Good God

What does peacebuilding look like in a place marked by fear and trauma?

George Mason speaks with Hana Bendcowsky, Program Director at the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem. Hana describes the Rossing Center’s work fostering understanding and shared society among Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Israel through mindful listening, trauma awareness, and relationship building. Reflecting on the aftermath of October 7, 2023, she shares how the war has intensified polarization while making dialogue more essential than ever.

Their conversation closes with reflections on religious identity, nationalism, and compassion, as Hana and George recognize the parallels between Jewish and Christian struggles to uphold faith-based values amid political and social division.

Hana Bendcowsky holds an M.A. in Comparative Religion from the Hebrew University and has nearly three decades of experience in interfaith work in Israel and abroad. She teaches in seminaries, academic programs, and government settings, and leads educational tours in Jerusalem focused on the Christian Quarter and Jewish-Christian relations in the Israeli context.

As immigration enforcement intensifies in cities like Chicago, people of faith are grappling with how to respond. In this episode, George Mason speaks with Rev. Mara Richards Bim—Justice & Advocacy Fellow at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas—about what she witnessed during a recent visit, where clergy and community members are confronting tear gas, chemical agents, and tactics that feel more like military operations than targeted law enforcement. Together they explore the theological stakes: What does it mean to love our neighbors—including ICE agents—while rejecting violence and mission creep? How do Christians read Scripture faithfully in a politicized moment? Mara also shares her call story, the need for public theology, and why clergy voices matter when “keeping the peace” isn’t the same as making peace.

Rev. Mara Richards Bim is an ordained minister, theater artist, and longtime advocate for justice and inclusion whose work bridges faith, art, and public engagement.

How does someone move from living in the shadows to leading in the light? In this episode, Sandra Avalos shares how her experience as a DACA recipient shaped her calling as a community organizer and advocate for immigrant families. She and her church, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal in Dallas, have built a network of allies accompanying migrants through court hearings and confronting the human cost of our immigration system. Her story shows how faith can take shape in the small, brave acts of showing up for others—acts that quietly push back against fear and make room for dignity to take root.

Sandra Avalos is a Dallas-based community organizer, DACA recipient, and leader with Vecinos Unidos DFW and St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church.

As fear and tension rise around immigration enforcement in North Texas, Rev. Eric Folkerth has helped lead an interfaith clergy vigil outside the Dallas ICE field office—an act of prayerful presence in the face of injustice.

In this episode of Good God, George Mason talks with Rev. Folkerth about what happens at these weekly gatherings, how they began, and why he believes prayer can be both faithful and prophetic. Together they discuss the growing anxiety among immigrants, the tragic shooting that drew national attention to the Dallas ICE facility, and the moral toll of policies that harm both migrants and public servants.

Grounded in scripture and compassion, their conversation calls people of faith to resist fear, welcome the stranger, and embody moral courage in public life.

Rev. Eric Folkerth is senior pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. A longtime minister, musician, and activist, he’s known for his work at the intersection of faith and justice.

Peter Brodsky wasn’t always a real estate developer—but when he saw an opportunity to use his business experience to help transform southern Dallas, he stepped in. In this season finale of Good God, George Mason speaks with Peter about his work at the Shops at Redbird, his leadership at Housing Forward, and why homelessness, food access, and affordable housing demand both moral clarity and practical solutions.

Together, they explore the structural causes of poverty, the challenge of changing public narratives, and how Peter’s Jewish faith and commitment to tikkun olam—repairing the world—have shaped his decision to invest his time, money, and energy in building a more equitable city.

Peter Brodsky is a Dallas-based philanthropist, real estate investor, and chair of the board of Housing Forward, the lead agency coordinating homelessness response in Dallas and Collin counties.

What does it mean to report with compassion in a culture driven by clicks and controversy? George Mason sits down with veteran journalist Sharon Grigsby to talk about her newest venture—The Lab Report Dallas—a bold, nonprofit newsroom rooted in data, equity, and solutions for reducing child poverty in Dallas. They reflect on her decades of writing with kindness and accountability, the changing landscape of media, and how Sharon’s own evolving faith informs her work and voice.

Sharon Grigsby is a longtime Dallas journalist, former metro columnist for The Dallas Morning News, and co-founder of The Lab Report Dallas, a new publication powered by the Child Poverty Action Lab.

At the heart of downtown Dallas lies Thanks-Giving Square—a place designed to inspire gratitude, foster interfaith understanding, and call an entire city toward the common good. In this episode, George Mason sits down with Kyle Ogden, President and CEO of The Thanks-Giving Foundation, to talk about the Square’s origins, its bold civic vision, and its evolving role in today’s divided cultural landscape. 

Together, they explore how gratitude functions as a foundational virtue, why nonprofits matter in a healthy democracy, and what it means to shift from personal success to public significance. Kyle also shares his own story of professional transition—from leading a family business to helping reshape Dallas through civic reflection, spiritual hospitality, and the quiet power of place.

Kyle Ogden is the President and CEO of The Thanks-Giving Foundation, where he leads efforts to cultivate gratitude, bridge community divides, and promote human flourishing in the city of Dallas.

What does it look like to bring your whole self—your values, your faith, your history—into public life? Councilmember Jaynie Schultz joins George Mason for a candid conversation about her years in public service, the joys and challenges of representing a diverse district, and the values that have shaped her decisions along the way. Together, they reflect on civic responsibility, zoning and housing justice, faith-rooted ethics, and the spiritual soul of Dallas. Jaynie also shares why she’s stepping away from elected office and what comes next.

Jaynie Schultz is a Dallas City Council member representing District 11. First elected in 2021, she has served two terms and will conclude her tenure in 2025.

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives and livelihoods, attorney Mark Melton found himself unexpectedly answering thousands of questions about eviction law—and discovered just how broken the system really was. In this episode, George talks with Mark about the origins of the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, the legal myths we cling to, and why ensuring due process for all renters is both a legal and moral imperative. They also explore the intersection of law, poverty, politics, and personal values—whether grounded in faith or not.

Mark Melton is a Dallas-based tax attorney and founder of the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, a nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to tenants facing eviction.

Beril Berk, Executive Director of the Dialogue Institute of Dallas, joins George Mason to explore how intentional relationship-building—across faiths, cultures, and communities—creates lasting impact. In this conversation, she reflects on the power of sitting at shared tables, the rich meaning of Ramadan, and the role of art and youth leadership in cultivating empathy. From feeding neighbors at shelters to launching a youth group called “Salam Shalom,” Berk’s work is rooted in the values of the Hizmet movement: education, service, and mutual understanding.

A lawyer by training, Beril Berk also practices immigration law and brings her personal journey as a Turkish immigrant to her work in both legal and community spaces.