Please check back for details to join Radiance Talley for a Black History Month program Thursday evening. All are welcome to join this program. She is doing for this for Bahai's in Canada. I will update the link when I get it. Mark your calendar and check back.
Celebrating the Contributions of People of African Descent Throughout History
Join us for our weekly forum with guest Radiance Talley, a communications associate at One Planet Group and a staff writer at BahaiTeaching.org. She has also written two books of original poetry and enjoys providing workshops about what is needed for racial healing in the U.S. in her free time. In this interactive presentation, Radiance Talley will share the inventions and achievements that people of African descent have made that have changed the world. Everyone is welcome. See you this Thursday at 7p.m. EST with the zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88675076522 Passcode: 123
Every 19 days Baha’is come together in unity to focus on community efforts, learn, grow, fill our hearts and souls, and take this healing light to those who cross our paths. How do we consult with the concourse, yearning and waiting to be called on to aid us with our efforts, to build a nurturing, uplifting, and dynamic atmosphere at feast? Let's come together and consult on how we can elevate our Baha’i feast experience.
Join us Tuesday 8pmEST/ 5pmPCT
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3713509913
Meeting ID: 371 350 9913
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,3713509913# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,3713509913# US (Houston)
Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89935447954?pwd=NkdJejVDL0FlZ2xXeHpibEdyRWdHZz09 to start or join the program.
WEDNESDAY - THE CONFERENCE RUNS WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
Speaker Lineup for Wednesday's Black and Native Unity program. If you have friends that have not registered, do so asap to make sure they get a space. If you missed last Thursday, you should be kicking yourself. It was phenomenal the spirit that the Natives brings to the conversation.
All are welcome. This is a webinar, so no need to dress for the event! We are creating a new Holiday Tradition for Giving Our Thanks. Kevin Locke will be giving a 12noon EST presentation on Indigenous Fasting on Wednesday. The evening program begins at 7pm EST.
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_BFHLVFceTduv7cVhsSGYZA
We have just completed a month of Wednesday studies on the Purpose of the Ruhi Institute as a framework for Justice. Nwandi will join us to discuss the remaining cycles of the 5-year plan and the coming 1-Year plan. You won't want to miss it.
Have you been wanting a safe space to learn, consult, heal, worship, and to bring your seekers that is focused on the station of the "Pupil of the Eye"? Well, this is it!
SPEAKER LINEUP FOR THE REST OF 2020 BELOW FOR POTE SAFE-SPACE FIRESIDES. INVITE YOUR POTE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
ROBERT TURNER WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN BAHAI. DERIK SMITH HAS INVITED US ALL TO A FIRST EVER ZOOM COMMEMORATION CEREMONY.
The Education Initiative has completed the assembly of resources for the home schooling of children from PreK-8 Grade. Alice Nightingale, Cynthia Phillips, Elaine Montgomery, Laura Hossein McLuckie-Khandan, Gene Marie Kennedy, Jennifer Treadwell, Karima White, Lee Moavenzadeh, Mary McGregor, Sharon Jayakumar-Becker, Tahirih Hanson, Taeisha Talley (Pope), and Whelma Thompson and Willis Burris.
James Williams shared a prayer written by Baha'u'llah to be used in times disease.
Now, you can be kept abreast of when we will have special speakers. A new SPEAKERS menu option has been added.
A New Zoom Meetings Menu Option by Day has been added. Now you can find a zoom meeting under the new Zoom mention option. You can now select the day you are interested in from the drop-down menu. Items that were previously under Invitation are now under this menu. Invitations will now be those presentations that are one-time only for which we want to patronize.
To sign the letter to the NSA written by Mrs. Sateh Bayat and edited by Mrs. Barbara Talley about making the letter(s) from Sadie Oglesby available to everyone.
EXCERPT: "In its landmark July 22 message addressed expressly to this Bahá’í community, the Universal House of Justice characterized this time as “a moment of historic portent” which “holds significance not only for the destiny of America anticipated in the Sacred Writings, but also for the mission entrusted to your community by the hand of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.” A significant element of that mission is to play a decisive role―in the fullness of time and as a result of determined and sustained effort―in eradicating the stain of racial prejudice from the fabric of our nation." THIS LETTER SHARES A SUCCESS STORY OF THE DC LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, HOW IT ATTRACTED 8 NEW AFRICAN AMERICAN BELIEVERS IN ONE YEAR, AND HOW IT HAS MADE FOCUSING ON RACE A PRIORITY.
This compilation compiled by Bonnie Taylor for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of the United States in 2019 discusses: 1) The Oneness of Humanity 2) Spiritual Transformation 3) Service for Spiritual Transformation 4) The Promise of the Future
EXCERPT: "Several years ago, the DC Assembly decided to make freedom from racial prejudice the watchword in all of its meetings, agreeing that every matter would include consideration of the question: “What are the racial, cultural, class, and gender implications of this decision?” The Assembly also began regularly asking itself how its decisions promote the nobility of African Americans and draw on their experience. In the years since, the Assembly has applied these questions to virtually all facets of the life of the community.
“These questions,” the report states, “are placed at the top of the Assembly’s agenda, and asking them has definitely influenced decisions in many different situations."
Poet Barbara and Radiance Talley will share some of their original poetry as they discuss race. Register at zoom and share with your friends. Everyone must register to attend.
A 79-PAGE SOCIAL ACTION COMPILATION FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE RESOURCE PAGE. WE WILL STUDY AN EXCERPT ON "ONENESS AND JUSTICE" ON WEDNESDAY.
Learn about this Institution. Kathleen will lead the discussion.
The Association for Baha'i Studies Conference starts tomorrow. Various speakers and academic groups will speak or share from July 24th through August 8th. Registration fees are $0 -$50.
July 24, 2020
There are workshops all day, however our dear Derik Smith will be the opening keynote on Friday at 5pm PST, 8pm EST.
Notable Mention:
Sunday, July 26, 2020
3pm Pacific: Roundtable: What Is Knowledge?: Thoughts from a Bahá’í Working Group in Africana Studies– Anthony Outler, Layli Maparyan, Angelita Reyes, Masud Olufani;
moderator Derik Smith
Friday, July 31, 2020
3pm Pacific: Breaking free of an epistemology of white ignorance – Elizabeth Allen 4pm Pacific: Global health threats in the 21st century: A root cause analysis – Sepideh Taheri
Saturday, August 1, 2020
1pm Pacific: Roundtable: Film & Media – Nwandi Lawson, Nathan Davis, Mark Sisson, Nava Kavelin
4pm Pacific: Keynote: Making a New Reality – Kamal Sinclair
Sunday, August 2, 2020
1pm Pacific: Indigenous Studies Working Group Info session – Tara Nault, Michele McIsaac
You are warmly invited to join us for an online discussion on Considering the Actions of `Abdu’l-Bahá as a Means of Advancing Race Unity, facilitated by Mr. Kiser Barnes and Dr. Jen Chingwe.
This online event will take place on: Saturday, 25 July 2020 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon EST
We look forward to welcoming you to the online presentation of inspiring examples of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s activities for racial unity and to your sharing comments on the unique stories.
Attached is a PDF handout with references to 'Abdu’l-Bahá’s actions in achieving race unity in compilations from the Universal House of Justice and National Spiritual Assembly--recently forwarded by the NSA to the American Community. Please print this document for your use during the discussions.
Meeting Information
Zoom link: https://mahernet.zoom.us/j/97282760278?pwd=WWFFcUFsb3g3QXdiRTF3Q1JZeERGUT09
Password: Bahai-123 Meeting ID: 972 8276 0278
Dial by your location: +1 646 876 9923
“Let them call to mind, fearlessly and determinedly, the example and conduct of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá while in their midst. Let them remember His courage, His genuine love, His informal and indiscriminating fellowship, His contempt for and impatience of criticism, tempered by His tact and wisdom. Let them revive and perpetuate the memory of those unforgettable and historic episodes and occasions on which He so strikingly demonstrated His keen sense of justice, His spontaneous sympathy for the downtrodden, His ever-abiding sense of the oneness of the human race, His overflowing love for its members, and His displeasure with those who dared to flout His wishes, to deride His methods, to challenge His principles, or to nullify His acts.” -- Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 34
The Universal House of Justice has sent yet another letter to the American Bahais. This is unprecedented. Please read at you earliest convenience. We will study as a group 7/23-24, 2020
Many parents are concerned about sending their children back to school during COVID. Willis would like to facilitate that conversation.
During our consultation with Ken Bowers on the Letter to America on July 18, there was a question about who signs and the number of signatures. The letter is under resources for your review.
A real, raw, and relevant presentation about the reality of anti-blackness indoctrination and the urgent call for equity and racial justice interspersed with our original poetry. Click to see the flyer.
Eugene Dixon has recorded this powerful letter to the nation to assist you in digesting it, internalizing the contents, and to put it into action by sharing with your circles.
Eugene Dixon has recorded some of the letters from the Institutions. They can be reached on the Audio Recordings menu page. Thanks Eugene!!!
Eugene Dixon has created an audio recording of the latest feast letter for Kalimat. It mentions both pupil of the eye conferences and offers guidance for inclusion of diverse people in the community's activities. An Excerpt: " If we truly wish to manifest the oneness of humanity and to express the importance to our community life of people of color, we must be extremely careful not to allow the cultural expression of the majority to dominate others. ....Taking African American friends as an example, hundreds of these stalwart believers participated last year in the Pupil of the Eye Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and again, in late June, via video conference. Both gatherings fortified their desire to further the progress of the Plan in their home communities. This will no doubt occur in a host of ways, but one will assuredly be through holding devotional gatherings drawing on the richness of their spiritual traditions. It would be a wonderful gesture for Local Spiritual Assemblies to encourage these friends ..."
My daughter and I are inviting you to a real, raw, and relevant presentation about the reality of anti-blackness, indoctrination, and the call for racial justice interspersed with our original poetry. You can register here.
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Prayer call since 2009- (FHU) started in 2019