Topic: Principle 1. The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person

“The Diagnostics of Pain,” Bill Casey

How do we deal with spiritual pain and better ourselves? The answer: we can transform our personal pain into large-scale social action and social justice. In picking to fight for causes that we care about personally, we can better ourselves and our community.

“Love in the Complicated Places, Part II,” by Tinka Friend & Nick Williams

Working with students who have severe problems can be very complicated, frustrating and exhausting. Even though we strive to find love and the inherent worth and dignity in each person, there may be times in which you will fail. Tinka Friend and Nick Williams share some of their “failures” and what they have learned as … Continue reading “Love in the Complicated Places, Part II,” by Tinka Friend & Nick Williams

“The Maravillas: Gangs, Aging, and Mattering in East Los Angeles,” by Dr. Randol Contreras

Dr. Randol Contreras spent close to a decade studying the legendary Maravilla gangs of East Los Angeles. Once celebrated in the gang world as rebels who defied the established inmate prison order, veterano Maravilla gang members now grapple with the consequences of leading violent lives. This talk sheds light on how these aging men struggle … Continue reading “The Maravillas: Gangs, Aging, and Mattering in East Los Angeles,” by Dr. Randol Contreras

“World Autism Awareness,” by Laura Luna

We will learn about world Autism Awareness month from a person who has a son with autism. Hopefully, after the presentation, we will be more comfortable living and socializing with those who have autism.

“The Promise of All Lives Mattering,” by Amanda Udis-Kessler

What does it mean to matter? How do you know you matter?  Today’s reading takes a hard look at systematic racism and how it affects all of us. Colorblindness is often well-intentioned, an attempt to see everyone as a human being and therefore as the same, without paying too much attention to race and other traits … Continue reading “The Promise of All Lives Mattering,” by Amanda Udis-Kessler

“DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals),” by Luis Nolasco

Service video Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, referred to as DACA, is a United States immigration policy that allows some individuals with an undocumented presence in the United States, after being brought to the country as children, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for an employment authorization … Continue reading “DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals),” by Luis Nolasco