REIMAGINING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: MOVING FROM EDUCATION TO ADVOCACY
During this program "Reimagining Religious Freedom: Moving from Education to Advocacy," participants will hear from scholars, policy advocates, and community leaders who are making invaluable contributions to these critical discussions. This program is designed to encourage participants to think through practical ways to take action on religious freedom issues in their community and context. Participants will engage in small group discussions, a community talkback session and explore opportunities to mobilize on these advocacy issues together.
If you missed this event, please find the recordings below:
Event Schedule:
Thursday, November 11 at 7pm - 9pm ET
Opening Session and Keynote Address: "Awaken to New Reality of Religious Freedom: Our Lives Depend On It"
Opening Presenter: Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood, postdoctoral fellow and associate director, Vanderbilt Divinity School's Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sabrina Dent, public scholar, editor and contributing author, African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities
Friday, November 12 from 10am - 5pm ET
Session One (10am - 12noon ET): "Reframing Religious Freedom: Confronting Christian Nationalism"
Featured panelists include Rahmah Abdulaleem, Esq., Executive Director, KARAMAH (Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights), Teresa L. Smallwood, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative at Vanderbilt Divinity School; Corey D.B. Walker, Ph.D., Wake Forest of the Humanities at Wake Forest University; Charles Watson, Jr., Director of Education, BJC; and Sabrina E. Dent, DMin as moderator.
Musical Performance (12:45pm - 12:55pm ET)
Session Two (1pm - 3pm ET): "When Religious Freedom Imposes on Our Right to Live"
Featured panelists include Rochelle Andrews, Assistant Director, Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary; Kendyl Crawley Crawford, Director, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light; James Woodall, past president, GA state NAACP; Tekisha Dwan Everette, Ph.D., Executive Director of Health Equity Solutions; and Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, Executive Director, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
Session Three (3:15pm - 5pm ET): "Positioned To Make Change and Take Action"
Featured panelists include Traci Deshazor, Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth and Director of African American Outreach; Padma Kuppa, Michigan State Representative (41st House District); Dr. Keisha McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Programs, Auburn Seminary; Rev. Tiauna Webb, Director of Missions and Programs, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference; and Corey D.B. Walker, Ph.D., as moderator.
Saturday, November 13 from 10am - 12noon ET
Advocacy Training and Talkback Sessions: "Ready to Take Action!"
Session One (10am - 10:55am ET)
Description: Join BJC staff as they define faith-based advocacy and demonstrate how to conduct Congressional visits. Staff will also highlight BJC’s ongoing advocacy efforts including the Save Oak Flat Act (H.R. 1884/S. 915) and the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign.
The advocacy session will be facilitated by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) team members Jaziah Masters, Advocacy and Outreach Manager, and Charles Watson, Jr., Director of Education.
Session Two (11:00 am- 11:45am ET)
Description: The talkback sessions are designed as informational session. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the Faith and Politics Immersion Experience with the Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary. This session will be facilitated by Rev. Rochelle Andrews.
