Overview
Spirituality and social justice have been inextricably linked throughout history. It’s hard to imagine the abolition movement without the work of various Christian groups, or the civil rights movement without the influence of the Baptist Church. Today, a wide array of spiritual communities are vital in the fight for justice—bringing us together as we rejoice, reflect and organize.
NJPAC invites you to join us for Spirituality in Communities of Color, the next PSEG True Diversity Film Series screening and panel discussion. Before we meet, we’ll screen the film. The film will be announced and available for viewing one week prior to the panel discussion.
NJPAC’s PSEG True Diversity Film Series focuses on films that examine different aspects of the ongoing social justice movement. Our series follows a book club model: We’ll watch the selected films in our homes, then come together online to discuss them with panelists who can offer context.
How to participate:
- We’ll send you a link so you can watch the film from home one week prior to the panel discussion.
- Join us for a virtual panel discussion at 7PM on December 13, 2021.
Our panel will be moderated by Eyesha K. Marable, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at NJPAC and Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church, Millburn, NJ. We’ll discuss the film as well as the unique ways our panelists are supporting their communities through the lens of spirituality and social justice.
Our panelists include:
Rev. Dr. Timothy Levi Adkins-Jones, Pastor of historic Bethany Baptist Church in Newark and trustee of the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice.
Elemi Gayle, a spiritual advisor, community leader and owner of Yeyeo Botanica in Newark, who will speak with us about Yoruba spiritual traditions.
Dr. Pushpa Iyer, founder-director of the Center for Conflict Studies at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who enjoys taking a spiritual approach to social justice in her work.
Rev. Dr. Velda R. Love, a Minister for Racial Justice at United Church of Christ in Cleveland, whose work centers on historical and contemporary injustice.
Oleana, an author, poet and speaker whose work broadens the general public’s perspective of contemporary Native Americans.
