Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento

Exploring The Sacred | A Life of Purpose
2023-03-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join us on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023, for another evening of general listening with Akram Keval, Rev. Magie Buck, Manal Keval, and Rev. Dr. Portia Hopkins.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320

Speakers
Akram Keval
Former Board member of The Interfaith Council of Sacramento-2015- 2023
Former Faith Committee Chair at Habitat for Humanity – Sacramento Chapter-2016-2022
Former Social Activities Director at Muslim Community Youth Center( MCYC) – Elk Grove
Neighborhood Watch program Captain
Citizen Academy graduate from Elk Grove Police Department and FBI Sacramento
Founder and Current Vice President of The Interfaith Council of Elk Grove
An active member of the SALAM Islamic Center and MCYC Mosque in Elk Grove
Rev, Magie Buck
Senior Minister, Foothill Center for Spiritual Living, Auburn, CA
Ordained in 2000 and became Senior Minister in Auburn and served to the current time.
Manal Keval
I am 25. I graduated from CSU East Bay in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies. After completing my Bachelor’s, I earned my teaching credential at UC Davis in 2022 and began teaching 3rd grade at Samuel Kennedy in the Elk Grove Unified School District. I am currently a first-year teacher and am on track to earn my Master’s in Education at UC Davis in March of 2023. Aside from education, I appreciate spending endless amounts of time surrounded by my family. I enjoy playing cards and being outdoors with them. I love animals, especially my 10 yr. old Belgian Malinois, Roo. I also love experimenting in the kitchen and inviting my loved ones over to share meals. A fun fact about me: I share a birthday with my dad, December 24th!
Rev. Dr. Portia Hopkins
Wannabe writer. Lapsed academic. Bemused priest.
The Rev. Dr. Portia Hopkins is Chaplain at The Belfry. She left a longtime career as an academic to embark on a new journey of discovery, not just of herself but discovery of what a space like The Belfry might become for others. Portia comes to The Belfry after many years as a university English professor and administrator. Her call to priesthood in the Episcopal Church came as something of a surprise to her. She brings many years of experience not only as an administrator and teacher but as an informal pastor and spiritual companion to university students and faculty and is excited to exercise those gifts at The Belfry.
Portia is a family to three adult sons and their partners, one perfect grandson, and a dog-mom to Belfry Dog Scout. She loves to read, write, think, take long walks and hikes, and hang out with old friends, or friends-she-hasn’t-met-yet. Her natural habitats are anywhere outside, especially the beach or under big trees, bookstores and libraries, and local coffee shops and breweries.

Board Meeting
2023-03-28 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-04-25 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-05-30 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-07-25 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-08-29 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-09-26 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-10-31 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-11-28 17:30 - 18:30
Email Secretary@sacramentointerfaith.org for further information

The Power Of One 2023
2023-05-07 14:30 - 17:00 | Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael, CA, 95608, United States
Please join us for the Power of One 2023 on Sunday, May 7th! We are excited to be honoring community leaders and community organizations that are making huge impacts to better Sacramento.
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
Bannon Hall, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael, CA 95608
Program
2:30 pm | Social Time
3:00 pm | Program Starts
Honorees
Pastor Philip Goudeaux, Calvary Christian Center
Joel Schweiger, Joey’s Food Locker
Sister Hansa, Brahma Kumaris
Tickets
Prayer | $100 (Individual)
Faith | $400 (1/2 Table)
Love | $800 (Full Table)
Please make checks payable to the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento, Power of One Event, P.O. Box 15246, Sacramento, CA 95851. Or get your tickets online by clicking the button below.

Exploring The Sacred | Science and Religion - Conflict or Harmony?
2023-05-24 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, for an evening of general listening with Rev. Dr. David C. Bocock, Arta M. Monjazeb MD, Ph.D., Stacie Walton, MD, and Godfree McIntyre MDiv; BCCC.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320

ICGS Annual Meeting
2023-06-27 17:30 - 18:30 | Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael, CA, 95608, United States
Join us for the ICGS Annual Meeting on June 27th, 5:30 pm, at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael, CA 95608.
This event is open to the public, and we invite you to be a part of it.
During the meeting, we will celebrate our accomplishments from this last year, of which we have many, plus we bring on board new board members! It’s a very exciting time to reflect on our successes as we also look forward to more adventures.
We look to our new board members for new energy and ideas, more sharing of the interfaith creed, and a commitment to actively developing new programs, doing outreach, doing service, and much more!
Join us as we embark on this journey together!
Email Secretary@sacramentointerfaith.org for further information.

Exploring The Sacred | Grace, Balance and Growth
2023-07-19 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023, for an evening of general listening with Rev. Rajeev Rambob, Tak Allen, Nadia Niazi, and Dr. Trish Blaine.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320
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Rev. Rajeev Rambob is pastor at Parkside Community Church in Sacramento, CA. Parkside is a liberal/progressive church that is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus AND embraces the validity of all spiritual paths.
Rajeev worked in non-profits (anti-poverty and homelessness) and pastored in the Bay area before moving to the Sacramento area in 2015. Rajeev graduated from the Berkeley School of Theology (formerly American Baptist Seminary of the West at the Graduate Theological Union) in Berkeley, CA. where Rajeev focused his learning on social justice, community development and studied Womanist Theology because “that’s where Heaven and Earth meet to get *stuff* done.”
During the pandemic-lockdown, in August of 2020, Rev. Rajeev joined the pastoral team as co-pastor, with his spouse, Rev. Bonnie Rambob who had been serving the church since 2016. In addition to being an ordained minister, Rev. Bonnie is also a credentialed teacher and left church ministry to return to the classroom in response to the teacher shortage crisis. Rajeev and Bonnie have two adult sons who live in the area.
As an exvangelical, unfundamentalist, Rev. Rajeev’s ministry, and lived experience, is Religious Trauma Informed. He draws from his background and experience with deconstruction and wandering the spiritual wilderness to co-lead several outreach ministries to spiritual travelers who are migrating out of fundamentalist Christianity.
Rev. Rajeev enjoys all types of music, movies, deep conversation, and is an avid Capital Public Radio (CapRadio) / National Public Radio (NPR) listener.
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Tak Allen serves as the President of the International Faith Based Coalition and works as an independent Community Outreach and Engagement Consultant for local non-profits, state agencies, and legislative officials.
Advocacy, education, empowerment, and change are the hallmarks of her personal
philosophy and professional work. These hallmarks are evident in her success changing the cultural landscape of community engagement in the greater Sacramento area, as well as the Northeastern Region of Texas.
Tak also shares her professional expertise in her roles as:

President of The National Congress of Racial Equality,
Co-Founder/owner of a Non-profit Bureau of Post-secondary education Institution –
The Real Estate Preparatory School, and
Chair of the Legislative Committee for the California Democratic Party’s Black Caucus.
Inclusion is a core principle in Tak’s work generate collaboration amongst community agencies in the greater Sacramento area. Her success in this work is predicated on targeted strategic partnerships and outreach opportunities. She understands the need to align with multi-faceted entities to produce the best outcomes.

Such collaborations have also resulted in the following outcomes

Successfully orchestrated campaigns and summits,
Useful legislation,
Allocation of resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members,
Influence on legislation for education choice and charter schools,
Contributions to both resources and legislative insight as it pertains to issues of mental health, economics, substance use and drugs policies that impact underserved and minority demographics,
Workforce and resourcing programs for agencies like Pacific Housing, Inc

Tak Allen continues to apply her knowledge and skills to bring about a more equitably accessible life for all communities.
Most recently, Tak has expanded her community collaborations to include workforce development consultant to large organizations such as The Judah Project, and Urban Strategies, Inc. in addition to a variety of Legislators, state associations, as well as community nonprofits.
She provides focused programing as an independent Community Outreach and Engagement Consultant to enable each organization to expand their outreach and community engagement capacity to place resources and information directly into communities that need the most.
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Nadia Niazi is the founder and President of Fitrah, a passionate Canadian-American optimist,humanitarian, and entrepreneur. She discovered her Islamic faith in 2001 and has been a practicing Muslim ever since, which has shaped her values and dedication to fostering inclusivity and
empowerment.
With over 20 years of business management experience, Nadia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from UC Davis, which she earned in 2001. During her undergraduate years, she demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit by founding Proto-Vite Inc., a biotech startup. After successfully managing the online eCommerce store eStyleo for over a decade, Nadia felt a strong desire to make a more significant impact with her business ventures.
Driven by her commitment to social responsibility, Nadia transformed her store and founded Fitrah as a social enterprise focused on empowering vulnerable youth. By donating her store, she created a platform for young individuals to take charge of their lives and gain valuable skills and opportunities.
In addition to her work with Fitrah, Nadia serves as a presenter for Cultural Relativity Education and Teacher Engagement – Personal Development (C.R.E.A.T.E-PD). She provides training sessions to five school districts in Sacramento, equipping educators with strategies to effectively engage with youth from diverse backgrounds.
Nadia’s unwavering advocacy for equality fuels her lifelong mission to ensure that every youth, regardless of race, religion, or gender, is given the opportunity to thrive. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and empowerment serves as a guiding force in her work at Fitrah and her commitment to making a positive impact in the community.
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Dr. Trish Blaine is a member of the Baha’i Faith. She has served the Faith at the local, national, and international levels. Currently she is a member of the Sacramento Baha’i community.
Dr. Blaine received her Master’s and Ph. D. degrees in History from Arizona State University. She has taught for Arizona State University, South Texas College, the University of Oklahoma, and California State University at Sacramento. She also holds degrees in Communications, and Education. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Blaine worked in advertising and public relations for seventeen years. Her love, however, is history, especially women’s history and history of the U.S. West.

Exploring The Sacred | What Part Does Meditation Play in Your Life and Faith Tradition?
2023-09-20 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 7 pm for an evening of general listening.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320
Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
Tom is a Passionist Priest from Pittsburgh, PA, who has ministered in California since 1990. Tom is a graduate of St. John’s University, New York City. After Ordination to the Catholic priesthood in 1972, he served as religious superior and Retreat Director in Pittsburgh, PA, and New York City. He also served as chaplain at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA, where he established the Interfaith Center at Carlow University.
Tom is the founder of the Interfaith Peace Project of Contra Costa County, a home-based educational outreach providing introductions to the religions of the world. Tom conducts Interfaith Seminars for the School of Applied Theology and the Interfaith Chaplaincy School in Berkeley, CA. Tom ministers at the Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center of Citrus Heights, CA. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Religious and Ecumenical Commission for the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, CA, and the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County.
Sister Hansa, coordinator and raja yoga meditation teacher of the Sacramento branch of the Brahma Kumaris worldwide organization. Sister Hansa has practiced meditation from a very young age. After graduating in commerce business management, she dedicated her life to service and her community fully. She has traveled and taught in India, Asia, and the UK and, for the past two decades, has taught and lives in the USA, sharing Ancient wisdom through simple stories, bringing the benefit of awareness by blending Eastern and Western cultures. She is a very active member of the Interfaith Council of Sacramento and this year’s Power of One Honoree. Author of two books, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times and Small Stories Big Blessings. Also, the composer of the audio CD Pilgrimage of Love.
Mateenah Jackson is a professional business owner and a revert to Islam. She has traveled the world with her family and business. After exploring different religions in search of “God”, Allah (SWT) guided her to Islam, the religion of peace. Mateenah is a member of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom (SOSS), a board member at the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM), and the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento (ICGS).
Peter Dannenfelser, 68 years old, husband to Lori for 24 years, brother and grandfather. Sole-practitioner architect focused on commercial projects. Sacramento was born & raised with a Cal-Poly degree in architecture, which included a year at the University of Copenhagen. Land Park resident and past president of the Rotary Club of Sacramento. Traveled with Lori to Thailand, Cambodia, and Ethiopia on healthy drinking water projects with Rotary. Serves on the Board of Directors at Fairytale Town. Peter has been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for the past four decades and enjoys golf, live music, things that fly, and wrestling with grandchildren.

Exploring The Sacred | Miracles, Do They Exist?
2024-03-27 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 7 pm for an evening of general listening.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320
Kenneth Hughes
Kenneth is Sr. Pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church in San Francisco. He’s also Staff Chaplain at Kaiser Hospital South Sacramento and Roseville. In addition Chaplain Hughes is a Sworn Police Chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department and a Hospice Chaplain for Aseracare Hospice as well. Chaplain Hughes is a musician (guitarist) and has been on several recordings. He hails from Chicago, Alabama and the Yountville California. Chaplain Hughes believes “it’s not about religion, but about relationship”. He’s committed to providing spiritual and emotional support to not only patients but anyone in need. He believe no matter how bad the storm may be, you will come out. He’s committed to providing compassionate listening and encouragement to anyone in need.
Pastor Kenneth Hughes, B TH, MA, BCCCe
Staff Chaplain
Kaiser Permanente
Spiritual Services
Kenneth.B.Hughes@kp.org
“Pastor Bo”
Pastor Bo was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK and is a veteran of the US Air Force having served in the Gulf War and the Bosnian Conflict. He was ordained into the ministry in the United Church of Christ in 2001 and has served churches in New York City and Northern and Central New Jersey before moving to Sacramento to pastor the Pioneer Congregational Church.
Although he was ordained in the United Church of Christ, his faith perspective and zeal for ministry were influenced by a variety of mainline faith traditions as well as the military chaplaincy where he served as a chapel manager. He believes that we can know God and be known by God. This is accomplished in a variety of ways–through worship, personal devotion, spiritual growth, and service to others. But rather than seeking to know God as an individual, God is made known through the relationships and journeys we share with others. When left to our devices, we tend to make God into our own image, but when we journey together, we find God is revealed in the love we share for one another.
Pastor Bo is single, lives in midtown Sacramento, enjoys singing in the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, playing golf, Facebooking, reading, and making friends. If you have a question or would like to get acquainted with him, his email address is pastorbo@pioneerucc.org.
Diane Weber
Diane Weber is a Jewish woman who has a long and diverse history practicing her religion. She is a child of two Holocaust survivors who fled Nazi Germany while the remainder of the family perished. Growing up with both parents who experienced those horrors gives her a unique perspective of life.
Diane is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, as many of the ‘Second Generation’ are of the helping professions. Diane’s therapy work has a special emphasis towards Trauma work and Survivors guilt.
During free time Diane enjoys the outdoors no matter the season, spending time with her children and grandchildren, walking her dog, and working in the garden.
