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 […]

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 […]

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 Survivors of racism in the U.S. have been telling their stories for centuries. However, they have not always been widely heard or acknowledged outside of their communities. Yet hearing their stories is essential in order to enable healing and change.    This event, the second in our four-part series on racism, focuses on people who have been wounded by racism and how they find healing. Join us as we hear from compelling storytellers whose personal reflections open a space for deeper exploration and transformative engagement.  Our Speakers   Emily Cohen - Jewish Biography: https://theguibordcenter.org/emily-bowen-cohen/      Kandake Ameena Siddique - Muslim Biography: https://theguibordcenter.org/kandake-ameena-siddique/      Sedona Jacobson - Christian Biography: https://theguibordcenter.org/sedona-jacobson/   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 that these conversations serve as a model of spiritual and interreligious engagement and mutual enrichment to unite our communities in faith and hope for a better world. Never attended an Inspiring Stories event before? To learn more, check out our previous seasons: Inspiring Stories for Uncertain Times Inspiring Stories: Healing Our World […]

Inspiring Stories: Exploring the Injustices of Racism   Welcome to the premiere of our third season of storytelling and conversation on complex issues we all care about. Once again, The Guibord Center and IslamiCity are bringing together people with rich spiritual backgrounds and diverse perspectives to share powerful stories from the heart and invite you into the conversation.  Our January event focuses on stories that explore the wounds and injustices of racism. Experiencing these stories is essential to creating healing and change. They give us a chance to begin to understand the many ways that racism harms our communities and our country at large. Speakers Forrest S. Cuch is an enrolled member of the Ute Indian Tribe. Born in 1951, he grew up on the Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation in northeastern Utah. Throughout his career, Forrest has called attention to the ancient presence and contributions of American Indian people throughout the Western Hemisphere. He has addressed critical issues facing all American Indians, including racial injustice and environmental racism. Read More Walt Cunningham, Jr. is an accomplished pianist and musical creator and producer with an eclectic background. He attended West Point Academy, the distinguished military school, where he became one […]