Above the Fog

In our final episode of Above The Fog with Jen Chien, Grace Cathedral’s dean, the Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm C. Young, offers a calming presence during these anxious times as he expresses his desire to reach out across what divides us as a community and expounds upon the theme of bridge builders — what it means to him to connect to people and the world around us. Take a break from Election Day worries by listening to this healing salve and be inspired by Malcolm’s story of persevering faith and finding the courage to launch yourself on every wave. 

On this week’s episode of Above The Fog with Jen Chien, hear from Dr. Destiny Thomas, an Anthropologist Planner, and Founder and CEO of Thrivance Group, which works to bring culturally restorative concepts into the lived experiences of their communities. Dr. Thomas developed the Thrivance Theory, a dignity-infused community engagement method, which creates a framework for engaging people about the built environment in a way that helps them thrive. Let Destiny’s story fill you with hope and a sense of belonging. 

Valerie Francisco-Menchavez describes her journey from Filipino immigrant, undocumented student, to tenured Professor of Sociology at SF State. Francisco-Menchavez describes her migrant upbringing and how the sense of community she found there inspired her to work for care workers and share their stories. Find relief from election anxieties and listen to Valerie’s endearing story of hope and perseverance.

In this turbulent historical moment, you’ll be inspired by Marvin K. White’s personal journey of self discovery. White is an active poet, artist, and preacher, as well as the Minister of Celebration at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. His approach to the arts is deeply personal, and his dialogue with Jen Chien will move you. How can we approach life and each other in a way that welcomes and promotes discovery? Marvin K. White’s journey gives us inner strength when we need it most.

In this turbulent historical moment, you’ll be grateful to hear Hafez Modirzadeh and his concept of Chromodality -  bringing global musical languages together to honor the old, and the new. Modirzadeh is an active performer, writer and scholar of cross-cultural musical perspectives as well as a Grammy-nominated sax player and professor at San Francisco State University. His approach to music is deeply spiritual, and his conversation with Jen Chien will move you. How can we approach life and each other in a way, that allows us to learn, innovate and share with the greatest respect for each other? Hafez gives us harmony when we need it most. 

Award-winning audio journalist Jen Chien, Kanwalroop “Roop” Kaur Singh describes moving through the painful complexities of personal and political history as a Punjabi Sikh American woman to become an agent of change. She’ll offer personal stories from growing up in the Sikh community of the South Bay as well as her years at UCLA School of Law – and how those experiences intertwine. Roop’s expression of resilience will be a healing balm for you in these weeks leading up to the election. Listen & be lifted.

Prepare to unmute yourself. In a heartfelt conversation with Jen Chien, Kanwalroop Kaur Singh helps us observe and experience pain and suffering, and move through that space to become an agent of change. Kaur Sing – aka Roop – gives a voice to the Sikh community, working with immigrant communities experiencing violence from detention, mass incarceration and racial injustice. She’ll offer personal stories from her years at UCLA School of Law, sharing roots that lie on both the Pakistan and India sides of modern-day Punjab. Roop’s expression of resilience will be a healing balm for you in these weeks leading up to the election. Listen, and be lifted. 

For the final episode of our six-part series on walking, we explore walking, stillness and the spaces in between with Grace Cathedral's 2019 Artist in Residence, Artistic Director of Lines Ballet Alonzo King and Malcolm C. Young, Grace Cathedral's Dean.

We go all the way back to the beginning in "Learning to Walk", exploring the origins of human walking with Dartmouth paleoanthropologist Jerry DeSilva. We also explore walking with disability with educator and poet Noemi Sohn.

"Walking Together” explores walking and community with Montana-based writer Antonia Malchik, including how to do good in a divisive world, and moments when walking becomes prayer.