Inspiring Stories

Racism and anti-racism in the United States   Tragic events in our nation in recent years have brought home to many of us how often we can fall into racist thoughts and behaviors, knowingly or not. This event, the third in our four-part series on racism, focuses on stories from people who have come to realize the damage caused by their unconscious racist attitudes and actions. Now they look to their spiritual traditions for help in making compassionate choices to create a more just, anti-racist society. Our guest moderator and storytellers for this event will be: Suzanne Edwards-Acton, Guest Moderator - Christian Founder, My Work To Do, an anti-racism affinity group Suzanne founded MyWorkToDo.com as a space for white people to build stamina for conversations on race. Co-chair of the Program Group on Black Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, she is the immediate past Vice President of the H. Belfield Hannibal Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.  Read more Samia Bano - Muslim Interfaith Coordinator, IslamiCity; Member, The Guibord Center Advisory Board Samia is the Interfaith Coordinator for IslamiCity and a member of The Guibord Center Advisory Board. She serves as co-host of the Inspiring Stories online series, a collaboration […]

Racism and anti-racism in the United States   We’ve heard from people who courageously shared their experiences with the pain and injustice of racism. How do we now apply this knowledge in our own lives to help dismantle systemic racism and create a more just, equitable world? This event, the fourth in our four-part series on racism, brings us to the next crucial part of our journey. In previous sessions, we’ve learned what it's like for people who've experienced the hurt and shame caused by racism. How do we now move forward and use this knowledge to take down systemic racism and create a truly equitable, anti-racist world? Join us as we hear from compelling storytellers whose personal reflections open a space for deeper exploration and transformative engagement on this problem.  Our guest moderator and storytellers for this event will be:  Guest Moderator Rev. Jen Bailey - Christian Biography   Speaker Rev. Margaret Ernst - Christian Biography   Speaker Harmeet Kamboj - Sikh Biography   Speaker Gail Kennard - Muslim Biography   REGISTER NOW Inspiring Stories is a virtual collaboration between The Guibord Center - Religion Inside Out, an interfaith organization dedicated to opening hearts and minds, and IslamiCity, a global […]

Challenges and blessings of interfaith marriage and families   With interfaith marriage on the rise in the United States and other countries, we begin a four-part series exploring the experiences of interfaith families. Their stories offer us a glimpse of how people rely on their deep love for one another and on their spiritual traditions to work through challenges and build flourishing relationships. In this session, we ask: How do interfaith family members navigate the choices they make about their spiritual journey, together and individually? How can both partners practice their own spiritual traditions in ways that support one another? And how do interfaith families find or create communities that understand their unique experiences?  Our Keynote Storytellers will share their personal experiences and insights. These family stories shine a light on the past, present and future of this growing trend. Speakers for this event will be announced soon. REGISTER NOW Never attended an Inspiring Stories event before? The Guibord Center is an interfaith organization dedicated to opening hearts and minds. We’re partnering with IslamiCity, a global Muslim e-community to offer Inspiring Stories. To learn more, check out our previous seasons: Inspiring Stories for Uncertain Times Inspiring Stories: Healing Our World What’s […]

Raising Kids in Interfaith Families   With interfaith marriage on the rise in the United States and other countries, we continue a four-part series exploring the experiences of interfaith families. In this second session, we focus on families that have chosen to raise their kids in two or more spiritual traditions. Our Keynote Storytellers will share their own experiences and insights. Through these family stories, they’ll shine a light on this growing trend's past, present, and future.   Michelle Mekky Michelle is an award-winning broadcast journalist, public relations executive, and passionate advocate for interfaith issues. Read more   Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan is a UCC Christian minister in Wisconsin who celebrates the gifts of her multicultural interfaith marriage of 25 years to Iyengar Hindu husband, Dr. Sriram Sadagopan. Read more Dr. Janet Allen and Dr. Farrokh Mistree Janet K. Allen and Farrokh Mistree are professors at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, and the co-directors of the Systems Realization Laboratory @ OU, a multicultural, multidisciplinary academic family focused on educating the following generation of engineering professors. Read more   Future sessions will explore: Generational perspectives on interfaith families Inter-sect marriage (e.g.Sunni/Shia, Orthodox/Conservative, Protestant/Catholic…)  Inspiring Stories is […]

Challenges and blessings of interfaith marriage and families   With interfaith marriage on the rise in the United States and other countries, we continue a four-part series exploring the challenges and rewards of interfaith families. In this third session, our storytellers will share their experiences weaving interfaith family life across three generations. Through these stories, they’ll shine a light on the past, present, and future of this fascinating microcosm of interfaith encounters occurring throughout our communities.     Guest Moderator Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan  (Protestant/Hindu family) Biography Speaker Mr. Kersi Bhikhaji Shroff Zoroastrian married to Roman Catholic Biography   Speaker Claire Dietrich Ranna Christian married to Muslim Biography   In our final session in August 2022, we will hear stories from inter-sect marriages (e.g., Sunni/Shia, Orthodox/Conservative, Protestant/Catholic…), which can have many of the same conflicts and blessings as marriages between people from two distinctly different spiritual traditions.   Inspiring Stories is a virtual collaboration between The Guibord Center - Religion Inside Out, an interfaith organization dedicated to opening hearts and minds, and IslamiCity, a global Muslim e-community. We hope these conversations serve as a model of spiritual and interreligious engagement and mutual enrichment to unite our communities in faith and hope for […]