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May/Jun 2024 e-Newsletter | |
Hello, Wilmette:
The theme of this Newsletter is HOPE. May has brought comforting warmth to many states, and we have received much inspiration from our National Convention as delegates return to make their reports on the proceedings. In this season between Spring and Summer, we pay tribute to the nurturing spirit of 'Abdu'l-Baha by offering a course on His exemplary life at half the standard price. We have also published a Zoom presentation by Paul Hanley, former lead faculty for the Wilmette Institute course "Baha'i Perspectives on Agriculture, on 'Adasiyyih, Jordan, a village that became a model farming community with the guidance of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
In academic and admin news, we congratulate the Spring cohort of the Social Transformation Certificate program for an outstanding start to the calendar year and provide a link to a video from the recent WI admin staff retreat. We are very proud of our current cohort and are pleased to welcome two additional students for the Summer quarter, which begins in a few days. We also have extension student news from our courses on Interfaith Dialogue and Anti-Black Racism in the U.S. and Building a Unified Society and a short report from the latter course about devotionals, featuring a historical slide show on the theme Black Baha'i Women in the U.S.
Our next public webinar, on Sunday, 19 May, Social Transformation and the Art of Writing, is almost full. We are excited about this collaboration with the Baha'i Publishing Trust, and there's more! On June 22nd, young writers Nasim Mansuri and Ron Lapitan will host What is Baha’i Literature?”: A Youth Experiment. WI Webinars are free; all are welcome to participate.
If you have questions about our offerings, don't hesitate to contact us by email at learn@wilmetteinstitute.org or by phone at 877-945-6388. We'll be happy to hear from you.
Niki Casserly
Chief Editor
| Update on Courses, Webinars, and Student Achievements |
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The Universal House of Justice described the son of Baha’u’llah, who established the Baha’i Faith, as the ‘magnetic figure of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, the Center of the Covenant, the Mystery of God, the perfect Exemplar, Whose unerring interpretation of the Holy Texts and luminous examples of their application to personal conduct shed light on a way of life we must strive diligently to follow’ (The Universal House of Justice, Ridván 1987).
This course explores some examples of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s application of Baha’u’llah’s teachings to the way of life we are diligently striving to follow. His whole life was one of service to humanity and the aspects of His life examined in this course reflect the different ways He gave that service.
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The perfect exemplar of the Baha'i teachings, 'Abdu'-Baha, guides a rural development process, including raising crops and livestock, at 'Adasiyyih, Jordan. Social, spiritual, economic, and agronomic principles are integrated into the daily activities of this model Baha'i rural village.
Watch Video
Photo: Paul Hanley
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This Weekend: Webinar almost full | | |
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Join us for a webinar featuring esteemed activists/academics as they explore Social Transformation through the art of writing. Discover how your voice can contribute to the discourses of society and become a catalyst for change. This webinar will show how the language we use in our writing is critical to the process of positive social change...
Panelists: Whitney White Kazemipour, Derik Smith, Michael Karlberg
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Saturday, 22 June: Hear from Two Young Writers | |
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"What is Baha'i Literature?: A Youth Experiment"
Saturday, 22 June, 1 pm Eastern
(10 am Pacific, 12 noon Central)
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.
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WI News: Academics and Admin | |
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Emily Chou, Graduate, Social Transformation Certificate Program
Testimonial, May 2024: "The entire certificate program has built my capacity in so many ways, to read reality, understand capacity-building, think critically about current discourse and participate in meaningful, purposeful conversations. This course has helped me refine my understanding of education and see where I might be able to contribute to the field in my neighborhood, classroom, and in furthering my education."
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Congratulations to our Certificate Students!
The Spring 2024 WI Social Transformation Certificate program course was Transforming Education: Knowing, Learning, and Being. Thirteen students completed the course, which provided students and faculty with constant and deep reflection, consultation, and learning. You can click below to learn about our holistic admissions policy and what it takes to join the program. WI students in the Spring 2024 cohort:
Elga Agbaw, Robert Blecher, Nur Carrera Irani, Emily Chou, Eliza Cooper, Susan Crossley, 'Abdu'l-Karim Ewing-Boyd, Samir Fierro, Sarah Gjestvang, Byron Hoggatt, Andrea McLean, Cristina Menking-Hoggatt, Brandon Reintjes, Sue St Clair, Gwendolyn (Goldie) Turnage.
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WI Staff gathered in Encino in April for intensive consultations and study of Baha'i Guidance. They also took time to fellowship in a community garden and at the beach. Click the title above for a short video of staff enjoying each other's company during the retreat. | |
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- Jeff Albert and Justin Scoggin, during a study of Ruhi Book 14.2 on "Participating in Public Discourse."
- Top: Hasti Khoshnammanesh, Niki Casserly, Ymasumac Maranon Davis, and Chitra Golestani enjoying the sunshine in a community garden in Encino. Bottom: Niki, Hasti, Yma, and Chitra at the beach.
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Photo: A mountain symbolizes God’s omnipotence; Gstaad, Switzerland, April 25, 2024.
—courtesy Christine Muller
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Black Baha'i Women Illuminating the Path to Unity
Devotions begin each of the nine Sunday Zoom sessions for "Anti-Black Racism in the U.S. and Building a Unified Society," a course the Wilmette Institute has offered in evolving iterations since 2018. The course centers on the expansive and extensive sacred Baha’i Writings and guidance regarding the oneness of humankind and race unity as the spiritual prescription for individual and social transformation.
For the theme of Black Women in the U.S., prayers were offered for Black Baha’i women who consecrated their lives to the service of the oneness of humankind within their communities and around the globe.
-Eleanor Mitten
Read More
View/Download PDF of SlideShow
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"I am a relatively young (or new) Baha’i. I understand, since the beginning of my acceptance of Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith, that one of our general principles is the oneness of religion, and I intuitively understood the importance of interfaith dialogue because of what it does for and means to me personally. However, this course was extremely helpful in providing a formal study that encouraged us to dive into the Writings specific to this principle and the call for us to engage with others in interfaith dialogue." | | | |
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"‘Abdu’l‑Bahá says that man’s reality is his thought and that there are two types of thought: one that remains in the realm of thought and the other that manifests itself in action. He encourages us to put our noble thoughts into action. Therein is the next stage of this learning journey… to take what I have learned in this course and to act on it in my community."
Read More
Photo: Jim Ferguson
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"One epiphany that I had during this course pertains to our notion of what it means to serve the Cause, to promulgate the Teachings of Baha’u’llah. As Baha’is we need to truly embrace the principle of Unity in Diversity. And what I’m referring to here is not just about racial, cultural, or ethnic diversity. In this case, I’m referring to the diversity within our individual call to service."
See also "Beyond Religious Labels."
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"...here are some ideas I have learned from this course which Local Spiritual Assemblies might do to help develop ... Baha'i communities.
- Listen to the voices of minorities...
- Seek the advice of minorities in the Baha'i community
- Acknowledge the skills, talents, and interests of the Blacks in the Baha'i community
- Pay attention to cultural differences among Baha'is
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Form an intercultural dialogue group among Baha'is in the community, if circumstances permit."
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"I am a retired teacher living in the Northwest. My experiences brought me to diverse locations and cultures in the U.S. and in Central and South America with the lifetime goal of promoting the oneness of mankind."
-Marilyn Heaton
Washington State
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"Strangely, what I feel right now is strengthened confidence in the hope that as flawed as we are, we can and will continue to move toward justice. I am comforted knowing that this course has continued to provide insight and hope to group after group, and trusting in the ripples that spread from that knowledge and desire to do better as we know better." | |
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-Melanie Horowitz-Coyne
Anacortes, Washington
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Photo: The Stone of Hope memorial in Washington DC--a granite statue of Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. carved by sculptor Lei Yixin. Credits: Raffaele Nicolussi on Unsplash.
"In reflecting on the content of this course, I have encountered much of the information from prior searches for understanding. Some of the details were new to me, and learning about the relationship Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had with the leaders of the Black Power movement was insightful. It reminded me of the influence a relationship based on faith can have in opening doors to common ground." --Melanie Horowitz-Coyne
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Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Policy
Toll-free Phone: 1-877-945-6388
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Wilmette Institute is committed to engaging a broad and diverse community of learners in the deep study of the Baha'i Faith, and fostering a love for the study of the Faith. It was established in January 1995 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. Information from the eNewsletter may be copied or reproduced, provided the following credit is given: "Reprinted from the eNewsletter of Wilmette Institute," followed by the issue's date. Recipients are encouraged to forward the eNewsletter to friends. Questions? email learn@wilmetteinstitute.org.
Editor
Nicola (Niki) Casserly
Production
Nicola Casserly,
Hasti Khoshnammanesh,
Debra Lilly, Mary Morris
Contributors
Candi Danielle, Jim Ferguson
Marilyn Heaton, Melanie Horowitz-Coyne
Eleanor Mitten, Christine Muller, Eric Stanton
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