Forum
Explore your community and your faith through our robust alignment of topics and discussions.
Schedule
September 20, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
From Death to Life
Presented in collaboration with the Board of Spiritual Formation
“From Death to Life” is an organization dedicated to ending violence through healing and reconciliation between families of victims and those who have caused harm. They offer support groups empowering parents to come to terms with the impact of homicide through emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical healing. In addition to healing groups, From Death to Life sponsors an annual prayer walk, community gatherings that celebrate life, and talks that invite others to witness the healing power of forgiveness and use that vision to heal in their own lives. From Death To Life was founded by Mary Johnson-Roy in 2005, shortly before she came to forgive Oshea Israel, the young man who took her only son’s life 12 years earlier. She now claims Oshea as her “spiritual son” and together they share their inspiring story of healing and reconciliation in the community.
Mary Johnson-Roy
is the mother of a murdered child, and the founder of “From Death to Life”, an organization dedicated to ending violence through facilitating healing and reconciliation between families on both sides of the tragedy of homicide. Through participation in the restorative justice process, Mary transformed the anger and hatred she had for Oshea Israel, the 16-year-old boy who took her only son’s life, into forgiveness and love. When Oshea was released from prison in 2010, after having served 17 years, Mary welcomed him home with open arms. She now considers him her “spiritual son” and together they share their powerful story of healing and reconciliation in forums around the country. Mary also leads the Two Mother’s healing group, for mothers’ impacted by the tragedy of homicide. She lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband Ed Roy. Learn more at www.fromdeathtolife.us
Oshea Israel
is a poet, songwriter, musician, public speaker, mentor, father, son, friend, advocate for peace and forgiveness, a product of reconciliation between victims and offenders, and most importantly, a man about change. Having been forgiven by Mary Johnson for taking the life of her only son, and serving 17 years in prison for that act, Oshea has transformed and dedicated his life to making a difference with youth and others through music, public speaking and youth empowerment programs.
September 27, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
A Spirituality of Radical Connection
In this presentation, Mark Van Steenwyk will explore the spiritual condition of uprootedness that afflicts many of us in our late stage capitalist society. How might we shift from using spirituality as merely a coping mechanism to cultivating a spirituality that helps us engage more deeply with reality? How does our spiritual formation fuel creative political action?
Mark Van Steenwyk
is the Executive Director of the Center for Prophetic Imagination, where he integrates spiritual formation, creative political action, and experimental education to nurture and guide leaders for prophetic witness. He is the author of A Wolf at the Gate (2016), That Holy Anarchist (2012), and unKingdom (2019).
October 4, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
The Hidden Benefits of Landscaping with Native Plants
Presented in collaboration with the Climate & Environmental Justice Committee (Board of Outreach)
Not only are native plants beautiful, but they also help to improve soil health, conserve water, and support insects, pollinators, and birdlife. Protecting and creating healthy native plant communities where creatures large and microscopic can live is our best hope to remedy the causes and consequences of environmental damage.
Marilynn Torkelson
is a Master Naturalist, Master Water Steward and current president of the Wild Ones Prairie Edge Chapter. Wild Ones is a national not for profit organization which promotes environmentally friendly landscaping to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.
October 11, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
The Historical and Political Context of the Second Amendment
In addition to discussing the historical and political context of the Second Amendment, Dr. Filner will explore why regulating guns to mitigate gun violence is entirely consistent with the Second Amendment and work with participants on how to respond best about the Second Amendment in gun violence discussions.
Dr. Matthew Filner
is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Social Science Department at Metropolitan State University. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Indiana University and teaches courses in constitutional law, global politics, and political philosophy. In 2015-16, Professor Filner was a Fulbright scholar in Japan, where he taught courses on American constitutional law and global politics. He has published articles in journals such as Polity, The State and Local Government Review, the International Journal of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, a chapter of Democracy’s Edges, a chapter in the recently published Future Courses in Human Societies, and is a regular contributor to the online journals Public Seminar and MinnPost. You can find two of his articles about gun violence and the Second Amendment here. MinnPost, Metro Doctors
October 18, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
More Information Coming Soon
October 25, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
Inner Mastery: Outer Impact
Presented in collaboration with the Board of Spiritual Formation
How do the core principles of nonviolence help you to maintain your integrity, compassion and vision so that your leadership at home and work emerges from your conscious and compassionate inner core?
Dr. Yvette Erasmus
is a psychologist, teacher, and consultant, specializing in transformative learning. A sought after relational-intelligence expert with over 3 decades of real-world experience in human transformation, healing, growth, and learning, Dr. Erasmus helps us embrace and enjoy our differences while staying grounded in our fundamental unity. Her work is dedicated to bridging differences, and to bringing whatever is divided and fragmented back into wholeness, integrity, and harmony.
November 1, 2020
9:30 -10:20 a.m.
Session will be held via Zoom, Free
Art for All: The Stephanie Evelo Fund for Art Inclusion
Presented in collaboration with the Gallery Committee (Board of Fine Arts)
This project was established to support artists with disabilities in the community. The Art for All Fund was created by Sheryl and David Evelo in partnership with ICI at the University of Minnesota in honor of their daughter, Stephanie, a gifted artist and dedicated ICI employee. Sheryl, David and Mark will share experiences raising a daughter with disabilities, how her life impacted others and why the arts are important in all our lives.
Sheryl and David Evelo
parents of Stephanie, worked in the Minneapolis Public Schools in Special Education and in collaboration with Federal Grant projects at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI).
Nik Fernholz
Art for All Lead, is also presenting