​Rev. Jaimie Crumley

​Rev. Jaimie Crumley

​Rev. Jaimie Crumley is a black feminist intellectual historian who is currently a PhD student in the Department of Gender Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her work focuses on the lives and theological visions of free African American Christian women in the 19th century. An ordained Christian minister in the American Baptist tradition, Jaimie is also a 2016 fellow with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. As a historian, black feminist, and person who strives to follow Jesus, Jaimie advocates for a society that respects, celebrates, and cherishes our differences. 

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: Healing Our Hearts

Terry Opalek

Terry Opalek

Terry Opalek is a student, teacher, writer and presenter of metaphysical and spiritual truths. His spiritual pilgrimage began at age 15 and continues evolving to this day. Terry takes his hard-won life lessons and spiritual development to others through workshops, intuitive coaching and entrepreneurship. A certified Reiki Master-Teacher, he is training to become a compassion integrity teacher.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: Exploring Fear

Sura Das

Sura Das

Sura Das

A Guibord Center Advisory Council member, Sura Das has represented the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for many years. He also has long been fervently active in the interfaith community. Currently,  he serves as Vice President of Culver City Interfaith and the Interreligious Council of Southern California. In addition, he is involved with the Hindu-Episcopal Dialogues and Southern California Committee for a Parliament of the World’s Religions (SCCPWR). Sura is a head priest of ISKCON and works in management for Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, the Society’s publishing house.

In 1999, he started the Temple Bhajan Band. The group introduces the public to kirtan music and ancient Vedic chanting at yoga studios, houses of worship and festivals nationwide. An ISKCON member since 1973, Sura previously was temple president in Missouri for nine years and international president of the publishing house for seven years.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: Exploring Fear

Aziza Hasan

Aziza Hasan

Aziza Hasan, named an influencer by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, is the executive director of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership For Change. She has extensive experience in program management and coalition building. An experienced mediator and conflict transformation practitioner, she has co-facilitated with multiple groups. Aziza’s work has been featured on Ozy, Yahoo News, MSN, Public Radio’s “Speaking of Faith” with Krista Tippett, the United States Institute for Peace, Arabic Radio and Television, and the LA Times. 

Her two years of AmeriCorps service gave her hands-on experience in community organizing and group problem-solving. She earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2006 under President George W. Bush. Aziza served on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships from 2015 to 2016. In 2017, the Executive Service Corps recognized her with the Megan G. Cooper Leadership Award. Aziza currently serves on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Interfaith Advisory Council. She also is a volunteer mediator with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.

Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: Exploring Fear
Moderator, Post-election 2020: Where Do We Go From Here
Panelist, Ahimsa and Nonviolence: An Interfaith Exploration of Racism

Imam Jihad Turk

Imam Jihad Turk

Imam Jihad Turk

Imam Jihad Turk is the founding president of Bayan Islamic Graduate School in Claremont, California, and a nationally known leader and public speaker. Previously, Jihad served for many years as Religious Director of the Islamic Center of Southern California, the oldest and largest mosque in the Los Angeles area.

Born to a Palestinian Muslim father and an American Christian mother, Jihad spent his college years exploring his Islamic roots. He studied at the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and the University of Tehran, earning his BA in history and Arabic at the University of California, Berkeley. Jihad also holds an MA in Arabic and Islamic law and jurisprudence from the University of Texas, Austin. Currently earning his doctorate, he is focusing his research on Islamic law with an emphasis on usul al-fiqh (jurisprudence) and theology.

Speaker, Islamic Sacred Texts 101
Speaker, Decoding Rituals and Symbols of Islam
Speaker, Iftar: Breaking of the Fast
Storyteller, Inspiring Stories: Acknowledging Anger