Jessica Smucker is today's SOS guest, and she believes the best way to change the world is to channel our pain into connection. Jessica is one very captivating person, both musically and otherwise. She worked on movies, is a published poet & a social justice warrior, came into music through a rock band called The Sleeping World, and she knows all the two-letter words in Scrabble, so don't even think of challenging her.
Mennonite
Native Land Return
John Stoesz carries a ministry advocating land reparations with indigenous peoples as he has traveled 1000's & 1000's of miles on his recumbent trike, working with Dakota peoples in Minnesota, working with and alongside Unsettling Minnesota, coalition for Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery, and Waziyatawin, author of What Does Justice Look Like.
Scientists Talking About Spirit (Science & Spirituality, Part 2)
Talks with 3 science profs at UW-EC about their intersection with spirituality. Matt Jewell, Derek Gingerich, and Doug Matthews bring their experience with spirit face-to-face with their knowledge of Materials Science, Biology, and Behavioral Neuroscience, respectively. See the article about the interview linked via the CVPost.
Science & Spirituality, Part 1
4 scientists from UW-EC gather to share about the intersection of science & spirituality at the UU Congregation in Eau Claire. See the article about the interview linked via the CVPost.
Making Friends Among the Taliban - Jonathan P. Larson
Dan Terry did things that are unbelievable in many Western eyes - being welcomed among diverse peoples of Afghanistan, including some among the Taliban. After a life of aid, friendship, and living on the edge in the region, Dan was killed in 2010, and his story and stories are captured in Making Friends Among the Taliban: A Peacemaker's Journey in Afghanistan, written by Jonathan P. Larson.
Alums Serving the World - Brydie Hill & Mark Lassman-Eul
Through Habitat for Humanity and Project Kenya Charity, 2 Carroll University alums care for the people of the world, both with a special connection to Kenya and both with deep religious motivation.
Praying for Peace, Paying for Peace, Part Three - Principles, Legality and Commitment
Part three: A visit with 2 more War Tax Resisters - individuals whose conscientious objection to war includes not only their refusal to personally fight, but their decision to also not pay for war and the military system.
BuildABridge - Peder Wiegner, Adam Beach, Megan Tahquette
A visit with Peder, Adam & Megan in Jerusalem, on site in the Middle East to shoot a film about the Israeli occupation. They hope to provide a picture of the Palestinians to humanize them and their plight in face of the very unbalanced media picture we typically see in the USA. Peder, Adam & Megan are college Juniors and Seniors with studies in Political Science, Anthropology and Film.
Daniel Winings' Song of the Soul
Daniel Winings was raised without any real religious faith, but discovered it himself in college, in his pursuit of truth and consistency. He was eventually baptised into a "mega-church", but the deepening and refining of his faith did not end there. A sojourn in Indonesia and other experiences broke open his concepts of materialism and "American exceptionalism", leading him into simplicity and community with the Mennonite Church.
Paul Kaldjian - Geography & Refuser Solidarity Network
Paul Kaldjian is the living product of a rainbow of cultural & religious heritages, Finnish and Armenian, diverse religious groups, all combining to create a person who has a passion for creating personal-international connection. He's a Mennonite, a geography professor at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and a board member of the Refuser Solidarity Network, a group that seeks to support Israeli "refusniks" and inform the world about this element of the Israeli peace movement.