The human experience is a complicated one. On top of the complicated questions of daily life, navigating religion and spirituality is no easy task. To answer these complex questions, some philosophers and Jesuit leaders have stated that in fact humans are just spiritual beings who are going through human experiences. If humans are in fact naturally spiritual beings, what doe is mean to experience the divine?

Join us for this powerful discussion with University of San Francisco President Father Fitzgerald.

How can local officials help build up their communities with a long history of poverty?

How has the tech boom affected our country's industrial powerhouse cities?

Have tax cuts exacerbated income equality?

How is wealth inequality trickling down to smaller cities?

Manny's is honored to welcome Stanford professor Michelle Wilde Anderson to our space to discuss her new book, The Fight to Save the Town.

Wilde Anderson presents a sweeping and authoritative study of wealth inequality and the dismantling of local government in four working-class cities across the US & passionately argues for reinvestment in people-centered leadership.

Decades of cuts to local government amidst rising concentrations of poverty have wreaked havoc on communities left behind by the modern economy. Some of these discarded places are rural. Others are big cities, small cities, or historic suburbs. Some vote blue, others red. Some are the most diverse communities in America, while others are nearly all white, all Latino, or all Black. All are routinely trashed by outsiders for their poverty and their politics. Mostly, their governments are just broke. Forty years after the anti-tax revolution began protecting wealthy taxpayers and their cities, our high-poverty cities and counties have run out of services to cut, properties to sell, bills to defer, and risky loans to take.

It's been a very heavy year so far. We've heard the decision from the Supreme Court that they've overturned Roe V. Wade on June 24th, 2022. The 50 years of protection for abortion rights have been revoked. We have a panel with people practicing law to help us understand the written decision as well as the repercussions.

What does this actually mean?

What is California doing in response to this?

What will life be like post Roe v. Wade?

Let's talk about it.

How can local officials help build up their communities with a long history of poverty?

How has the tech boom affected our country's industrial powerhouse cities?

Have tax cuts exacerbated income equality?

How is wealth inequality trickling down to smaller cities?

Manny's is honored to welcome Stanford professor Michelle Wilde Anderson to our space to discuss her new book, The Fight to Save the Town.

Wilde Anderson presents a sweeping and authoritative study of wealth inequality and the dismantling of local government in four working-class cities across the US & passionately argues for reinvestment in people-centered leadership.

Decades of cuts to local government amidst rising concentrations of poverty have wreaked havoc on communities left behind by the modern economy. Some of these discarded places are rural. Others are big cities, small cities, or historic suburbs. Some vote blue, others red. Some are the most diverse communities in America, while others are nearly all white, all Latino, or all Black. All are routinely trashed by outsiders for their poverty and their politics. Mostly, their governments are just broke. Forty years after the anti-tax revolution began protecting wealthy taxpayers and their cities, our high-poverty cities and counties have run out of services to cut, properties to sell, bills to defer, and risky loans to take.

Can you find hope in spirituality?

Which spiritual groups support queer identifying folk?

It's a common sight to see queers being denied access to certain religious practices and beliefs because of the interpretation of religious books from previous generations. Today, with the rise in diverse opinions religious and spiritual groups have been more open to letting all kinds of people into their practice.

Join us as we explore the intersectionality of Queerness and Spirituality with experts Chaplaine Claire Chuck Bohman who is the Executive Director of a multi-faith spiritual care center at the SF General Hospital & Rev. Daigan Gather whom speaks between intersectionalities between queerness and Dharma.

About the Panelists:

About Chaplain Claire Chuck Bohman:

Chaplain Claire Chuck Bohman currently serves as the Executive Director of Sojourn Chaplaincy, the multi-faith spiritual care department at the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. They are also the founder of the Transgender Spiritual Care Initiative and are passionate about helping spiritual care providers deepen in their understanding of gender diversity and improving spiritual care for gender diverse people. Additionally, they serve as the Board President of the Temple of the Waters, an emerging spiritual community rooted in Earth Based Spirituality. Chaplain Claire holds a Masters of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California and Interfaith Ministry training from the New Seminary in New York. In their spiritual care, they draw upon a background in Faith Based Community Organizing and Community Mental Health, as well as their training and experience as a clinical herbalist in private practice. Chaplain Claire aka Chuck is proud to be the first Non-Binary Chaplain endorsed by an Earth Based Spiritual Community to receive Board Certification from APC and is committed to supporting people of minority faiths and genders in finding their place in the world of professional chaplaincy.

About Rev. Daigan Gaither:

Rev. Daigan Gaither began Buddhist practice in 1995 in the Vipassana (Insight) tradition, and then began to study Zen in 2003 with Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi. He received Lay Ordination in 2006 where he was given the name Daigan or “Great Vow”, and received Priest Ordination in July 2011. Daigan speaks internationally on a variety of topics particularly around gender, sexuality, social justice and their intersections with the Dharma. He also sits or has sat on a number of boards and committees that serve community needs and further social justice causes.

Daigan has a BA in Philosophy and Religion from San Francisco State University, and an MA in Buddhist Studies (with a chaplaincy certificate and a certificate in Soto Zen Buddhism) from the Graduate Theological Union and the Institute of Buddhist Studies. at his website queerdharma.net He identifies as a disabled, queer, white, cis male.

Growing up in a Filipinx family has many perks such as the rich culture of food, music, and dance but there are certain impacts of colonialism and western beauty standards that have negatively influenced the way Filipinx Americans are treated and walk in life.

There is rich history in beauty products from the Philippines with skin lightening formula.

Why is that?

Have you experienced this or something similar in your own culture?

We're here to have a conversation on just that. We want to break down barriers and discuss the personal impact this has had on the lives of Filipinx Americans.

We all deserve a safe place to live — but many of us can’t pick up groceries, take the train, or walk around our neighborhoods without the fear of street harassment. This panel conversation, facilitated by Stop AAPI Hate, delves into the common problem of street harassment, and how it is experienced by women, girls, people of color, and members of the queer and disabled communities. As Pride Month came to a close, we explored the following questions:

What does street harassment look like — and who does it affect?

What would a safer, more accessible environment look like for vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ+ communities?

How can different communities who are experiencing harassment join forces to address street harassment?

What pressure are prisoners under as they enter the parole process?

Due to recent legal reforms and pressures to reduce the prison population, the Board of Parole Hearings has been far more active in overseeing the release of long-term offenders.

Based on first hand observations and transcripts of parole board hearings, Dr. Kimberly Richman analyzes the role of what she calls “Program Speak”—the name prisoners give to the specialized language learned in prison rehabilitative programs—in the parole process.

She finds a mutually reinforcing pattern of purposive language acquisition, designed to signal—and possibly induce—over-responsibility and extreme culpability. This has profound consequences for the prisoners and their parole process.

Join us as Dr. Kimberly Richman explains how prisoners are being pressured into responsibility and remorse in levels that may be harmful to them.

What was your favorite memory from SFGMC?

What do you want to see from SFGMC in the future?

Who were your biggest inspirations?

Are there any people in your circle that inspire you today?

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Tim Seelig as we reflect back on his time in SFGMC and what he sees for the future of the Chorus.

About Tim Seelig:

Tim is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. He is Conductor Emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale, which he conducted for 20 years. He holds four degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. His 6 books on choral technique include several best-sellers, and his memoire, Tale of Two Tims: Big Ol’ Baptist, Big Ol’ Gay, published last year.

Dr. Seelig has conducted and performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for 25 years. He carried the Olympic as a Community Hero and holds the Guiness World Record for the longest choral concert - 20+ hours..

Are we running out of time?

What can we do?

Join us for a special conversation with co-author of Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now, Ryan Panchadsaram. He will dive into the current state of climate change and provide a plan for the future that finally address the climate crisis.

About Ryan Panchadsaram:

Ryan Panchadsaram is an engineer and investor focused on solving systemic societal challenges. At Kleiner Perkins, as technical advisor to the chairman, Ryan invests in founders and technologies that aim to change the world. Ryan is the co-author of national bestseller Speed & Scale and previously collaborated on the number-one bestseller Measure What Matters.

In March 2020, Ryan co-founded US Digital Response, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps governments and organizations respond quickly and efficiently to support the critical needs of the public. Under President Obama, as Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the United States, Ryan championed entrepreneurship, innovation, and open data.