United Women in Faith: Faith Talks

Visit our website at http://www.uwfaith.org to find out more.

On this episode we will be honoring Hispanic Heritage Month and learning about the issues impacting Latino and Hispanic communities in the U.S. We’ll also dive deep and learn about the ways that several National Mission Institutions, such as Wesley-Rankin Community Center and McCurdy Ministries, are serving Latino communities in New Mexico and Texas.

Join a special Faith Talks recording with author and former pastor Rebekah Simon-Peter. We’ll discuss her new book “Forging a New Path,” a groundbreaking guidebook for the church in this post-pandemic period. As the prophet Ezekiel surveyed a valley of dry bones, God asked him, “Can these bones live?” His prophetic vision hinted at the lifelessness of worship hundreds of years ago. But today, we are grappling with this same question; “Can these bones live?” I believe they can and so does Rebekah Simon Peter.

Faith Talks are monthly conversations with United Women in Faith hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer, Spotlight PR. Each conversation explores themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action.

Gun violence is a rising crime in the United States. From mass shootings, to intra-communal violence, to suicide by gun, far too many families have been impacted by gun violence.

Guests:
REV. RHONDA THOMAS, executive director of Faith in Florida
TAMEKA GREER, executive director of Memphis Artists for Change

Host:
JENNIFER R. FARMER, Spotlight PR

Faith Talks are monthly conversations with United Women in Faith hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer, Spotlight PR. Each conversation explores themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action.

The past few years have brought challenge and pain for working people in the United States. Women were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with many forced to balance work and child-rearing. Consequently, a number of women left the labor market during the pandemic, and others struggled to work part-time, work full-time and assist children who were mostly learning from home. But that’s not all.

Last fall, there were so many strikes or threats of strikes that October was referred to as Striktober. From Amazon to Starbucks to Apple to major health systems, workers across the nation grew tired of laboring under unsafe working conditions or without wages that allowed them to care for themselves and their families. Many responded by fighting for the right to collectively bargain. These workers sought safety and security on the job, but also a strong voice for themselves and the people they serve.

Guests:
NEHA MISRA, who represents the Solidarity Center in the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking
JENNIFER (JJ) ROSENBAUM, executive director of the Global Labor Justice – International Labor Rights Forum
SHANNON LEDERER, director of Immigration Policy, AFL-CIO

Host:
JENNIFER R. FARMER, Spotlight PR

Faith Talks are monthly conversations with United Women in Faith hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer, Spotlight PR. Each conversation explores themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action.

In the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, communities around the country are rushing to “harden” schools with increased police presence. But will these efforts really make school safe for students of color who are already over-policed, or will it strengthen the school-to-prison pipeline?

Guests:
Sheri Brady, Vice President of Strategy and Program for the Children’s Defense Fund, a nonprofit national organization fighting for children, families, and communities for more than 40 years.

Emily Jones, United Women in Faith Executive for Racial Justice and Interrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline Campaign lead.

On this episode of Faith Talks host Jennifer R. Farmer will interview Brittany Barnett, founder of the pioneering organization (GEM). GEM is dedicated to breaking the cycle of incarceration for daughters of incarcerated mothers.

GEM supports women and girls impacted by the criminal justice system through empowerment-based programs that strengthen the relationship between young girls and incarcerated mothers. It also offers reentry-based training for mothers who are incarcerated. GEM’s goal is to break the cycle of incarceration and support girls and women in their efforts to lead healthy, healed, and whole lives.

In addition to Barnett, Farmer will interview Emily Jones United Women in Faith’s executive for racial justice, who will discuss our work interrupting the school to prison pipeline and our support of GEM.

Assembly 2022 featured a Faith Talks Town Hall on Women and Leadership that we’re excited to share with in this special edition of the Faith Talks podcast.



Faith Talks host Jennifer Farmer moderated the Assembly Town Hall panel that included:



*Emma Cantor—Deaconess, Regional Missionary from Philippines serving in Asia/Pacific Region.
*Gail Douglas-Boykin, Deaconess, former board member, United Methodist Women, coordinator ministerial services for New York Annual Conference.
*Sung-ok Lee, Deaconess, Connectional Officer, United Women in Faith
*Alzira Isaac Machauene, Women's Executive Secretary, Mozambique North Annual Conference.

To sustain relationships, one must learn forgiveness. To live well, one must learn forgiveness. To enjoy emotional freedom, one must forgive. Forgiveness does not mean re-engaging in toxic and unhealthy relationships; it is a means of freeing us from the harm done to us. During this segment we will talk with Amanda Hoyt and the Rev. Cheryl Taylor of St. John AME Church.

Visit https://uwfaith.org/ to find out more about United Women in Faith.

This year marks an exciting innovation of the Mission u program as United Women in Faith offers three new curricula —one for adults, one for youth and one for children--all focusing on a shared biblical theme: Luke 13. Please join us as we explore this book from the Gospel of Luke with the principal authors of the 2022 Mission u studies.

Our guests are:

*Candace Simpson, author of the 2022 adult mission study, Who Can We Be Together?

*Kenya Cummings, author of the 2022 youth study Community in the Midst of Challenging Times, and

*Ilka Vega, author of the 2022 children’s study Our Growing Tree: From Self-Love to the Beloved Community and All of God’s Creation.