This webinar will offer insights into evolving efforts to address racial inequality in the US, comparing sixty years ago (during the Civil Rights era) to the present day. Dr. Thomas, who has written about her family’s lived experiences during the civil rights era, established an academic career based on training urban planners who were socially aware and capable of supporting community development, and she has written extensively about these topics and the need for racial and social justice in U.S. cities. In a question-and-answer discussion with an interviewer, Dr. Chitra Golestani, she will consider how the challenge of racial inequality has evolved over the last decades, and how Bahá’í teachings offer important insights into possible strategies for the present and the future.

A conversation with Dr. Richard Thomas on his recently published book chapter “How the Bahá’í Teachings on Racial Unity Influenced My Academic Focus on Race Relations in the United States.”

The Bahá’í Faith and African American Studies: Perspectives on Racial Justice, edited by Loni Bramson and Layli Maparyan – Contributions by Layli Maparyan; Richard Hollinger; June Thomas; Richard W. Thomas; Loni Bramson; Michael McMullen and Gwen Etter-Lewis

From the 1800s through the 1950s, North Nashville’s 37208 zip code flourished as a vibrant Black community. Despite systemic segregation and redlining, residents established institutions, including schools, businesses, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and a lively entertainment scene that attracted renowned Black artists. In the 1960s, federal and local policies resulted in the construction of Interstate 40, which bisected this thriving neighborhood, leading to the demolition of homes and businesses. This disruption transformed a once-prosperous area into one plagued by poverty—a condition from which it has yet to recover. Today, North Nashville faces challenges such as high child poverty rates, food insecurity, and mass incarceration and confronts the additional threat of gentrification, further endangering its rich cultural heritage.

In the face of crises, there must always be hope. This presentation highlights North Nashville’s legacy of resilience in the face of structural racism and explores how community building restores that legacy. This two-part webinar will engage participants in thinking about the power of race unity and justice, community building, and insights from the Bahá’í framework for action.

Note: This is part two of a two-part series.

From the 1800s through the 1950s, North Nashville’s 37208 zip code flourished as a vibrant Black community. Despite systemic segregation and redlining, residents established institutions, including schools, businesses, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and a lively entertainment scene that attracted renowned Black artists. In the 1960s, federal and local policies resulted in the construction of Interstate 40, which bisected this thriving neighborhood, leading to the demolition of homes and businesses. This disruption transformed a once-prosperous area into one plagued by poverty—a condition from which it has yet to recover. Today, North Nashville faces challenges such as high child poverty rates, food insecurity, and mass incarceration and confronts the additional threat of gentrification, further endangering its rich cultural heritage.

In the face of crises, there must always be hope. This presentation highlights North Nashville’s legacy of resilience in the face of structural racism and explores how community building restores that legacy. This two-part webinar will engage participants in thinking about the power of race unity and justice, community building, and insights from the Bahá’í framework for action.

Note: This is part one of a two-part series.

Dr. Derik Smith will present ideas that are fundamental to the conceptual framework for social transformation. The talk is organized around the themes of History, Human Nature, and Power. Smith demonstrates how Bahá’í approaches to these subjects open important territory in the studying and teaching of social transformation and peacebuilding.

In a world with increasing conflict, apathy and hopelessness, how can we move beyond polarization to solve urgent challenges like human suffering, environmental degradation, and animal cruelty? This webinar explores a practical “solutionary” framework for bridging divides and creating positive social change. Based on Zoe Weil’s work as a humane educator, participants will explore the solutionary mindset, which emphasizes critical, systems, strategic, and creative thinking in education and other disciplines. Through real-world examples and evidence-based optimism, this webinar will equip changemakers, educators, community members and youth with tools to collaborate and address seemingly intractable issues. Discover the benefits of utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to social change, from finding deeper purpose to reducing apathy and isolation, and join the movement for a more humane, equitable, and healthy society.

The African American and Indigenous communities of the United States are forged by historical sufferings that go back to the founding of this country. However, these communities have also offered a framework for racial unity that for far too long has been ignored, forgotten, or erased to our own detriment. Greater examination of the historical collaboration and innate spiritual power that exists within the Indigenous and African American community is vital if America is to achieve its true destiny as promised by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. When we fully acknowledge the powerful spiritual forces that exist in both the African American and Indigenous communities, our nation will be better for it.

Guest speaker: Michael A. Orona

The three panelists recently completed the “Human Prosperity and Sustainable Development” course offered in the Wilmette Institute’s Social Transformation Certificate program. By interviewing each other and engaging in dialogue, the three will reflect on their learning from this course and how they connect their learning to the Bahá’í Framework for Action. WI Chief Academic Officer Justin Scoggin will host this panel discussion.

Ron Lapitan and Nasim Mansuri explore the learnings gained over five years from facilitating a Bahá’í-inspired writing workshop for teens, The Young Writers’ Endeavor. Through this experience of how literature can be used to build Bahá’í identity while accompanying other writers and observing how our creative lives and service can bleed into one another, they will explore these glimpses of the “new era” of literature that Shoghi Effendi spoke of—and the crucial contribution every writer can make to furthering the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Ron and Nasim also share what they learned from other writing spaces in discourse and service and explore the role writing can play in a new pattern of community life.

Ariana Ali (Moderator)

Ron Lapitan (Speaker)

Nasim Mansuri (Speaker)

Join us for an enlightening webinar featuring esteemed academics as they delve into the realms of Social Transformation through the art of writing. Discover how your voice can contribute to the discourses of society and become a powerful catalyst for change. This webinar will enable you to understand how the language we use in our writing is critical to the process of positive social change—whether through crafting your own book or penning insightful journal articles.

Immerse yourself in the insights of three distinguished experts from the academic field, each sharing their unique experiences of the profound impact of writing in influencing societal narratives. Gain valuable perspectives on how the written word can be a dynamic force, expressing your beliefs and resonating with the outside world.

Don’t miss this chance to elevate your understanding of the role writing plays in societal evolution. Be part of a community of like-minded individuals passionate about making a difference through

the power of thoughtful and impactful expression.

Mark your calendars and embark on a journey of intellectual exploration with our webinar on Social Transformation through Writing – where your words have the potential to ignite change!

This webinar is a collaboration between the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS), Wilmette Institute, and the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.