Summer Sunday Conversations
Find out about organizations and causes our parishioners are passionate about
June 23 – Haitian Alliance for Community Action (HACA)
Members of HACA and parishioner Bill Russiello will present information about their work to transform lives in Haiti. HACA is a grassroots, non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 and is financed and run by Haitians living in in New Jersey. Members will outline HACA’s mission to improve the quality of life of the most disadvantaged children and their families in the mountainous rural region of Bellevue de la Montagne. Read more
July 7 – Bridges4Life
Founder Tahtianna Fermin and parishioner Paulie Boranian discuss Bridges4Life, a black-trans-led nonprofit based in Hackensack, NJ. The organization provides resources and services to black and brown TGNC (trans gender non-conforming) individuals aging out of the foster care system, as well those participating in survival sex work or seeking asylum. https://bridges4life.org/
July 14 – Talking about Climate Change
Are you worried about climate change but not sure what you can do about it? Do you think that it’s too political a topic to bring up with others, or that you don’t know enough of the facts to have a conversation? Join Kate Norris for a discussion about why we should talk with friends and acquaintances about climate change and how to go about it
July 28 – Paterson Healing Collective
The Paterson Healing Collective (PHC), is an agency that works to break the cycle of violence related to Gunshot victims. They do this by using credible messengers (community members who have lived in that world) to break the retaliation cycle. Using Trauma informed Care, PHC simultaneously seeks to identify and address the needs of victims by using internal resources, and collaboration with existing agencies and NGOs. Common needs are training, GEDs, housing, driver’s licenses, food, de-escalation training, funeral costs, Medicaid enrollment, mental health care, “beef” resolution etc. Presented by Dr. James Pruden.
August 11 – Divine All Along
DIVINE All Along is a 501(c)(3) human rights defender organization whose mission is to rupture the religious abuse against our queer family. Founded by Executive Director Mark Dilcom, DIVINE All Along is becoming a leading activist organization for LGBTQ+ people who have experienced religious abuse and trauma through partnerships with faith-based and secular communities who share our belief that our queerness is a spiritual gift, and no one has the right to strip us of our divinity and wholeness based on flawed theology. Our partners host online and/or in-person DIVINE SPACES that are unconditionally welcoming and safe where the individual can explore their faith without fear, find healing through our RECLAIM YOUR DIVINITY peer support networks, and all unite to fight for ending religious abuse through our FLIPPING TABLES public advocacy network. Learn about our good work at DIVINEAllAlong.org. Kelly Wilson and founder and Executive Director Mark Dilcom will be presenting this conversation.
August 18 – Identifying misinformation
In this interactive presentation, we will explore how to Identify misinformation or false “news”. We will discuss how to critically evaluate the source, check the author’s credentials, and compare the information with reputable, established news sources. The presenter will be Allison Davis, a longtime journalist who has worked for NBC News and CBS.