November 2009
LISTEN: Mental Illness (MP3)
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Topic: How are people chronic mental illness supported in the Boulder community?
Financial appropriations for mental illness have been cut consistently in recent years. What is happening to services? How can congregations participate?
Panelists:
Rev. Dr. Stan Adamson, Interface Boulder
Rabbi Deborah Bronstein, Congregation Har HaShem
Susan Marine, Interfaith Network on Mental Illness
Janine D’Anniballe, Mental Health Center of Boulder and Broomfield Counties
Facilitator: Barbara Gould, Outreach Coordinator, Congregation Har HaShem
Comments:
“Excellent panelists in terms of compassion, knowledge, and different personalities.”
“Excellent panel.”
“It made me want to volunteer to help people with mental illness.”
“I learned about resources and the nature of compassion.”
“Good program. Very educational.”
“The unity of purpose among mental health professionals and clergy became clear.”
October 2009
LISTEN: Crime in Boulder County (MP3)
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Topic: Crime in Boulder County: Impact of the economic downturn and social remedies
Panelists:
Walt Czapran, Probation Supervisor, Adult Team, 20th Judicial District
Officer Larry Gibson, Latino Community Liason, Boulder Police Department
Sgt. Sue Yankovich, Programs, Boulder County Jail
Tania Leontov, Executive Director, FOCUS
Comments:
“An appreciation for the interaction in the system of government, agencies, and volunteers”
“Glad to see the excellent programs going on”
“Fascinating to learn more about the views from criminal justice staff”
“Heartening to learn that the approach to offenders is moving from containment and punishment to rehabilitation”
“Speakers were very informative”
September 2009
LISTEN: Faith and Facebook (MP3)
Date: September 24, 2009
Topic: Faith and Facebook
How congregations and service agencies can make effective use of the leading edge internet social network programs, such as blogs, ning, facebook, twitter, and more.
Panelists:
Luke Humbrecht, VineLife Church
Kim M. Sporrer, APR, Humane Society of Boulder Valley
John Boyle, Calvary Bible
Dan Hanley, Boulder County AIDS Project
Facilitator: Melanie M. Sidwell, Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder
Comments:
“Very relevant for an organization just getting into this”
“Other people’s opinions on social media are great”
“I was educated on several other websites I wasn’t aware of”
“Excellent presentation”
“Clarified the whole idea of social networking for me. I will use this for my congregation.”
May 2009
LISTEN: Faith Communities Reaching Out to GLBTQ (MP3)
Date: May 28, 2009
Topic: Faith Communities Reaching Out to GLBTQ
Boulder is a community that prides itself on being open-minded and welcoming. Is that everyone’s experience?
Panelists:
Kristen Kinard, PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Holly Berman, Har HaShem Cantorial Soloist
Emily Lewis, GLBT Outreach of Boulder County Aging Services and Rainbow Elders
Thomas Riis, First Congregational Church Boulder
Comments:
“Great speakers”
“Very good sharing”
“Communication! Made me think…learned something.”
“Beautifully run”
“Excellent”
“Vibrant group of speakers”
April 2009
LISTEN: Death and Dying (MP3)
Date: April 30, 2009
Topic: How Shall We Live, Knowing We Will Die?
We associate the end of life as all about dying, but it is also about how to live well to the very moment of death. Our panelists are experienced in working with others and the process of dying. They will share their views, their experiences and their suggestions.
Panelists:
Kim Mooney, HospiceCare
Andrew Holecek, Shambhala Buddhist Community
Rabbi Victor Gross, Co-Director of the Sageing project of Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Rev. Sally Ponfick, Lutheran pastor
Comments:
“The panelists presented useful insights for my work with declining and dying residents and family.”
“I loved the depth of insight and humor.”
“Excellent!”
“The stories were wonderful!”
“Possibilities were presented with compassion and humor.”
February 2009
LISTEN: Caring for Others: Mining the Social Capital of Our Community (MP3)
Date: February 26, Thursday
Topic: Caring for Others, Mining the Social Capital of Our Community
When our familiar world is in such jeopardy, what is our greatest resource, our treasury? It is each other, called “Social Capital.” It is our social networks and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other. What is the power that makes these relationships effective in supporting and nurturing the community? It is people power. It is volunteering.
Learn about Social Capital.
Panelists:
Joy Orf, Community Outreach Director, Calvary Bible Church, a congregation that went from an exclusive internal focus to deep community engagement in 3 years.
Melanie Nehls, Office Administrator, Trinity Lutheran Church
Comments:
“Excellent. The information was significant for me personally and for my church. It inspired me to help our church become more externally focused.”
“Great vision. Great ideas”
“I made notes on the innovative ways my church be be further involved in our immediate community”
“It was great to hear what our faith communities are doing”
“Excellent. I was wondering how Spirit might be moving, challenging our congregation in this area; sharing helps jumpstart some questions/ideas for me/us.”
January 2009
LISTEN: Recession and Nonprofits (MP3)
Date: January 22.
Topic: The Impact of Recession on Nonprofits: Agencies and Congregations.
These organizations depend on the community’s well-being to fill their coffers, funding services and development. What happens when hard times hit?
Panelists:
Josie Heath, President, The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County
Rev. Dr. Stan Adamson, St Andrew Presbyterian Church
Barbara Navin, Thistle Housing Community Land Trust Director and Board Member, Shambhala Community Trust
Terry Benjamin, Executive Director, Emergency Family Assistance Association
Comments:
“I was grateful to hear about the dedicated service of specific non-profits represented on the panel”
“The panel was excellent. I appreciated the ideas for increasing interaction, caring and fundraising.”
“I was grateful to hear what was happening in the County and making contact with other organizations.”
” The Forum was good and it was helpful to hear about recent trends in giving at other agencies.”
