|
|
June 21 - 26
Living as Equals: Learning to Embody the Teachings of the Faith on Gender Equality
Facilitated by Donna Hakimian and Justine Finn
 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at length about the equality of women and men, why they are equal and what has happened as a result of the human history of inequality. The Central Figures left specific instructions for both women and men regarding how to put the spiritual truth of gender equality into practice.
Come explore the true nature of human beings as revealed in the Bahá'í Writings and ways we can transform distortions we may have inherited to actively practice embodying the equality of women and men in our lives, our communities and our institutions. Women and men are invited. The session will be interactive and include learning through the arts.
Concurrent Children's, Jr. Youth, and Youth classes. Scholarships are available.
We are delighted to offer a 33% discount to all registrants for this session.
Register here |
|
June 21 - 26
Reaching Out To The Latino Community / Enfoque Latino  Are you interested in: * reaching out to individuals that speak Spanish in your community?
* better understanding Hispanic culture?
* having meaningful conversations and connecting heart-to-heart with Latino friends and seekers?
* going travel teaching or pioneering?
This learning session is designed to help you gain confidence in communicating and sharing Bahá'í concepts in Spanish. Although this is not a formal language course, sessions will be conducted in Spanish, allowing for different levels of proficiency. This engaging program for youth and adults includes interactive study, discussion, music, art and more. A program for junior youth and children will be offered.
For more information please contact Edris Taborn at Louhelen Bahá'í School at etaborn@usbnc.org. "Corazones encendidos" and musical instruments are welcome!
żLe interesa:
* Conocer mejor a los latinos de su comunidad?
* Profundizar en llevar la Fe a la cultura latina?
* Tener conversaciones profundas y conectarse corazón a corazón con amigos latinos?
* Viajar a enseńar la Fe o como pionero a un país de habla hispana?
Cada taller del programa tendrá sesiones simultáneas para distintos niveles de espańol. Si está interesado en capacitarse para enseńar la Fe en comunidades de habla hispana por medio de discusiones, arte, música y mucho más, este programa es para usted. Se ofrecerá un programa para nińos y pre jóvenes. Para más información favor contactar a Edris Taborn de la escuela Louhelen al siguiente correo electrónico etaborn@usbnc.org.
We are delighted to offer a 33% discount to all registrants for this session. Register here |
|
June 28 - July 3
Children's Academy: Talking About Oneness
Bahá'u'lláh's teachings on the principle of oneness serve as the foundation for discussions in this program. It is focused on building confidence in having conversations about God, race, and gender with peers, friends, and adults. 
The varied learning activities include dialogue on spiritual principles such as reliance on God, humility, and unity.
Interactive sessions will explore different ways in which participants can explain concepts, share information, and initiate sharing the Faith.
Prayer, music, art, service, and recreation are an integral part of this learning community.
Parents, family and friends of the children are invited to join us on the last day of the session for our closing program at 11:30 am. You may also make a reservation for lunch at 12:30 pm (please see Fees & Discounts for pricing).
For children ages 8-11. During the length of the academy, children will be under the supervision of program counselors, teachers and coordinators, as well as administrative staff.
Register here |
|
July 5 - 16
ISGP Graduate Seminar : Discourse and Social Transformation - Achieving Coherence
 The purpose of this seminar is to create an intensive learning environment within which university graduates can explore how, as individuals or through collaborative efforts, they can exercise initiative in participating in the discourses of society. The challenge we will explore is how to exercise such initiative in a manner that is characterized by internal coherence as well as coherence with two other areas of endeavor: the expansion and consolidation of the Baha'i community and social action. This seminar is open to young adults who have completed undergraduate degrees in diverse fields of study and are considering graduate studies, or are part way through their graduate studies, or are in the earliest stages of their careers or other forms of service to humanity.
PLEASE NOTE: Participation is by application; please contact ISGP directly for an application and for all other information at isgp@bahai.us |
|
July 19 - 24
Friends and Family I
Attracting the Hearts:
Devotional Life and the Arts
Facilitated by Steve Reisetter and Tressa Reisetterour
Whether devotions are opening a meeting or they are the reason we are coming together, the whole character of the gathering is influenced in a powerful manner when
hearts are attracted. This session invites you to revisit your understanding of coming together in worship to uplift the spirit and offers creative ways to enhance the devotional gatherings in your community.
Participants will learn, practice, and share ways to increase the ability to enkindle hearts bringing the arts into their devotional gatherings. Sessions will include an exploration of a variety of modes of expression, awareness of diversity, and other considerations in creating a welcoming atmosphere. Learn ways to discover and develop resources that you and your community already possess, including how you might invite contributions from the greater community. Expect a very interactive learning experience that includes topics on music, effective speech, prose/poetry/drama, movement, and visual arts for novice and expert alike. Individuals are invited to bring, instruments, examples, questions, answers, and a desire to increase their capacity to use the arts in worship.
Register here |
|
July 26 - 31
Friends and Family Session II
Building Divine Civilization: The Community, Social Action, and Discourse
Sessions offered in Persian and English
Facilitated by Fridoon Rahimi and Nicole Jafari
During the past three years considerable guidance has come from the Universal House of Justice that illuminates our way as the Bahá'í community learns more about effective methods of social action and contributing to the prevalent discourses of society. In thi  s session, we will study this guidance and in its light, examine our response both to the needs of the society and the opportunities created by the current Plan. We will look at the example of the Master in pursuing the aim of the plan, the role of the family in the process of community building, and reflect on concepts put forth in the 2 March 2013 Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of Iran. The Bahá'í community, in its pursuit of community building and in its development of a spiritual program for the empowerment of youth and junior youth, is creating a system from which will emerge a new state of mind for individuals, and a new structure for human society. Within this structure, we can create a balance between our families, our careers, and our service to the Cause and to the world of humanity.
We will also be offering concurrent Children's, Jr. Youth, and Youth classes. Scholarships are available.
Register here |
|
August 2 - 7
Junior Youth Academy
Adding Our Voices to the Conversation
Supported by a diverse team of facilitators and counselors
Inspired through study of the vital spiritual prerequisites set forth by the Guardian in The Advent of Divine Justice, junior youth will deepen their understanding, engage in discussions, practice  having conversations related to prejudice, rectitude of conduct, and chastity with their peers and others. Interactive experiences include participating in everyday conversations to assist junior youth draw on their powers of expression and build confidence in offering a voice to effect change and contribute to the transformation of society. An uplifting environment for learning is supported through community devotions, service, team building activities, and the influence of the arts.
This program is for Junior Youth ages 12-14. Scholarships are available.
Register here |
|
August 9 - 14
Friends and Family Session III
Conversations on the Way:
Kindling Hope in a Time of Despair
Facilitated by Mark Gilman and Tania Zarrin Homayoun
As indicated in recent communications from the Bahá'í World Centre, it is through conversations, "distinctive" and "meaningful", that we engage our friends and neighbors, encouraging them to join us in constructing a new ci vilization. In a time of increasing social conflict, cynicism and despair, we must learn to draw upon the Teachings to help us help our fellow man. Accordingly, this course will focus on learning to reframe the contentious issues of our times in terms of the transformation that God intends for humanity in this Day. Such reframing involves drawing upon a few, fundamental conceptual elements which form the deep underpinnings of Baha'u'llah's vision. Some of these ideas, it will be demonstrated, are quite robust and readily explained, even without making explicit reference to religious concepts.
Drawing upon key passages from Shoghi Effendi along with major statements issued from the World Centre (The Promise of World Peace, The Prosperity of Humankind, Century of Light, One Common Faith) and key Five Year Plan documents, we will explore a number of powerful themes including the urgent necessity to rethink the cultural pessimism that informs our beliefs about human nature. Using newspaper articles as a springboard, participants will work in small groups to practice the art of analyzing issues in terms of their underlying premises and then work to reframe those issues. These are the skills we need to plant seeds of a plausible, clear-eyed hope and courage in our own hearts and in the hearts of those around us. While the skill of reframing a conversation or discourse can be employed in relation to almost any topic, special attention will be given to economic questions, particularly to the consideration of wealth and poverty.
We will also be offering concurrent Children's, Jr. Youth, and Youth classes. Scholarships are available.
Register here |
|
August 16 - 19
Friends and Family Session IV
From Passivity to Power : Supporting Junior Youth in their Development
Facilitated by Jason Combs, Laura Combs and Others
Assisting junior youth in their efforts to read and participate in social discourses around them helps to "create dynamics within the family unit that lead to material and spiritual prosperity." The Universal House of Justice asserts, "Passivity is bred by the forces of society today. A desire to be entertained is nurtured from childhood, with increasing efficiency, cultivating generations willing to be led by whoever proves s killful at appealing to superficial emotions." When families help their junior youth to analyze social discourses that might rob them of their ability to make rational choices, the family as a whole advances.
This program is for parents and others interested in strengthening their capacity to support junior youth as they analyze and participate in the social discourses around them. Participants will explore this concept and its relationship to social change, examine specific methods for reading social discourse (such as identifying logical fallacies that can undermine people's rational capacities, and recognizing common strategies whereby groups and organizations elicit specific responses from audiences), and construct rational proofs about how Baha'u'llah's teachings and laws address common arguments that people put forth in popular media. Participants would also focus on knowledge and skills for consulting with junior youth to create a space wherein they can apply their growing capacity for analyzing the world around them.
Throughout the session, participants will study recent guidance from the Universal House of Justice regarding the intellectual and spiritual powers junior youth possess and the significance of this age group in the transformation of society.
This session will offer programs for ages 4 and up, with a very focused program for junior youth on participating in social discourse and sharpening their skills of consultation. Scholarships are available.
Register here |
|
August 30 - September 2
Friends and Family Session V (Homecoming) Baha'i Approaches to Social Change:
Human Rights, Gender, and Racial Equality
Facilitated by Lex Musta and Roshan Danesh
This course will explore Bahá'í perspectives on the dynamics of social change relevant to human rights, gender, and racial equality and examine how, as individuals and communities, we can act as agents of
meaningful change. The course includes study of Bahá'í Writings concerning approaches to change, social action, and participating in the discourses of society, including the example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá a nd recent messages and statements from the Universal House of Justice. The session will use case studies to help us better understand discourses on human rights, gender, and racial equality. It will consider the development of ideas and strategies in our own lives for advancing Bahá'í-inspired approaches to social change, and increase confidence and capacity for involvement. Through participatory dialogue, group consultations, small-group study, analysis, and short presentations with questions and answers, we will study the foundations from Bahá'í Writings in approaching social change and the responsibility of all to serve humanity.
We will also be offering concurrent Children's, Jr. Youth, and Youth classes. Scholarships are available. Register here |
|
Youth Service:
Louhelen is looking for youth volunteers (ages 18-25) who can serve a few months during the summer or longer.
|
|
One-Year Paid Service Opportunities:
- Youth Peer Mentor
- Registration Intern
Email jobs@usbnc.org to express your interest. |
Louhelen Bahá'í School
3208 S State Rd
Davison, MI 48423
phone 810-653-5033 ~ toll-free 800-894-9716
email: louhelen@usbnc.org
web: www.louhelen.org
We would like to thank Cora Thiele, David Smith, Henricus Terpstra and Sheldon Buchler for the photos used in this newsletter. |
|
|
|
|
