In 1994 popular media was documenting the “Black American male” as a species that was headed for extinction. The words “O SON OF DUST!” became the foundation of the photographic project “Dust Shaped Hearts.” Photographer Donald Camp devised a photographic process that used dust (earth pigment) and light sensitized casein to make portraits of Black American men that would be much more archival than standard photographic materials. Working with the newspaper headshots in mind, Mr. Camp created a body of work that uses dust and milk to speaks of the unity of humanity.
Donald E. Camp is a professor emeritus at Ursinus College.
Fellowships:
John Simon Guggenheim Foundation
The National Endowment for the Arts
The Pew Foundation for the Arts.
Collections:
Philadelphia Museum of Art,
Delaware Art Museum,
Michener Art Museum
Pennsylvania... Read More →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT Glen 208South building - 2nd level
In a letter dated 29 December 1988, the Universal House of Justice calls for “a new birth of expression” where “exercise of freedom of speech must necessarily be disciplined by a profound appreciation of both the positive and negative dimensions of freedom, on the one hand, and of speech on the other.” The breakout session proposes to share insights identified by a Reading Group on the power of speech and the role of the Humanities in contributing to the intellectual life of the Baha’i community and the emergence of a renewed intellectual discourse in human society.
Aleta Leftwich is a student at the University of Saskatchewan, majoring in health studies and pursuing a professional path in the healthcare industry. Through her studies she is investigating the disciplines of biological sciences and humanities. She is also engaged in a variety of... Read More →
Jean-Marie Nau is a third-year PhD student at the University of Luxembourg’s Doctoral School in Humanities and Social Sciences. A member of the Baháʼí Faith for four decades, he brings an insider perspective to his dissertation, “Investigating Discourses in Collective Inquiry... Read More →
PhD (Western), Franco-Canadian Studies - Professor Emeritus (University of Alberta and University of Calgary) – Former Dean of Humanities (University of Calgary) – Former Dean, Faculté Saint-Jean (University of Alberta) – Officer in the Ordre des Palmes académiques - Member... Read More →
We invite attendees to enter and explore key concepts in one of our courses from our graduate-level certificate program through an immersive process. Attendees freely walk through a museum style gallery where they engage with four interactive stations. Participants explore public discourse as a strategy for change, reading our reality, underlying material assumptions, and the need for being in a mode of learning. The gallery walk-through concludes with a 15-minute Q&A reflection. This process highlights the learning gained by the Wilmette Institute to promote the current global Plan through its Social Transformation Certificate program.
Ymasumac Marañón shares ancestry from the Quechua of Bolivia and early pilgrims of New England. She previously worked as a bilingual educator and administrator. She is a doctoral candidate for Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego and serves as a Course Designer... Read More →
Chitra Golestani is Associate Director of the Wilmette Institute, Consortial Faculty at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, and Adjunct Faculty at North Carolina Central University. She co-founded the Paulo Freire Institute at UCLA where she is a guest lecturer and obtained... Read More →
After holding positions in Ecuador in education, including school principal and course developer for the Ministry of Education, Justin moved back to the United States in 2020, finished his Ph.D. in Education at the University of Idaho, and now works with the Wilmette Institute as... Read More →
Social capital is posited as a critical resource within the "social commons," with a role in fostering trust, cooperation, and societal resilience. Drawing from the Bahá'í Faith's principles of unity and the oneness of humankind, it highlights how Bahá'í community-building efforts—through transformation of individuals, communities, and institutions—can regenerate social capital. The Bahá'í framework offers unique insights into restoring trust and cohesion by addressing systemic inequities and promoting collective well-being. Through the lens of Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT), this talk connects spiritual and material dimensions of social capital to sustainable development and governance.
Dr. Gourdine currently serves as Asst. Dean at the School of Business and Technology at Maryville University. He has taught numerous courses within management and is an Air Force veteran. He has been a member of the Baha’i Faith since 1996, has served in numerous roles and now... Read More →
Fashion is a major contributor to climate change, reflecting a deep misalignment with nature. This presentation examines how the Bahá’í concept of attraction to beauty—as a tool to foster harmony, justice, and unity—can address this challenge. Drawing on my work at Ambercycle, a pioneer in circular fashion, I will share insights into aligning the industry with principles of stewardship, interconnectedness, and sustainability. Participants will explore redefining beauty beyond materialism, embracing values that promote spiritual and material progress, and collaborating to advance climate action and justice in their fields.
Nava Esmailizadeh is the Head of Brand at Ambercycle, a material science company pioneering circularity in fashion with the world’s leading brands. Passionate about sustainability, innovation, and storytelling, she bridges the technical and artistic realms of fashion to drive impact... Read More →
We live in a time of rapid advancement in science, technology and medicine, yet, the more advanced we are, the higher are the rates of chronic disease, cancer, neurological disease, anxiety and depression. There is a growing dissatisfaction towards the medical establishment, insurance companies and pharmaceutical compnies. In the light of the Baha'i writings, we explore the medicine of the past, medicine in the present times and new developments concerning possible future in medicine on the science of nutrition, microbiome, mind/body medicine, spirituality and more.
Dr. Sherry is a Board Certified PhD and Doctor in Natural Medicine and a Certified Functional Medicine Clinician. Currently she works as a Assistant Research Scientist at the Nova Southeastern University. Former faculty at the Quantum University for Integrative Medicine. She has authored... Read More →
Dr. Adrien A. Eshraghi, MD, MSc, FACS is a surgeon-scientist, Professor of Otolaryngology, Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering at University of Miami. He serves as the Chief of Otology and Neurotology Clinics at Jackson Memorial Hospitals and Co-Director of the Uhealth Ear Insitute... Read More →
In an era of deepening political polarization and extreme partisanship, journalism is in crisis. Some argue that journalists must adopt the role of a “resistance” against illiberalism. In contrast, others demand a rejection of elites who use “progressive” media framing to perpetuate a toxic cultural agenda. The place of fact-based journalism—objectivity—is now the field's most pressing debate. The sacred writings of the Baha’i Faith address these issues by offering a new tenet for journalists, one that outlines both the mission of news gathering and the motivations behind reporting. Exploring these passages may provide a roadmap for how journalism can serve humanity's best interests.
Murray Oliver is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience in documentaries, investigative reporting, and daily news—including nearly a decade as a network foreign correspondent in Africa and the Middle East. Today, he teaches media and politics at Brandon University... Read More →
How can the Bahá’í Writings inspire efforts to advance racial equity in education? This session explores how Roots ConnectED applies principles of unity and justice to foster inclusive learning environments. By integrating spiritual and intellectual insights into professional development, we support educators in building equitable schools. We will share lessons from our work, highlighting engagement in discourse, collaboration with scholars, and contributions to systemic change. Participants will reflect on their role in fostering unity and explore how Bahá’í teachings can inform efforts to create learning spaces that honor diversity and nurture belonging.
Sahba Rohani is the Executive Director of Roots ConnectED, which she co-founded in 2017 to transform schools and workplaces. With decades of experience in education and community development, she is dedicated to building community across lines of difference. Sahba speaks nationally... Read More →
Enrique Dussel argues that conquest and domination are foundational to Western thought and praxis. Dussel questions the widely held view that Western metaphysics begins with Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”, proposing instead that the basis of Western metaphysics is the act of conquest - where one’s subjectivity is established through acts of domination. This panel will examine this “metaphysics of conquest” in the discourses on carceral logics and religious propagation. It will then explore responses to these themes within the Writings of the Bahá’í Faith, offering a view on how to move from domination to humility and service.
Rolando Aguilera is Legal Counsel with the British Columbia Public Service. He previously worked in the Indigenous Justice Division, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General where he assisted the division in its efforts to ameliorate Crown-Indigenous relations with respect to the... Read More →
Maral Aguilera-Moradipour is an assistant professor in Asian refugee literatures and cultures. After completing her PhD at the University of Western Ontario in English Literature and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Toronto Scarborough, she joined Simon Fraser... Read More →
As humanity moves beyond its adolescence, technology raises profound ethical and societal questions. This panel shares insights from the ABS Technology Working Group’s two-year effort to build capacity for contributing to this discourse. Panelists will discuss initiatives like reading groups, seminars, and materials development, efforts to identify gaps and assumptions, and aspirations to align professional pursuits with community building. Exploring technology’s relationship to purpose, values, and social actors, the session connects thought to action. A Q&A will invite collaboration and further learning.
Quddús George is a software consultant and has supported the technological needs of individuals and businesses as well as various institutions and high minded organizations. His interest lies in grappling with the Baha’i conceptual framework as it relates to the advancement of... Read More →
Sami's background is in computer information systems, software development, and software support. His interest is in engaging in social action and discourse related to technology from a Baha’i perspective.
Janice Ndegwa is a PhD candidate researching the history of technology and the environment in 19th century East Africa. Her interest is in exploring how to contribute to technology discourse to the advancement of society.
This presentation outlines a Bahá’í theology of religions, offering an integrative perspective beyond exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism. The Bahá’í approach emphasizes progressive revelation, affirming the divine origins of all religions and their historical evolution. By exploring theological principles rooted in Bahá’í teachings, it highlights how integrating diverse perspectives fosters interfaith dialogue. Participants are invited to consider how this framework addresses religious diversity and contributes to broader discourses on spiritual and societal progress.
Caleb Gilleland is from north Georgia, USA. He is currently a PhD candidate in Christian-Muslim Relations at the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh. His research interests include modern views of the apostle Paul — especially in interfaith context, Baha'i studies, evangelical... Read More →
This session is for researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and professionals working in psychology.
This disciplinary stream is meant to bring together all scholars who study human behavior using methodological approaches that allow for causal inference. This encompasses lab and field experiments and randomized control trials (RCT) and may also include those who use propensity-score matching, difference-in-difference, and similar methods to explore causality. Scholars in experimental psychology, behavioral economics, organizational behavior and management, public health, and other fields may find this relevant to their work. Together we will discuss (1) the ethics of experimentation, (2) power and empowerment in the generation of knowledge, and (3) open-science approaches, collaboration, and consultation. The session will be three hours long and will require some preliminary reading.
This session is for researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and professionals working in biology. Participants must be primarily engaged in the field of biology as students (undergraduate or graduate), academics (including postdocs), professionals, or those retired from careers in the biological sciences. This discipline stream is not intended for health professionals or others outside the field of biology.
The Universal House of Justice has called for the creation of special spaces "for individuals from similar disciplines to interact at the annual [ABS] conference…to encourage them to attempt to explore thought in their field or profession in light of the Teachings". To this end, we are delighted to announce the formation of a new Disciplinary Stream for Biology, to be launched with an inaugural session at the 49th Annual ABS Conference. This session, which will be 3 hours in duration and require preliminary reading of material to be provided in advance, aims to bring together Bahá’í biologists to form an ongoing interest group focused on various aspects of biology, including its history, philosophy, current issues, and career strategies, all in the context of Bahá’í perspectives, in particular the principle of the harmony of science and religion. The meeting will feature introductions, discussions, and the formulation of a continuing action plan, including the establishment of an ongoing reading & discussion group with regular online gatherings. The goal is to foster a collaborative and supportive community of Bahá’í biologists.
Registered participants will be sent introductory material related to the topics of history of biology, philosophy of biology, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to Dr. Auguste Forel to prepare for the inaugural meeting. Participants will be informed to prepare concerns or issues in their immediate field of research or future research concerning harmony between science and religion. They can share these points of concern during the introduction session, which will become the topic of consultation at a later session.
This session is for researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and professionals working in the fields of sociology and anthropology. In this session, we explore some of the philosophical foundations underpinning sociology and anthropology and how they correlate with various insights from the Writings of the Faith. Key issues associated with this theme include the relationship between objectivism and relativism, the path of modernity and the role of reason and spirituality in advancing civilization, and the impact of the natural sciences on the methods of the social sciences. Taking into account the dynamic relationships between the individual, the community, and the institutions and the need to contribute to “a new conception of each [of these three protagonists], appropriate for a humanity that has come of age” (The Universal House of Justice, 28 December 2010), this session examines questions such as: How can we advance our capacity to read reality as social scientists? What forms of reasoning are most conducive to such investigations? What assumptions – such as those concerning human nature, power, and gender roles – should inform the research process? In what ways does the harmony of science and religion influence our posture as social scientists? And, how might we strengthen collective efforts within academic disciplines to address societal challenges and cultivate dialogue that promotes the betterment of the world?
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT Macleod A2South building - lower level
This session for youth aged 15–21 will be a conversation exploring how young people can respond to the challenges facing humanity with purpose and hope drawing on the Bahá’í Teachings. In light of guidance from the Universal House of Justice, participants will reflect together on their response to the conflicts and crises facing humanity and on the constructive role they can play in fostering unity and promoting justice through their conversations with peers, engagement in their studies and work, and contributions to the betterment of their communities.
This session will explore the relationship between music, well-being and societal advancement. The influence of music will be examined from the perspective of the Bahá’í writings and academic literature. Musical excerpts with a positive impact will be shared from a variety of genres including country, hip-hop, and classical, helping to shed light on the questions under consideration. Through guided discussion, participants are invited to, together, gain a deeper understanding of the concepts presented and to reflect practically on how music with a positive effect can be increasingly created and shared.
Melody Mazloom is from Toronto, Canada. She began her study of music as a child and has been part of multiple musical groups. She also has experience and interest in fields such as alternative education, process efficiency, systems thinking, and theatre.
Intentional self-reflection is critical to the success of community building. We will share and engage in the practice of PhotoSophia (light and wisdom) as sacred long-looking and arts-grounded exploration. Bahá’u’llah writes “true loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self.” In what ways does our ignorance become a serious obstacle to overcoming our inherent racism and sexism in community building efforts? PhotoSophia has been used around the world with adults, youth and children to “bring thyself to account each day”, helping us embrace vulnerability and authentic unity, in a humble posture of learning.
Lecturer, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of North Carolina Greensboro
Chuck Egerton Ph.D. is an educator, photographer, artist, writer and Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) practitioner. He taught photography for 25 years and is a lecturer at UNC Greensboro in PACS. He is the creator of PhotoSophia, an arts-grounded spiritual practice to know yourself... Read More →
Trina Gluckman was born and raised in the West Indies and has been an active practitioner for racial and gender justice in Lake Oswego, Oregon and now as a founding facilitator of the ABS Whiteness and Patriarchy reading group. Trina is a Critical Care Nurse and resides in Hawai... Read More →
I am an Inuk woman, who’s discovering how to embody the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh through my being and through my work as an actress/poet; how to contribute to the healing of Inuit in Greenland. With a background in theatre and interest in other forms of artistic expressions... Read More →
Although intellectual pursuits and scientific inquiry are encouraged in the Baha’i Faith, offering a harmonizing counterpart to religion, what is the role of reasoning in spiritual development? This session examines the centrality of logic and reasoning in spiritual education, drawing from past Holy Scriptures and Bahá’í Writings. Together, we will explore ways such a capacity can be developed, and will reflect on its implications on the spiritual education of children and youth, and our engagement in community and social discourse. Additionally, we will discuss how studying the logic in Baha’i Writings can facilitate meaningful and coherent contributions to ethics-based curricula.
Hoda Ghadirian is a high school educator with over twenty years of experience teaching science, math and ethics. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the collaborative development of curricula focused on social justice, ethics, and global citizenship, as well as in enhancing... Read More →
This recently-published paper addressed the need for transformational approaches to releasing the potential of stakeholders to achieve development goals, to build on and extend beyond current best practices in participation and capacity strengthening. A balanced assessment will recognize the noble or prosocial potential of people to harmonize the pursuit of personal interests with a willingness to contribute to social and collective development goals. We need to empower individuals, communities and institutions to be active protagonists of development, which requires approaches that consider their antecedent knowledge, values and culture, stance, agency, roles, relationships, and learning.
Darren Hedley is Adjunct Professor of Global Development Studies at the University of Calgary, Canada, and a consultant to international development agencies in program and policy management and evaluation. He has worked for over 35 years managing and advising programs in the areas... Read More →
This presentation shares unique insights into discourses in the scientific and lay communities from a Baháʼí perspective on the issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing the “lessons learned” and highlighting the “missed opportunities” for fostering stronger bonds of unity and global solidarity. This highly interactive presentation, encouraging participation from the audience, explores the implications of the Baháʼí teachings applied to current and future pandemics through relevant discourses in public health, behavioral, and political sciences based on the underlying principle of the agreement between science and religion and the important roles of each of the three protagonists.
Dr. Kim-Farley currently serves as a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and on the affiliated global faculty of the BIHE. He has previously served as the Director of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health... Read More →
Study of recent messages of the Universal House of Justice hints at increasing intensity and expanded and broadened scope of tests and difficulties coming to Bahá’í Communities worldwide with encouragement to study the evolution of the Iranian Bahá’í Community as a source of insight and inspiration. Analysis of previously untranslated letters and unpublished communication from 1979-82 from key individuals who were at the heart of the Iranian community can shed insight on how this community rose to meet challenges never seen before by any Bahá’í Community in its history and perhaps serve as examples for communities in North America.
Artin Mahmoudi has worked globally as a pulmonary - critical care physician. His father, Houshang, a well-known TV personality, film producer, and Bahá’í historian/author, was a member of the first Iranian NSA under the Islamic Republic and was kidnapped and executed in 1980... Read More →
This presentation explores how the principles of unity, consultation, and justice can transform legal education to prepare lawyers for the challenges of a rapidly evolving society. Drawing on insights from the Bahá’í Revelation, as well as contemporary discourses on ethics, AI, and cultural competence, the presentation proposes an innovative framework for equipping future lawyers with skills essential to both material and spiritual progress. By bridging professional training with the moral and intellectual imperatives of the Faith, this work contributes to the wider discourse on justice, equity, and the role of lawyers as changemakers.
Nishat Ruiter is a legal and strategic leader with over 20 years of experience across global in-house counsel roles, private practice, and mission-driven organizations. She currently serves as General Counsel of TED Conferences, where for the past nine years she has helped safeguard... Read More →
Banning cell phones may be a good first step, but we can’t stop there. Join this interactive workshop to explore and apply practical strategies for empowering young people to self-regulate their use of media technology. Discover the transformative power of virtues like patience, moderation, and responsibility as guiding principles for navigating media such as video games, AI, social media, news, and movies. Drawing on their experience as media practitioners and their work implementing these concepts in schools and junior youth groups, the presenters will introduce participants to an emerging media literacy curriculum and invite them to share their insights.
As the Curriculum Designer for Shiny Gems (shinygems.org), Nwandi is an educator and consultant specializing in media production and communications, with experience creating programming, strategies, and campaigns for broadcasters, nonprofits, schools, and government agencies.
As the Executive Director for Shiny Gems (shinygems.org), Daniel has over 10 years of experience in multimedia production and education across the Americas, including his native Colombia. With a background in journalism, he’s led media literacy workshops for middle schoolers and... Read More →
The independent investigation of truth is a core principle of the Bahai Faith. This principle is opposed by Fifth Generation Warfare, i.e., the manipulation of information to divide, inflame, and set individuals and groups against one another. Remaining skeptical and neutral while pursuing truth, basing our opinions on evidence, is indispensable for navigating this Information Age that we’re living through. Otherwise, we are easily misled, and even distracted from our primary objectives. Today’s sophisticated practices of information curation and propaganda require that we equip ourselves for intellectual self-defense, lest we become indoctrinated by the narrative of the moment.
I have been investigating various current events, observing their effects, researching their origins, attempting to gain more perspective in order to better contend with the issues involved. Through this process, I have discovered the benefit of employing a posture of neutrality... Read More →
Many have expressed ethical concerns surrounding AI-based technologies, but few have suggested concrete steps to be taken in order to address these concerns. Developments often outpace the ability of institutions, communities and individuals to participate effectively and ensure trustworthy outcomes. We should not sacrifice moral/ethical principles in service of efficiency, and we should not allow technology to shape us or the direction of our efforts. In this session, drawing on literature from business, ethics, and the Baha’i Faith, we will propose ideas for the protection of integrity and morality so that communities have agency and remain in charge of the machines.
Farzin Aghdasi was a Bahá’í pioneer in Africa much of his adult life and intimately involved in the development of the Training Institute in Southern Africa and North America. He served as a Continental Counselor for the Americas, and is currently the secretary of the Regional... Read More →
Doug Allen is Associate Professor of Management and former Director of the International MBA program at the University of Denver Daniels College of Business. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his PhD from the University of Michigan Business School. He has published... Read More →
Cindi Fukami is Professor of Management at the University of Denver. Along with her disciplinary work, Cindi has been a prominent contributor to the literature on Management Education. She serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Management Education and is a Fellow of the Carnegie... Read More →
Professor of Management, Daniels College of Business
Dennis Wittmer is professor emeritus in the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, where he taught for 34 years. He teaches a course on organizational ethics for the Executive PhD program. His research and teaching interests include business ethics, public policy... Read More →
Imám Husayn holds a central place in Shí’i Islam as both a symbol of redemptive suffering and divine justice. The Báb’s devotional writings, particularly His Sahífih A‘mál-i Sanah, exalt Husayn as a cosmic martyr whose sacrifice transcends time. This study explores The Báb’s themes of mourning, eschatological fulfillment, and divine proximity. How does his portrayal of Ḥusayn relate to His station as the Qá’im? What is the theological significance of his call for weeping? Through textual analysis, this paper examines how The Báb reinterprets Shí’i devotional motifs while inaugurating a new spiritual paradigm.
Nima Rafiei obtained an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago in 2021, where he studied both classical and modern Arabic and Persian literature. His interests in Bábí and Bahá'í studies include early mystical writings of Bahá'u'lláh from the Baghdad period... Read More →
This informal session is open to all who are interested in learning more about the opportunity to offer a period of service at the Bahá’í World Centre. Representatives from the Office of Personnel will be present to share insights about various avenues of service and to address any questions about this unique opportunity to serve in the Holy Land.
This informatl session is for participants interested in Canadian Baha'i History to meet to discuss strengthening research, writing and publishing of this history.
Enhancing community through the power of the arts is encouraged in the Ridvan Message of 2023. Visual artists Garry Berteig and Lorenzo Dupuis offer a collaborative audio/visual presentation to assist individuals and communities explore this directive. They have noted that communities create art and in turn art creates communities. As a result of this reciprocity, both art and community share the ingredients of love, purpose, guiding principles, humility, integration, and diminished hierarchy. These are essential in both and are working templates for one another.
Visual artist, producer of video documentaries. Retired after two decades from Post secondary Fine Arts instruction, exhibitions and community development agencies for the arts. Currently established a large scale painting studio near Saskatoon, operating as a case study for developing... Read More →
Lorenzo Dupuis lives and works in Saskatoon. His formal studies in Art took place at the University of Saskatchewan. He completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1975, and a Masters Of Fine Arts Degree in 1995. Lorenzo’s work has been recognized in a variety of ways. He has received... Read More →
The spiritual technology, consultation, stands alongside ubuntu and other indigenous circle methods that mute competition, dominance and hierarchy while fostering just, collective decisionmaking. Welcomed by comrades in Baltimore’s Black community, at work and in the field of service, it's one of the last tools Baha’is tend to share outwardly. After briefly reviewing key elements aligned between Bahá'í Writings, indigenous practices, some practical adaptations from John Kolstoe’s “Developing Genius” and the facilitators' work, we’ll collectively create guidelines to share for introducing consultation in our circles of action using interactive and computer assisted social research tools.
Eliza centers Black community to uplift all of mankind. She is versed in African-centered communal practices, e.g. ubuntu, and certified in several facilitation techniques hosting regular workshops and events, like Black Love Day. A friend of the Faith, she learned about consultation... Read More →
Geri brings a liberatory lens to social transformation through evaluation, applied research, facilitation and coaching, integrating spiritual principles and methods into her efforts. Balancing Bahá'í service, family life, artmaking, cat fancying, food production, work and promoting... Read More →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT Glen 208South building - 2nd level
This panel explores the central questions of ‘what is discourse and what is it for?’ and continues this exploration by asking what intellectual norms serve as obstacles to realizing oneness and unity through public discourse and how can discourse contribute to societal transformation built on principles of oneness. Panelists will draw from experiences participating in discourses in four diverse fields (natural science, global health, art, and education), each with unique and shared historical patterns of thought, expectations pertaining to social change, and norms of communication. Participants will reflect on their own journeys in public discourse through interdisciplinary breakout groups.
Raphael Lencucha is an Associate Professor of global health at McGill University who participates in policy discourses at national and international levels. He will reflect on the discourses of global health equity, which, while uncovering injustices associated with coloniality, continue... Read More →
Sujaya Neupane is a neuroscientist at York University, Canada. He studies how the brain enables our perceptual and mnemonic functions. Sujay will share his reflection on engaging in discourse in natural science, where the concept of two-fold empowerment is met with fragmented views... Read More →
Ezgi Ozyonum is a PhD candidate in Education and a Lecturer at Concordia University. She employs a decolonial lens to examine international students' discourses in Canadian universities. She will reflect on the intersections between Bahá’í principles and decolonial perspectives... Read More →
Lorraine Pritchard is a Montreal-based visual artist whose work concerns patterns of inner thought being reflected outwardly through considerations of rhythm, time/space or order/spontaneity. From the viewpoint infused by art, she will offer an alternative perspective on discourse... Read More →
Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate, which observes that greater efficiency in resource use often leads to increased, not reduced, consumption, has been unfolding at an accelerated rate. As innovation has relentlessly driven efficiency gains, it has simultaneously accelerated the scale of production and consumption, fueling economic growth. But this model—where efficiency feeds expansion-is on collision course with planetary boundaries and principles of social justice. We examine (a) sources & persistence of poverty despite economic growth, where the wealthiest five individuals now have more wealth than the bottom half of world population; (b) the impact of this unfettered growth on climate change in face of planetary boundaries; and (c) how certain principles of the Bahai Faith provide a new global construct to address this outcome.
Rama Ayman, a Baha'i living in Luxembourg, is CEO of MMG Capital investing and advising on minerals and technologies needed for transition to green energy since 2015. Formerly, Rama was global partner and global head of metals and mining at KPMG, Managing Director of Hatch CF, Corporate... Read More →
Contemporary psychological theories of parenting, which inform scientific research and advice, rarely address spiritual education and often rely on individualistic frameworks. In contrast, the Bahá’í Teachings place spiritual education at the center of a child’s development and society’s transformation. This session will explore how the Bahá’í view of a two-fold moral purpose offers a unique conceptual framework for parenting and fostering spiritual growth in children. We will examine how this perspective interacts with current scientific knowledge and informs parenting practices, as well as how it can contribute to conversations with others about spiritual and moral development.
Dr. Victoria Talwar is a Professor, Canada Research Chair (I), and Director of the Gold Centre for Early Childhood Development at McGill University. Her research is in the area of developmental psychology with an emphasis on social-cognitive development and moral development.
In 1989, Jamshid Aidun pioneered to Guyana to lead the Bahá'í Community Health Partnership (BCHP), living in a remote Indigenous region. Using Aidun’s diaries and interviews with him and other key participants, this new Biography traces the parallel stories of community health empowerment and Aidun’s personal healing, and the ripple effects of the BCHP a generation later. The panelists discuss the impact of the BCHP on their careers; developing a moral framework for social action; tensions between individual leadership and creating dependence; developing Indigenous partnerships while avoiding paternalism and proselytism; and the interplay between Bahá'í institutions and external funding.
Brian is a Professor Emeritus of Pediatric Surgery at McMaster University with experience in Global Surgery. Inspired by Dr. Aidun, he visited Guyana for two decades and co-founded their surgical training program, receiving recognition from the Royal College. This is his first bo... Read More →
Laureen Pierre, Ed.D. is an educator. An Indigenous person herself, she has been involved in research and socio-economic development among Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples. While serving as Principal of the Bina Hill Institute/Youth Learning Centre, Rupununi, she worked with Guyanese... Read More →
Jim is a Physician Associate and a Bahá’í of 60 years. As a medical provider, he has worked extensively with 1st Nations peoples in North America and spent two months with Dr. Aidun serving the Amerindian people of the Rupununi in Guyana in 1994 and 1995.
Somava Saha, MD, MS has worked in global public health for over 25 years. She is President and CEO of Well-Being and Equity in the World, and previously led the 100 Million Healthier Lives initiative. Her Master’s thesis evaluated Guyana’s Bahá’í Community Health Partnership... Read More →
This presentation explores the complementary perspectives of Baha'i teachings on healing and Polyvagal Theory, highlighting their shared emphasis on the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It includes interactive exercises to experience the power of prayer when in an autonomic nervous system state of safety and wellbeing. Discussion will focus on personal and collective uses of this integrative approach for providing “haven and refuge” from anxiety and fear in the face of mental tests.
Dr. Gervais, an ICF Certified coach and Certified Emotional Freedom practitioner, helps clients manage workplace stress using emotional regulation and somatic techniques. A Baha'i since 1979, she serves on the Local Spiritual Assembly and as Assistant to the Auxiliary Board, actively... Read More →
My new book, Second Century Believers (George Ronald 2025) uses qualitative research procedures to analyze interviews with dozens of Bahá’ís who were among the first born in the 2nd century BE. They came from Christian and agnostic families. I asked about their feelings & experiences when opting to joined the Faith during the 1st House of Justice's the 1st 9-yr plan. We have no record of how 2nd c. Christians felt.Though there are Baha'i narratives, there are few if any accounts of their thought processes & feelings. I analyzed interview data mining for shared meanings. Systematic research of internal processes among people who join a religion is an under represented issue in Bahá’í academic scholarship.
I joined the Faith in 1970 so I'm in the same cohort as the respondents in the study, have been an active Baha'i since then, and served on LSAs for most of those years. I earned my PhD in Intercultural Communication from Howard U. and served as Chair of Communication & Cinema & Associate... Read More →
In today’s interconnected world, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and societal change. This presentation explores the critical need for socially conscious companies to lead the media landscape, focusing on amplifying voices that deserve attention and recognition. Drawing from years of experience at the BWC and the Office of Media and Technologies, we will highlight the power of media in fostering inclusive, diverse, and complex conversations. By sharing our insights on how to navigate these discussions in online spaces, we aim to empower organizations to create impactful media strategies that contribute to positive messages.
Gazalle Ardekani is a media professional with over 14 years of experience specializing in social media and public relations. She has worked on a variety of corporate media projects, as well as socially conscious initiatives focused on discourse, such as the 239 Days in America project... Read More →
Altea DiGirolamo is a creative director with over ten years of experience, including four years as a multimedia designer at the Baháʼí World Center’s Office of Media and Technologies. She deepened her cohesive identity as a designer, blending technical expertise with Bah... Read More →
Bahá’ís are enjoined to “[b]e anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in,” while remaining resolutely non-partisan and committed to constructive, unifying methodologies for social change. Navigating these two imperatives is an area of learning for all Bahá’ís, particularly at a time when ever-more issues are being defined and fought over by contentious partisan voices. Academics in the field of political science may face particular challenges in this regard, and gain unique insights. This panel discussion, arising out of an ongoing conversation between Bahá’í political scientists, aims to share some of those insights.
Michael is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Toronto. His research involves putting a Bahá'í framework for governance into dialogue with political philosophy. He is a lawyer by training, having practiced constitutional litigation in Ottawa after clerking... Read More →
Babak (PhD, International Relations, London School of Economics) is a research professor at George Washington University (GW). His research looks at the overlap of media & international relations, with a focus on peacebuilding. Babak leads the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global... Read More →
Dr. Bernie Kaussler is a Professor of Political Science at James Madison University. His scholarship and teaching focuses on diplomacy, conflict management, US foreign policy, and international security. He is the author of four books on US foreign policy and international security... Read More →
One of the prevalent discourses of society involves the bankruptcy of old conceptions of power and leadership and the need for a new paradigm. The Writings of the Faith, especially those of Abdu’l-Baha have many constructive ideas to offer. It is heartening to observe that even as the old world order rapidly unravels, glimmerings of new concepts of power and leadership aligned with the Writings are emerging in various academic, business, and spaces concerned with societal governance at all levels. This growing convergence points to the appearance of Abdu’l-Baha’s second candle of unity: unity of thought in world undertakings.
Sovaida Ma’ani Ewing is an international lawyer, author and the founding director of The Center for Peace and Global Governance (cpgg.org), a think tank that proposes principled solutions to global challenges. Her latest book is The Alchemy of Peace. Her hope-inducing podcast "Reimagining... Read More →
The harmony between science and religion is central to the Bahá'í Faith, especially concerning human evolution. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's statements on evolution have inspired reflection for over a century but this discourse remains rooted in 19th-century Darwinian concepts, reflecting the scientific understanding of His time. To engage meaningfully with contemporary, science-literate thinkers, the subject must be framed within the context of current science. This presentation seeks to bridge the latest advancements in evolutionary biology with 'Abdu'l-Bahá's relevant statements—not to reinterpret them, but to demonstrate that modern evolutionary biology aligns with His comments.
I have been a Bahá’í since 1968. I was born and raised in California but largely educated in New York, and now reside in the Midwest. Retired now after a 40-year career in higher education, I was a cell biologist, professor, and eventually a senior academic leader (dean and provost... Read More →
‘Abdu’l-Bahá teaches that “the reality of man is his thought,” and that the purpose of the Manifestations is to transform humanity. Science supports this, showing that our thoughts shape reality and that transformation is possible. Recent discoveries of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways—demonstrate that individuals can rewire their brains to change their thinking. By integrating the wisdom of the Baha’i Writings with modern science, a methodology is presented for memorizing the Writings to harness the brain's neuroplasticity and to create new pathways to foster personal transformation.
Dr. Larry Kurt Kreuger is a researcher, consultant, and educator in the area of complex systems and public health. He works with government agencies, universities, and other organizations on topics related to suicidal behavior, obesity, homelessness, and health care. He holds a PhD... Read More →
Dr. Amelia Villagomez is Associate Program Director of the Integrative Psychiatry Program at the University of Arizona and adjunct faculty in the Psychiatry Department at UT Southwestern. She has published on nonpharmacologic approaches for mental disorders and is a child/adult psychiatrist... Read More →
Jesse Villagomez worked in Process Improvement at Verizon and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and has served on various Baha’i institutions and committees. Jesse, who is of Hispanic backgroud, is presenting at the ABS Conference for the first time.
This session for youth aged 15–21 will be a conversation exploring how young people can respond to the challenges facing humanity with purpose and hope drawing on the Bahá’í Teachings. In light of guidance from the Universal House of Justice, participants will reflect together on their response to the conflicts and crises facing humanity and on the constructive role they can play in fostering unity and promoting justice through their conversations with peers, engagement in their studies and work, and contributions to the betterment of their communities.
Building Vibrant Communities Through Art is an experiential workshop grounded in Bahá’í principles of collaboration, connection, and consultation. Participants will engage in reflective practices, dynamic art-making, and meaningful dialogue to explore how creative processes can inspire community-building efforts. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, attendees will generate insights and practical tools to foster unity, strengthen connections, and nurture vibrant, spiritually grounded communities. This interactive session invites participants of all artistic abilities to experience the transformative power of the arts in creating spaces for collective growth and learning.
Ania Telfer, M.C. is a a Certified Canadian Counsellor, intuitive, multi-disciplinary artist and experiential arts therapist. A third culture kid with roots in Poland and raised in Toronto, she has lived and studied globally. Ania combines creativity, spirituality, and neuroscience... Read More →
Language is more than a tool for communication—it shapes our very perception of reality. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and the Bahá’í principle of the power of words, this presentation explores how our emotional vocabulary influences our ability to connect, resolve conflict, and cultivate unity. Just as the Bahá’í Writings emphasize the transformative power of speech, expanding our emotional language refines our capacity for consultation, empathy, and detachment from ego in discourse. This talk challenges us to move beyond the limits of our learned communication habits and embrace the spiritual potential of words that uplift, clarify, and unify.
Parham Holakouee is a professor at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology. He received his BA and MBA at UCLA, JD from Columbia Law School, MS from UC Berkeley, and is completing his PhD at UC Berkeley in Spring 2025. He has created educational curricula... Read More →
As a family and addictions doctor with 30 years of experience working in Alberta, I would like to share experiences of helping people improve their health through consultation with patients, and creating the environment where a healing community can form amongst clinic patients and beyond. This presentation will include sharing by a member of an oft-ignored minority, and how the lack of consultation about health lead to a tragedy, and the moving beyond this to create better health for all.
I became a Baha'i during my first year of medical school, and remain excited to this day of the power of unity and consultation for healing. I trained in family medicine and addiction medicine, and mostly worked from a solutions-focussed framework. I have worked in jails, psychiatric... Read More →
Joan Young proposes to look at her rekindling of friendship with Indigenous Bahá’ís whom she first met in the 1970s — as well as her visits with their non-Indigenous friends — to collect life stories. She aims to demonstrate the profound value of friendship across the cultural divide and to connect these relationships to the current dialogue around Truth and Reconciliation. She contends that building "common memory," a term used by Indigenous leader, Georges Erasmus, is essential in the building of community. Participants will be inspired to write the unique histories which they have access to.
Joan Young has lived in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains most of her life. Talk to her about heartfelt sharing between people from differing cultural 'silos', and in particular, having Indigenous individuals share their stories with you. Joan's professional life was spent teaching... Read More →
In 2017 the Universal House of Justice offered a seminal letter that raised the principle of economic justice more prominently in our collective consciousness. Juxtaposing economic justice with America’s race unity challenge creates a fascinating opportunity to examine both principles. Various sincere experiments have attempted to reduce wealth inequity post-the U.S. Civil War. This presentation will consider prominent examples, and their efficacy in mitigating structural and generational poverty. The cases will be viewed critically through the Faith’s view of societal prosperity. Finally, we will examine the Institution of Huquq’u’llah’s role in providing an economic justice framework.
Shamim Maani’s education and professional experience have focused on financial markets and economics. He began his career at Lehman Brothers in New York and he served 3 years in the Baha’i World Center Treasury office in Haifa. He currently oversees Product and Technology Change... Read More →
On most college and university campuses today, there is an evolving professional discourse on pedagogy for higher education. How are insights and experiences gained through the training institute and related educational endeavors informing the pedagogy of those who teach in higher education? What might we contribute, in this regard, to the prevalent discourse on higher educational pedagogy? Also, what are we learning about bringing Bahá’í insights and experiences to bear in the content of relevant courses? And what are the pedagogical principles that might guide and justify such efforts?
Julia Berger teaches in the Department of Religion at Montclair State University in Montclair NJ -- a public research university, designated as Hispanic Serving Institution. Julia has served as Secretary of the Association for Baha'i Studies, Principal Researcher at the Baha'i International... Read More →
Michael Karlberg is a professor of Communication Studies at Western Washington University. His scholarship interrogates the intellectual foundations of Western civilization, including conceptions of human nature, power, social organization, and social change. His first book, Beyond... Read More →
Derik Smith chairs the Literature Department at Claremont McKenna College. His work focuses on analysis of American culture and, particularly, African American literary culture. He is the author of many articles and the book, Robert Hayden In Verse: New Histories of African American... Read More →
Negin Toosi is an Associate Professor of psychology at California State University – East Bay. She is an experimental social psychologist with a focus on diversity and intergroup relations. Her research has been featured in Psychological Bulletin, Journal of Experimental Social... Read More →
This presentation examines the role of service-learning in the moral and intellectual empowerment of students in a Baha’i-inspired secondary school. Elements our service-learning framework includes a school culture of service and moral capability development, the implementation of “The World Citizenship Curriculum”, and collaboration with the Baha’i Training Institute. Through this framework, students translate knowledge into meaningful service, nurture moral development and enhance understanding of and commitment to addressing social realities. We will discuss the impact of this framework on students, questions and challenges and its implications for the discourse on education.
Tahirih Naylor has a law degree in international, comparative and transnational law. She was a representative for the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations for four years then went on to become an Associate Professor at Brescia University. She is currently the Chair... Read More →
Gordon Naylor has completed graduate studies in international education and educational administration. Mr.Naylor is the the Executive Director of his privately owned social service agency for residential treatment which now employs more than three hundred and fifty employees and... Read More →
Sonja Rowhani has a M.Sc. in Computer Science. She currently serves as Vice Principal at Nancy Campbell Academy. Her interests lie at the intersection and integration of spiritual and material education.
Shabnam Tashakour has an M.A. in Child Studies and Education and is a Certified Teacher in Ontario. She has worked in the field of Education and community development both within and outside of the Baha’i community. She is currently teaching and coordinating the service-learning... Read More →
Informed by the Promise of World Peace and founded in the centrality of peace i Bahá’u’llah’s revelation, the presentation will explore how peace is essential for health and that violence to manage conflict is unhealthy. It will examine the current increasing impact of war preparation on the current polycrisis. It will examine barriers and challenges. It will explore the role of the individual, the community and the institutions with a particular focus on the role of civil society. It will lead to a consultation as to how Baha’is might become more meaningfully involved. It will be of particular interest to those involved in health care but will be of interest to all who are concerned with the well-being of humanity.
Recently retired full service family physician with expertise in obstetrics, public health and emergency care; President, International Physicians for the Prevention on Nuclear War Canada; Chair, Baha’i Medical Association of Canada (inactive).
This presentation shares emerging research highlighting the impact of purpose and mindfulness on youth behavior, revealing that risky behaviors including dangerous driving and crashes are significantly lower when young people report higher levels of mindfulness, and have a sense of purpose that centers on service to their community. This suggest that some adolescent risky behaviors could be mitigated with the presence of meaning and purpose in life. Reframing risky behaviors as a symptom of diminished sense of life purpose underscores the need to address more broadly existential dimensions in behavioral science. Reflections on initial experiences of offering these findings in academic settings will also be presented.
In this presentation I explain how a Bahá’í discourse can offer a timely, comprehensive, and above all viable alternative to the principal theory informing international relations, namely political realism. This Bahá’í alternative provides the theoretical condition of possibility for a lasting, all-inclusive global peace. Drawing on the writings of Baha’u’llah, in addition to those of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice, I unpack the Baha’i prerequisites for world peace, in the process mapping out the contours of an alternative global order upon which such a peace can be realized and sustained. It will be argued here that, at this juncture in history, achieving global peace is within sight despite the current status quo in international affairs. However, what remains to be seen is whether this peace can be attained through global deliberation or upon suffering an unprecedented global calamity.
Navid Pourmokhtari is Assistant Professor of Governance, Law, and Management at Athabasca University. His teaching and research interests lie in gender and global governance, social movements and revolutions, and international peace and security. He is the author of Toward a Paradigm... Read More →
This session explores the distinctiveness of the Bahá’í approach to democracy. It begins by reviewing arguments concerning the fragility of democracy in classical political theory and diagnoses its current plight in modern political science. Then, focusing on the Guardian’s statement that the Administrative Order “blends and harmonizes… the salutary truths” of recognized systems of government, it considers five dimensions of the Bahá’í system that stand in productive contrast with mainstream conceptions of democracy. The goal is not to merely critique these conceptions, but rather to suggest ways in which to advance our capacity to articulate a distinctive contribution to discourse.
Michael is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Toronto. His research involves putting a Bahá'í framework for governance into dialogue with political philosophy. He is a lawyer by training, having practiced constitutional litigation in Ottawa after clerking... Read More →
Todd Smith holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto where he focused on developing a consultative epistemology concerning health, illness, and disease. He has since published articles on epistemology, the harmony of science and religion, freedom, and historical consciousness... Read More →
Neuroscience findings shape society’s understanding of human nature. Studies linking prejudice, violence, and rebellious behavior to brain function are often accepted as evidence that our lower nature is hard-wired and inescapable. However, the conceptual framework of the Bahá’í community situates humanity in an age of transition, emerging out of adolescence and advancing towards collective maturity. In this light, neuroscientific findings can be viewed as snapshots in time, and reflections of current culture, rather than immutable features of brain function. This presentation explores how neuroscience can be aligned with our framework, deepening our understanding of human potential.
Tara Raam is a neuroscientist and postdoctoral research fellow at UCLA. Her research examines how social groups coordinate their behavior together to respond to environmental challenges, as a model to understand the relationship between the individual and the collective. She is broadly... Read More →
This informal session is open to all who are interested in learning more about the opportunity to offer a period of service at the Bahá’í World Centre. Representatives from the Office of Personnel will be present to share insights about various avenues of service and to address any questions about this unique opportunity to serve in the Holy Land.
