Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento

Mutual Survival: Black-Jewish Relations in the 21st Century
2022-02-17 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Phillip Thompson, Idaho Black History Museum, discusses the crucial collaboration of Blacks and Jews during the 20th and 21st Centuries – Register here.

Protecting Civil Rights & Dismantling the Ku Klux Klan
2022-02-24 12:00 - 13:00
Join us as special guest Professor Robert J. Kaczorowski,Professor Emeritus of Law, Fordham University School of Law, discusses the Justice Department’s work to protect civil rights in the South from 1866 to 1876, including its enforcement of the Reconstruction Amendments to the United States Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Enforcement Act of 1870 and the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871.
Register Here

What We Believe: The Diversity of Christian Thought and Practice
2022-02-28 17:00 - 18:00
Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis’s free virtual course “What We Believe” continues in Spring 2022 as we explore the diversity of thought and practice within Christianity.
Register Here

Renew Women's Day
2022-03-05 10:00 - 11:00
This Women’s Day event will share how women have been RENEWED by God. We will see special performances and enjoy a light breakfast – Register here.

Exploring The Sacred | How Do We Know The Truth?
2022-03-22 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022 for another evening of general listening.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320
or
Watch through Facebook
facebook.com/sacramentointerfaith.org
Featuring
Rabbi Evan Rubin – Rabbi Evan B. Rubin has been a part of Jewish communal leadership for almost thirty years. His career began as a cantor in 1994 in Toledo, Ohio. During his nineteen years in that position, he was also ordained as a rabbi. Rabbi Rubin spent a total of twenty-five years serving the community of Toledo in various roles. As part of his leadership in the community, Rabbi Rubin spoke often in interfaith settings and made wonderful relationships with colleagues across the religious spectrum.
Rabbi Rubin came to Sacramento in August of 2020 to become the rabbi at Kenesset Israel Torah Center, the local modern orthodox synagogue. He has already begun to make inroads into the interfaith community, and he looks forward to expanding that relationship.
Stacie Walton, MD – Recently retired from Kaiser Permanente, as a clinical Pediatrician serving in the roles of Diversity Champion and Communication Consultant, Stacie L Walton MD, MPH, now works one day a week in a local pediatric urgent care one day a week.
When she is not providing a keynote presentation through the Social Justice Speaker’s Bureau, Tour de Force Speakers, she teaches courses on Racial Healing and Implicit Bias with the Renaissance Society at Sacramento State University.
When she is not speaking in front of students and educators, she facilitates Racial Healing Circles in the Sacramento area with the Coming to the Table program. She’s trained in the indigenous inspired circle process and learned the foundation for Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience at the Peace Building Institute at Eastern Mennonite University.
She has two wonderful adult children- a musician and a mathematician, a Great Dane puppy, and two cats. She takes daily walks, loves to read, and knits when she can find the time.
Jan Merrill – Jan Merrill is a member of the Baha’i Faith in Rocklin and she lives with her husband Gary Bond. Jan and Gary manage a nonprofit called GlobalMarketplace.org, which currently offers educational discussion groups around race unity. Jan and Gary also own a home-based retail business and they sell Fair Trade jewelry and crafts online and at gem and craft shows. Jan graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a BS in Mathematics. She worked in the computer industry as a programmer and a software support engineer for over 40 years, then retired from Hewlett-Packard to work with Gary on the retail business. That’s when Jan became interested in investigating spiritual themes.
Rev Charles de Watteville – Rev. Charles de Watteville has been the bi-vocational pastor for the Sacramento Valley Family Federation for World Peace (FFWPU) community since 1992 and is the current chairperson for the Sacramento chapter of the Universal Peace Federation. Both organizations were founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Hak Ja Han Moon.
He served on the board and committees of Sacramento’s Interfaith Service Bureau from 1996 until 2010. He is currently the board secretary for the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento.
Rev. de Watteville received a Masters of Divinity from the Unification Theological Seminary. He served as the state pastor and director for the Unification Movement in North Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma before moving to Sacramento.
He is an instructor for True Family Values Ministry as well as Unification Theology and Worldview. He is committed to promoting God-centered healthy families and interfaith cooperation. He also has a Masters in Social Work from CSUS. He currently works as a freelance database developer and data systems contractor with LPC Consulting Associates, Inc. assisting in the evaluation of social service programs.

The Interfaith Movement
2022-03-23 16:00 - 17:00
Join the Zoom Meeting here.

Power of One
2022-05-22 16:00 - 19:00 | California Museum, 1020 O St, Sacramento, CA, 95814, United States
Please join us for the Power of One 2022! We are excited to be again honoring community leaders and community organizations that are making huge impacts to better Sacramento.
The California Museum
1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Program
4 o’clock Exhibit Viewing
5 o’clock Program
6 o’clock Appetizer Reception
Tickets
LOVE – $500.00 (Includes 10 Tickets)
FAITH – $250.00 (Includes 5 Tickets)
PRAYER – $50.00 (Single Admission)
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 | The Dark - Friend or Foe
2022-05-25 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 for another evening of general listening.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320
or
Watch through Facebook
facebook.com/sacramentointerfaith.org
Featuring
Rabbi Matt Rosenberg – Rabbi Rosenberg has been the executive director of the Albert Einstein Residence Center, Sacramento’s senior Jewish housing community since January 2021. A California native and a graduate of UC Davis, he has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross and Nechama:: Jewish Response to Disaster. He is a former EMT, first aid instructor, and volunteer firefighter. Previously, he served as the executive director for Hillel at Texas A&M University. He has written two books about geography.
Rev Donna Apidone – Donna Apidone is an interfaith minister, has authored TransForMission, her book about life transitions, and leads life change workshops by the same name. She is also a well known member or the Sacramento area CapRadio team since 1998, and she has hosted the acclaimed Morning Edition midday show since 2001. In addition, she is frequently featured in radio interviews on Insight, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered programs. Although the news can make her cry, she also finds a way to dance through every morning.
Rev. Mary Lacalle – Mary Lacalle has been the senior minister at Unity of Roseville since 2011. She attended Sacramento City College and earned a teaching credential California State University, Sacramento. Her spiritual journey began with Rev. Phil and Dorothy Pierson at Christ Unity Church and where Mary served as Director of the Youth Education Program. Since 2003 she has served as Unity minister in Thousand Oaks and Sacramento, California.
Mark Janssen – Mark Janssen is a former Board chair and a founding Board member of the Elk Grove Food Bank Services. He has served on the Board since April of 2003. In addition, he is a founding member of the Interfaith Council of Elk Grove since 2019.

Board Meeting
2022-06-28 17:30 - 18:30 | Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael, CA, 95608, United States
In-Person Meeting
We will meet at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael, CA 95608
This will be an IN-PERSON-only event.
Open to the public.
Email Secretary@sacramentointerfaith.org for further information

Exploring The Sacred | Faith and Addiction
2022-07-20 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, July 20th, 2022 for another evening of general listening with Ellen Spenser and Jason Steckel.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320

Board Meeting
2022-07-26 17:30 - 18:30, 2022-08-30 17:30 - 18:30, 2022-09-27 17:30 - 18:30, 2022-10-25 17:30 - 18:30, 2022-11-29 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-01-31 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-02-28 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-03-28 17:30 - 18:30 and 3 more dates
Email Secretary@sacramentointerfaith.org for further information

Interfaith Council of Elk Grove: Prayer Devotional
2022-09-09 12:30 - 13:00
The Interfaith Council of Elk Grove is pleased to announce the sponsorship and the continuation of a monthly Prayer Devotional, which debuts this Friday, September 9th, beginning at 12:30, and lasting until 1:00.
We encourage you to join us and also to volunteer to participate in an upcoming broadcast. Prayers and short spiritual thoughts and expressions are welcome!
Theme for September 2022: Godly Contentment
All are invited to join Zoom.

Exploring The Sacred | Multifaith Celebration
2022-09-21 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Wednesday, September 21st, 2022, for another evening of general listening with James E. Trapp, Rev. Rick Harrell, Roger Guinee, and Rev. Jason Bense.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320

Speakers
The Rev. Jason E. Bense
The Rev. Bense serves as the Pastor of a two point parish the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer and Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Sacramento. He is in his first call after studying at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (MDiv ’08) and Valparaiso University (BA ’01). He served a vicarage in Kingston, New York, clinical pastoral education at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago, a term of studies at Oakhill Seminary in London, England, and is a native of Columbus, Indiana.
Jason has a passion for urban ministry, ecumenical and interfaith work. He served two years in the Lutheran Volunteer Corps working for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to coordinate the Detention Watch Network in Baltimore, Maryland and the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education in Chicago, Illinois.
The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer of which Jason serves has a nearly 60 year history in Sacramento of social activism including protesting the Vietnam war, calling and ordaining the first woman for Lutherans in the region, activism around racial redlining in the housing market, and taking a public witness in support of gays and lesbians in 1989. The current focus of the congregation is confronting the abuse of the earth by working to create a community garden on its vacant acre lawn and encouraging study of local food systems. Gethsemane Lutheran Church has a long history of interfaith and ecumenical work. Currently the mission emphases of Gethsemane are in support of those facing domestic violence and older adult ministries.
In addition to serving as a Reserve Chaplain to the United States Airforce (Travis Air Force Base), Jason has done work as an Associate Chaplain for Sutter Medical Center and served on the hospital’s Bioethics Committee and the Professional Consultation Committee for the Spiritual Care Department. He has also been a member and officer of the Interfaith Counsel of Greater Sacramento and appointed representative on the North State Ecumenical Commission. He has chaired the planning task force for the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center and is a speaker in the Center’s educational outreach, is a board member of Opening Doors which resettles refuges in Sacramento. In the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American (ELCA), Jason serves on the Policy Council of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy, has served as a Conference Dean and Treasurer, completed a term on the Candidacy Committee of the Synod, and serves on the synod’s Hunger Committee. Jason sits as an invited member of the faith advisory boards of Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones and Sacramento City Police Department. An avid runner, Jason is a member of Frontrunners Sacramento and enjoys swimming and yoga.
Roger Guinee
Roger Guinee worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) from February, 1977 until he retired in June, 2015. During the early years of his career with the Service he worked at several fish hatcheries, raising Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, and was also responsible for the environmental education programs which included leading tours of school groups who came on field trips to the hatcheries. Roger moved to the Service’s Ecological Office in Sacramento in 1985 where his responsibilities included participating in several major river studies to evaluate and assess the instream flow needs for salmon and steelhead trout. Before retiring, Roger served as the supervisor of a Service team of biologists and hydrologists who were responsible for working with other natural resource agencies to protect the threatened Delta smelt in the Bay-Delta estuary, and implement flow objectives and habitat measures that contribute to Chinook salmon and steelhead habitat and ecosystem restoration in California’s Central Valley rivers and streams.
Since retiring, Roger has been doing service and participating with the Baha’i Faith community in study classes, devotions, racial healing discussions, and public meetings in Citrus Heights and the Sacramento area. He has been a Baha’i since 1972. His experience includes serving on the Spiritual Assembly of Citrus Heights since the 1980s, serving as a member of the Interfaith Service Bureau during the 1990s and facilitating educational programs on eliminating racial prejudice in the United States. He and his wife, Cathy have lived in Citrus Heights, CA since 1987, where they raised their three grown children, Dustin, Jason and Jonathan. His family has now expanded to include two wonderful daughter-in-laws, and three incredible granddaughters.
James Trapp
Rev. James Trapp is an inspirational speaker and strategic advisor to individuals and organizations on Enlightened Leadership.
He is currently the Senior Minister of Worship at Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento, California. He is also President of Star Human Capital, a consulting firm dedicated to applying Universal Spiritual Principles to inspire and instruct others to create their best lives and strategically improve their organizations.
He is former CEO of Unity Worldwide Ministries, the international association for Unity Churches dedicated to creating positive paths for spiritual living. James is an active participant in cultivating a global community and fostering mutual understanding and respect amongst spiritual traditions of the world and has participated in the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Barcelona, Spain, and Melbourne, Australia.
He also served as Senior Minister at Unity on the Bay in Miami, Florida – a dynamic and diverse spiritual community in South Florida.
As a speaker and thought leader, he shares his message of respect, appreciation, and harmony with others in the global community. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, meetings, and events.
In addition to being an Ordained Unity Minister, James has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and African American Studies from Princeton University and a JD Degree from the University of Florida. He studied at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, where he enhanced his proficiency in practicing and teaching Mindfulness Meditation. He is also a facilitator of compassionate communication and the appreciative inquiry method for organizational change.
He is inspired by his son, Jaelan Mandela Trapp, a recent Howard University graduate.

Exploring The Sacred | Fear, Despair, Thankfulness & Hope
2022-11-14 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Monday, November 14th, 2022, for another evening of general listening with Reverend Bryant Wyatt, Wayne Langford, Serge Stuk, and Rabbi Nancy Weschsler.
Join The Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94740768320

Speakers
Reverend Bryant Wyatt
Mt Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
Wayne Langford
Wayne Langford has lived in Rancho Cordova for the past 20 years. He grew up in the east bay as the youngest of 10 children. Wayne served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Panama City, Panama, when he was 19 years old. Soon after returning home, he married Kelly Hall. They just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They are the parents of four children ranging from 13-21yrs old. He currently manages a team of wireless engineers for Kaiser Permanente. He graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Wayne has been serving as the stake president of the Sacramento Cordova Stake for the past 8 years.
Serge Stuk
Sergey Struk was born in Ukraine in 1973. While attending his 3rd year in Technical School in 1992, he gave his heart to Jesus Christ, and that event changed his life completely. In 1995 Sergey went to Bible school for 3 years and was very active in church activities. Serge got married in September of 1996 to Lyubov, and together, they were serving God in their city. In 1997 Sergey and his family moved to Sacramento and became members of Bethany Slavic church, where he sang in the choir and helped with church programs.
In 2014 he felt a need to concentrate more on Mexico ministry. That is when Amistad International Ministries was born, and Sergey took leadership along with 2 other brothers from the church. With the help of partners and churches, Amistad I Ministries began building churches, and homes for the poor, organizing events in Mexico such as Women’s Conferences, Construction, Evangelism, and Children camps that lasted 7 days or more.. Christmas visits to Orphanages and children’s programs. Currently, Sergey is an active member of a Potter House Church and in ministry assisting refugees from Ukraine, Russia, and Guatemala here in the Sacramento area. Serge and his wife Lyubov have 6 children. His whole family was and is involved in ministry work. Sergey has been working as a General Contractor at his Construction Company for the last 15 years.
Rabbi Nancy Weschsler
Rabbi Nancy was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1990. She served in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, before coming to Congregation Beth Shalom in 2003.
She has been pivotal in creating interfaith programs of understanding. She continues the serious study of Jewish texts through the Mussar Institute courses and daily learning. She is a past president of the Rabbis’ Association of Sacramento and has been written about in several magazines.

United We Stand
2022-12-08 18:00 - 20:00 | SALAM Islamic Center, 4545 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA, 95841, United States
Join us for the annual event to bring the Greater Sacramento community together to renew our commitment to work with each other to make Sacramento a safer and better place to live.

Exploring The Sacred | A Life of Purpose
2023-03-22 19:00 - 20:30
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.

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.
