TUESDAYS IN MARCH
- A Luncheon / Lecture Series -
Sponsored by the
Peace and International Issues Committee
of the
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE of GREATER MILWAUKEE
Speaking Truth to the Myths We Live By
March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2024
11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
March 5 - Rhonda Hill
March 12 - Rev. Dr. Demetrius K. Williams The Mythic Foundations of Christian Nationalism
March 19 - Lindsay Muscato How AI Is Shaping the Way We Tell Stories & Share News
March 26 - Meg Kissinger "Finally Talking About It: Mental Health's Myths & Realities"
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee – a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
$70.00 - Series of four
$20.00 - Individual sessions
$20.00 Remote Access for all sessions
Includes a simple buffet-style primarily vegetarian meal
Democracy in Peril
March 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2023
11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee – a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
$70.00 - series of four
$20.00 - individual sessions
$20 Remote Access for all sessions
Includes a simple buffet-style primarily vegetarian meal
March 7, 2023 - Professor Amber Wichowsky - What should we do? The promise of civic dialogue
There is a growing interest in finding ways to connect people across the political divide. But can civic dialogue help depolarize the electorate? Increase social trust and civic cooperation? Improve our abilities to solve public problems? Amber Wichowsky is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Marquette Civic Dialogues Program. She will discuss best practices in democratic deliberation and research on the impacts of civic dialogue initiative.
March 14, 2023 - Philip Chard - Inside the Political Mind: An exploration of new insights into why people embrace conspiracy theories, believe obvious lies, and trust like-minded information sources without scrutiny or fact checking. Philip Chard is a practicing psychotherapist, trainer, and award-willing author and newspaper columnist. He retired in 2019 after 32 years as president and CEO of Empathia, Inc., a behavioral services firm providing health, safety, and productivity solutions for over 400 organizations across North America.
March 21, 2023 - James Santelle - Peril in the Supreme Court: The Major Cases Challenging our Republic. James Santelle served more that 30-years as a criminal prosecutor and civil litigator with the United States Department of Justice, including over six years as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. During his tenure, her served in both Washington D.C. and Milwaukee, working directly with former Attorneys General Janet Reno and Eric Holder among others.
March 28, 2023 – Lee Hawkins - Through the Ages: Weaponizing Religion, for the good and bad, in the name of Democracy. Lee Hawkins is a special correspondent for American Public Media and a former reporter at The Wall Street Journal. In 2021, he received the Adam Clayton Powell Reporting Award from the New York Association of Black Journalists and was a finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. He is a four-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists’ "Salute to Excellence" Award. His forthcoming book is titled, Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family's History Set Me Free (HarperCollins 2023).
* We know parking can be a hassle. There is a HOP stop right at the corner of First U (Ogden & Astor).
It’s free to ride! Check out your options for parking elsewhere and “hopping” on at thehopmke.com.
PEACE & INTERNATIONAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
March 2 – “Political Minds: Addressing the Challenges of a Divided Nation,” Philip Chard will discuss conspiracy theories, insurrection, hate speech, misinformation, and white supremacists, and what can we do to bridge this interpersonal chasm, find common ground, heal divisions and not drive ourselves crazy in the process?”
March 9 – “Nurturing Hope from Within: Wisdom Teachings and Spiritual Practices,” the Rev. Karen Hagen, pastor of Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee’s Bay View community will join us for a sampling of spiritual practices from around the world. A time to reflect and let the light of hope shine into our everyday living.
March 16 – “Communities of Color: Finding Hope through Pursuing Justice” Eloisa Gomez, Minister Byron Johnson, and Jessica Boling will discuss some of the challenges that our diverse communities face in greater Milwaukee and how they have channeled their justice work around hope and community.
March 23 – “Moving forward from our own spiritual casteisms with genuine hope and connection,” Pardeep Singh Kaleka and Rhonda Hill, Inspired by the book “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson, will have an open and honest conversation on the role that cultural dynamics have played in their own personal lives and continue to play in America.
March 30 – “Moving Forward Together with Hope after Incarceration,” Dr. Terri Strodthoff, Jeanne Geraci, and John Serrano join us to talk about the role of hope for those who have been through and may be going through the legal system.
3 Payment Options
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Call 414-276-9050 |
Students and others of limited means pay as you are able by contacting the Interfaith Conference office at 414-276-9050 or cherrieh@interfaithconference.org
- A Luncheon / Lecture Series - Sponsored by the
Peace and International Issues Committee of the INTERFAITH CONFERENCE of GREATER MILWAUKEE
#Truth . . . or Consequences
(We won’t know what we don’t know…)
Addressing the vital importance of a free and independent press in a democracy, and some essential considerations in our pursuit of truth.
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2020
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee – a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
$75.00 - series of five
$20.00 - individual sessions
Includes a simple buffet-style primarily vegetarian meal
March 3, 2020 – An Independent Press: Essential for Democracy
George Stanley, Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, regional editor of USA TODAY Network Wisconsin, and vice president of the national News Leaders Association
March 10, 2020 – Democracy at Risk in Wisconsin: Spelling out the problems we face, from gerrymandering & the role of big money in our politics to the collapse of local media & local control, and offering some solutions
Matt Rothschild, Executive Director, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and former editor & publisher, The Progressive
March 17, 2020 – Truth & Broadcasting in a Digital Society: How TV/radio newscasts & interview shows have been affected by economic pressures, political polarization, and the public’s increasing reliance on social media for news
Joanne Williams, host of Milwaukee Public Television’s award-winning Black Nouveau program, former television news anchor, and past president of the Milwaukee Press Club
Kathleen Dunn, retired host of The Kathleen Dunn Show, which was on Wisconsin Public Radio for 24 years, and member of Milwaukee Media Hall of Fame
March 24, 2020 – True News & Social Media Blues: From the Kardashians’ escapades to “fake news” and conspiracy theories, what dynamics are affecting all of the information we receive, and what are the checklists to guide us?
Milwaukee native Paul Oren, professor in Communication Department and faculty advisor to the student newspaper at Valparaiso University, Indiana, and journalist for the Times of Northwest Indiana.
March 31, 2020 – Truth & Mind Games: Our supercomputer minds naturally process complex realities into simplified narratives, but there are dangers if we consume media that feed only our ingrained opinions of truth
Pardeep Kaleka, Executive Director, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, and a clinical therapist
It’s free to ride! Check out your options for parking elsewhere and “hopping” on at thehopmke.com.
Registration Deadline for the fourth lunch in our 2019 series
(March 26) is noon on Friday, March 22.
Sponsored by the Peace and International Issues Committee of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee
#Immigrants&RefugeesMatter "no one leaves home unless..."
4 TUESDAYS IN MARCH
March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2019
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee – A Unitarian Universalist Congregation 1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
$65.00 - series of four
$20.00 - individual sessions
March 5, 2019 – Milwaukee's Changing Immigration Landscape
Barbara Miner, Award-winning Journalist & Author
March 12, 2019 – Human Rights & the Environment: Key Issues
Sumudu Atapattu, Director, UW Law School Research Center
March 19, 2019 – Where is the Welcome Mat for Refugees?
Refugee Resettlement Efforts
Mary Flynn, Program Mgr., Refugee Resettlement, Lutheran Social Services,
WI & Upper MI
March 26, 2019 – Tidal Wave of Changes in Law & Policies
Affecting Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Other Immigrants
Barbara Graham, Managing Atty. Catholic Charities Legal Services
for Immigrants Program
Note 1: Representatives from organizations working with immigration
& refugee issues will be at tables with information and what you might do
to help. A suggested reading list on these topics will be available, as
well as opportunities for purchasing books authored by the presenters.
Note 2: We know parking can be a hassle. There is a HOP stop right at
the corner of First U (Ogden & Astor). It’s free to ride! Check out your
options for parking elsewhere and “hopping” on at thehopmke.com.
A Luncheon / Lecture Series -
Sponsored by the
Peace and International Issues Committee
of the
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE
Of GREATER MILWAUKEE
The Danger of Silence:
Using Our Voices, Hands, Feet & Pocketbooks to Effect Change
March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee –
A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
March 6, 2018 – ‘The Fierce Urgency of Now’
Peter Bakken, PhD, Coordinator for Public Policy, WCC; Bruce Wiggins, Chair, First Unitarian Society Social Justice Council; Astar Herndon, State Director, 9to5 Wisconsin
March 13, 2018 – ‘Human Trafficking: Sex & Labor’
Jeanne Geraci, Executive Director, Benedict Center; Mariana Rodriguez, UMOS Program Manager, Latina Resource Center
March 20, 2018 – ‘Homelessness’
Amy Rowell, Manager of Community Relations, Guest House; Rev. Karen Hagen, Pastor, Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church; Tim Baack, President/CEO, Pathfinders
March 27, 2018 –‘Lead in our Water’
Kirsten Shead, Water City Program Manager, Milwaukee Water Commons; Robert Miranda, Founder & Community Advocate, Freshwater for Life Action Coalition
Issue Update Presenters
Peter Bakken
Coordinator for Public Policy, Wisconsin Council of Churches,
which supports grassroots advocacy on issues of social & economic justice and empowers faith communities to give public witness.
Bruce Wiggins
Chair, Social Justice Council, First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee,
& involved in advocacy for many years as a city planner, a teacher of non-profit management, & executive director of two non-profits.
Astar Herndon
State Director, Wisconsin 9to5,
who, as a non-profit advocate & community organizer, has managed various policy campaigns aimed at changing communities of color, using her skills & talents toward the missions of equality & unity.
Jeanne Geraci
Executive Director, Benedict Center,
which offers the Sisters Program: A street outreach, case management and skill building program for women in prostitution and or/sex trafficking. The program is an innovative community-police partnership and is gaining recognition as a more effective way to improve the health and safety of women and communities.
Mariana Rodriguez
UMOS Program Manager, UMOS Latina Resource Center,
a lead agency for the Metro Milwaukee Rescue & Restore Project
working to raise the awareness of sex and labor human trafficking in the metro Milwaukee area and other targeted counties, leading to increased victim identification and improved service response to the needs of foreign national victims of human trafficking.
Amy Rowell
Manager of Community Engagement, The Guest House of Milwaukee,
which was founded in 1982 as a community-based solution to the growing number of homeless in the central city.
Rev. Karen Hagen
Pastor of Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church,
home of Divine Intervention Ministries which has grown to be a year-round ministry with 4 missions serving the homeless.
Tim Baack
President/CEO, Pathfinders,
which empowers youth confronted by homelessness, crisis or trauma to be safe & connected in order to develop a path towards self-sufficiency, healthier families, and a stronger community.
Kirsten Shead
Water City Program Manager for the Milwaukee Water Commons,
where she co-leads the Drinking Water Initiative team & has been actively involved in efforts to address lead in tap water since June 2016.
Robert Miranda
Editor of Wisconsin Spanish Journal & featured international weekly columnist of the Istanbul, Turkey based national newspaper Yeni Asya (New Asia). Robert is a longtime community advocate currently organizing with the Freshwater For Life Action Coalition (FLAC) he co-founded. He has been at the center of the lead in water issue in Milwaukee.
4 TUESDAYS IN MARCH
- A Luncheon / Lecture Series -
Sponsored by the
Peace and International Issues Committee
of the
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE of GREATER MILWAUKEE
Youth Power:
Inspiring Stories of Active Hope
March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2017
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee – a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
$55.00 - series of four
$15.00 - individual sessions
Includes a simple vegetarian meal
March 7, 2017 ---- ‘Running Rebels,’ Dawn Barnett, Co-Executive Director of Running Rebels Community Organization, and youth participants
March 14, 2017 -- ‘Teens Grow Greens,’ Charlie Uihlein, founder of Teens Grow Greens, and Ryan Graham, scholarship recipient, education coordinator
and member of Board of Directors at Teens Grow Greens
March 21, 2017 --- ‘ACLU of Wisconsin,’ Solana Patterson-Ramos, Youth and Programs Organizer at the ACLU of Wisconsin, and youth participants
March 28, 2017 --- ‘Service Learning, “Let’s Do It Again,” “We All Benefit”,' Sarah Kubetz, Community Service/Service Learning Mentor, MPS, and youth participants
PEACE & INTERNATIONAL ISSUES COMMITTEEThe Peace and International Issues Committee (PIIC) seeks to inform people about, and involve them in, issues related to local and international concerns. Every March we present a lecture/luncheon
series on Tuesdays.
MARCH 2015
"Confronting the Realities of Segregation"
MARCH 2014
"Wisconsin: Issues That Matter
Justice, Equity, Democracy"
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013
"Why We Fear the Other: Theological Reflections on Racism, Immigration, and the Roots of Prejudice
MARCH 2012
"Standing Up for Democracy: from the Middle East to the Capitol Rotunda."
MARCH 2011
"Threats to Peace: Who Will Control What We Need for Life?"
MARCH 2010
"The Times, They Are a’Changing: Looking Beyond the Headlines."
MARCH 2009
"The March 2009 series was entitled "Sustaining the World, Sustaining Our Souls."
MARCH 2008
"Moving Toward a Just and Peaceful World"
MARCH 2007
“Violence: Faith Perspectives.”
MARCH 2006
“United Nations Millennium Goals.”
MARCH 2005
“United Nations Millennium Goals”
MARCH 2004
"Elections, Globalization and the Faith Community"
.MARCH 2003
"Global Leadership: The Many Roles of the United Nations"
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