She is actively advancing Housing Works’ priorities on food justice, living wages for frontline workers, telling the stories of participants and workers, and decolonizing the workplace to create a safe space for workers and participants who are largely people of color.
Well known as an activist, innovator, and thought leader, Celina has served as an expert content advisor for Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunity, UC Berkeley’s California Policy Lab, CSH’s Social Innovation Fund Conference, as well as KCET and KPFK public radio stations. She continues to push numerous systems to improve their response to the homelessness crisis grounded in the lived experience of those living on the streets and those working most closely with them.
One effort Alvarez is particularly proud of is having partnered with Santa Monica City College to roll out a frontline worker job training program into a college curriculum aimed at developing the homeless services workforce. Two years ago, Alvarez received one of just fifteen CSH National Barrier Breaker Awards.
Speaker: Take Heart Now Series
The next conversation in The Guibord Center’s online series, Take Heart Now: Spiritual Tools for Centering and Compassion features a discussion with the Rev. Louis A. Chase. retired United Methodist clergyperson who worked alongside the late civil rights leader and strategist Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. He currently serves as Minister of Community Outreach at Holman United Methodist Church, Los Angeles.
Rev. Chase, a graduate of Claremont School of Theology, has dedicated his life to justice and reconciliation, serving in roles such as Chair of Peace with Justice Ministries, Vice-Chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (LA), and a founding member of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP). On the eve of the Presidential Debate, he shared his reflections on loving one another even in times of conflict and turmoil, offering a much-needed perspective.
His experiences opposing violence in Latin America and advocating for social justice continue to inspire.
Michael Frontier, an intuitive coach, reiki master/teacher, reflexologist, and entrepreneur with a passion for spiritual connection.
Michael shares the story that changed the course of his life through his deep connection with Spirit, and then guides you in a powerful meditation to help you tap into your own inner knowing.
Resources mentioned in the video include:
Quote: There is a Zen proverb that goes something like this: “If you don’t have time to meditate for 20 minutes everyday, you should meditate for two hours.”
Book: ANATOMY OF THE SPIRIT author – CAROLINE MYSS
Anatomy of the Spirit also presents Dr. Myss’s breakthrough model of the body’s seven centers of spiritual and physical power, in which she synthesizes the ancient wisdom of three spiritual traditions-the Hindu chakras, the Christian sacraments, and the Kabbalah’s Tree of Life-to demonstrate the seven stages through which everyone must pass in the search for higher consciousness and spiritual maturity. With this model, Dr. Myss shows how you can develop your own latent powers of intuition as you simultaneously cultivate your personal power and spiritual growth.
By teaching you to see your body and spirit in a new way, Anatomy of the Spirit provides you with the tools for spiritual maturity and physical wholeness that will change your life.
A Guided Meditation by Leslie Temple Thurston: https://www.corelight.org/product/burning-karma-a-guided-meditation-2-2/
Kirtan Kriya w/ Nirinjan Kaur that you can listen to on YouTube: Kirtan Kriya (which is pronounced KEER-tun KREE-a) is a type of meditation from the Kundalini yoga tradition, which has been practiced for thousands of years. This meditation is sometimes called a singing exercise, as it involves singing the sounds, Saa Taa Naa Maa along with repetitive finger movements, or mudras.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg9NOOM2neA
Walking Meditation: https://www.mindful.org/a-guided-walking-meditation-to-connect-with-your-senses/
The benefits of being in nature https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/the-mental-health-benefits-of-nature-spending-time-outdoors-to-refresh-your-mind/