Loading…
Thursday, July 31
 

9:00am MDT

Advancing Organizations seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
As organizations struggle to adapt to ever-changing conditions in an era of relentless change, social turmoil and economic uncertainty, it is becoming clearer that an organization’s underlying structures, processes and culture play a crucial role in its ability to serve its stakeholders. What are the key factors that either enable or inhibit an organization to rise to the challenges of this unique time in human history? What animating principles should guide the structure, processes and culture of organizations that are equipped both to fulfill their mission and purpose and create an environment where the capacities of its members are more fully cultivated?

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Arts seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar will focus on gaining a greater appreciation of the incredible healing power of the arts, including art forms traditionally viewed as “crafts,” and gracefully integrating them into joyful community activities and celebrations. Current art criticism is increasingly focusing on diverse narratives, inclusivity and accessibility, globalization, and the use of social media. We will touch on some of these currents and, by blending scholarly analysis with hands-on creative activities, we will foster a space to reflect on the arts' role “as an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge and consolidating understanding” (Universal House of Justice).

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Climate Change seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
The environment is among Nine Year Plan concerns identified by the House of Justice. This seminar includes a day in nature, led by a retired environmental officer, and a day of study and discussion. We’ll share highlights from several years of Climate/Environment reading groups. Together, we’ll consult about present and future learning and action with many potential allies. Advance readings will help us look at what is currently known, likely projections and what they mean for our lives. Questions to discuss include: what will the change process look like in 2030, 2050 and later; what will the world be like? What kinds of institutions, community life, and individual qualities are needed to manage these challenges? How can we infuse Bahá’í principles of unity, love, justice and moderation into discourses? What process do we use to assess new phenomena and avoid falling prey to misinformation and disinformation?
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Evolution and Consciousness I seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Evolution and Consciousness II seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Indigenous Studies seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
In this enquiry-based, participatory, arts and science-centered seminar, participants will explore paths to reconciliation using Bahá'í consultation and Indigenous wisdom. It will build on the learning of previous reading groups and last year's seminar in a cooperative setting in a humble posture of learning and mutual respect. Reconciliation is a process rather than an event, a marathon rather than a sprint. Our consultation will center around Bahá'u'lláh's pivotal principle of the oneness of humanity, the nobility of the human soul, unity in diversity, love, and service to humanity following the guidance and goals of the global Nine Year Plan to release the Faith's society-building powers. Participants may send their questions, art contributions, relevant quotes, and topics for consideration. There are required preparatory materials as well as recommended materials for this seminar. Participant registration signifies a commitment to participating for both days of the seminar.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Introductory Economics seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar may be of interest to undergraduate students (in any discipline) who have taken at least one introductory economics course, graduate students, or others that work with discourses about economic life. It invites participants into a conversation in which the content of introductory economics courses are considered in light of the Bahá’í teachings and learning of the community in its efforts for social transformation. The aim is to encourage coherent thinking as students encounter ideas that are less than fully aligned with the Revelation and with the needs of the age.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Libraries seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What commonalities do the community building goals of the Faith and public libraries share? How does librarianship conceive of human nature, and in what ways do these conceptions align with or pull away from conceptions found in the Writings? How does an historical view of librarianship evolve to meet the current needs of the Faith’s work in building community? How might access to information in a public library play a role in community building?
This seminar will explore the library as a social institution, its varied structures and functions, as well as its interaction with the community and with other institutions. Using conceptions of the library found in the writings of the Guardian, and comparing these conceptions to recent literature in librarianship and information studies, participants will elaborate a vision of the role of libraries in community building. Community building is a core value of librarianship and of the Bahá’í Faith. The library is a space where this value can be expressed both through direct Bahá’í educational activities and through contributing to conversations within the profession. Identifying connections between conceptions of community building drawn from librarianship and drawn from the conceptual framework of the Faith will strengthen our ability to make these contributions. Librarians have an opportunity to learn how insights from the Bahá’í Writings and the framework for action can be expressed in the many social spaces afforded through the profession of librarianship. The library is one among many institutions that make up the fabric of a society. Learning to analyze and imagine new directions for these institutions is one aspect of how we can contribute to the transformation of society in a more coherent way.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Mental Health seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar is designed for participants engaged directly within the field of mental health or education. Mental health challenges at any stage of life carry with them not only personal suffering and collective grief, but they may also keep hidden the society-building capabilities latent within each person. In North America we are seeing growing rates of depression, self-harm, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health challenges. In a continuation from the last several thematic seminars we will consider: What current conceptual models are used to understand mental health and illness and to inform treatment approaches, and what are their limitations and assumptions? What constitutes a vibrant community with respect to emotional and psychological well-being? What supports do communities need to better foster the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and groups? What current barriers exist to accessing mental health resources in our communities? Who are our vulnerable and historically underserved demographics within our communities? What support would institutions such as Local Spiritual Assemblies need to better address complex mental health challenges within our communities?

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Next Economic Systems seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What is an economic system meant to solve for? What would spiritually rooted economic frameworks (for production, commerce, consumption, etc.) look like? What are the guiding principles on which it would be based? How does learning within and beyond the Bahá’í community advance our understanding of the roles of the three protagonists–the individual, the community and institutions–in an economy that serves the needs of humanity in the process of advancing civilization? In what ways does this learning help us redefine concepts of power and justice? For example, how might it be helpful to think of power in terms of collective action, or sacrificial effort? Or to think in terms of contributive justice? Although the Bahá’í teachings do not prescribe an economic system for the future, it is clear that the current system is lamentably defective and will need to evolve in order to better serve the needs of humanity. New patterns of economic life will emerge through processes of learning in action, in which spiritual principle is applied to meet the needs of communities and populations. This seminar aims to reflect on the experience and thought of the cooperative movement and broader endeavors to reshape economic institutions, systems, relationships and processes, and to correlate these with insights from the teachings of the Faith and the experiences of the Bahá’í community.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form. 
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

PAR seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
Participatory action research (PAR) is a methodology gaining traction for its collaborative and emancipatory approach. Rooted in social justice movements, PAR emphasizes involving those most affected by research in knowledge production and action to challenge inequalities. It recognizes the agency and expertise of communities, contesting traditional notions of objectivity and offering pathways for systematic inquiry and action for justice. This seminar explores how PAR principles can cohere with Bahá'í community actions and how both can learn from each other, fostering dialogue between students, scholars, and community members.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Power of Expression seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This thematic seminar is dedicated to exploring the role of diversity and universal participation in releasing the power of expression in light of the Bahá’í Writings. Communication and expression across modalities, purposes, and peoples will be analyzed. Types of diversity explored will include linguistic, neurological, disability/ability, racial, gender, and types of artistic and cultural diversity. Some perspectives from the field of speech-language pathology will be given in this seminar. However, professionals from all fields are encouraged to participate.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Professional Identity in the Health Field seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
The concepts of oneness and unity are fundamental within the Bahá’í Faith and have tremendous implications for a society plagued by a crisis of identity. In the health field, numerous professionals trained in various disciplines and domains exist, and while the underlying goal of most professionals is to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities, immense challenges around professional identity inhibit many from engaging in this noble aspiration. Polarizing identities furthered by lack of trust between professional bodies, artificial power dynamics, and dissonance between capacity to serve and politically defined domains of practice are among some of the challenges that health professionals experience. These challenges can hinder willingness to engage in multiple disciplinary work, despite how necessary it has become. In this thematic seminar, we will explore the following two questions: (1) What would a definition for professional identity look like, when informed by the Bahá’í approach to oneness and unity?; and (2) How would this definition guide the development of a practical framework for collaborative practice in the health field?

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Science & Religion seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What are the implications for discourse that the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is “scientific in its method”? To promote discourse, can we draw on the concept of an evolving conceptual framework in a mode of learning? What role might spiritual virtues play in doing science? How do we engage our academic and professional peers in meaningful discourse on the ‘problems afflicting humanity’? In this seminar we will explore these questions by studying selected passages from the Bahá’í writings on the harmony of science and religion and the concept of the Revelation being ‘scientific in its method’, the need for ‘a humble posture of learning’, and the concept of an evolving conceptual framework for action and scholarship. Participants will be sent material in advance which they will be expected to have read before the start of the seminar. The objective of this seminar is to explore the coherence between science and religion, which provides a counter-balance to materialism and reductionism within academic discourse, within the professions, and in the wider world of thought.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Social Change seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Systems Science seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
How does thinking of the whole community enable grass-roots efforts to be more effective? How can learning be more efficiently shared across seemingly different communities? How can teams use systems tools to improve the quality of consultation as we work towards a shared understanding of our reality? Systems science, the “science of the whole”, has a rich history in fields as diverse as public health, organizational management, and supply chains. The history of the Bahá’í Faith is full of examples of systems science concepts being used in the worldwide teaching plans. This seminar will explore systems concepts and tools, especially causal loop diagrams, in an interactive manner. Throughout, we will be applying these methods and approaches to the context of the 9-Year Plan. This seminar is developed for those without any experience in systems science methods.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Technological Choice seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
The discourse on technology and society points to an urgent need for communities to strengthen their capacity to make wise choices about technology. Building on concepts from Reflections on the Advancement of Technology and Society, this seminar will examine some requisite capabilities and institutional arrangements that facilitate this strengthening. Drawing on insights and case studies from the discourse, participants will be challenged to apply the framework for action to questions such as: what social forces reduce technological choice to either personal preference or institutional imposition? How can communities evaluate choices about technology? What institutional arrangements make such choices more or less amenable to revision in light of learning processes at the level of the community? Grappling with these issues in a focused environment will prepare participants to elevate conversations about technology in their home communities and begin a process of building the capacities examined throughout the seminar.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Technology and Society seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What does it mean to articulate a Bahá'í perspective on technology? How can our conceptual framework (as it relates to technology) be progressively shaped by the principles of the Bahá'í Faith and the experience of our community? The purpose of this seminar will be to examine some central concepts related to technology and the advancement of civilization. Participants will be able to articulate how elements of the conceptual framework apply to questions surrounding technology during humanity’s passage to maturity. We will cultivate the essential capability to evaluate the intellectual foundations of discourses about technology and society. Our exploration will assist us to move beyond a view of technology as “a neutral means to freely-chosen ends” by appreciating the power of technology to shape thought and action. We will critically examine prevalent notions about the proliferation of technology and its relationship to social transformation.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Underlying Assumptions in Health seminar - Thursday AM
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar aims to bring together students and those in the first several years of work in the field of healthcare to examine some underlying assumptions shaping contemporary approaches to health and health care systems. How do these assumptions affect our attitudes and approaches to wellbeing? What insights from the framework of the nine year plan can assist us in re-examining some of these assumptions? Particular topics of focus may include defining health, the role of illness and the human condition, and manifestations of illness at the level of the individual and society. We hope this space will provide an opportunity for reflection as we take our next steps into the field of health care and align our patterns of thought and action with the Revelation. This seminar is intended for undergraduate students, graduate students and those in professional health training (medicine, dentistry, etc), as well as those in the first few years of practice.

This seminar is by invitation. To apply, fill this form.
Thursday July 31, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Advancing Organizations seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
As organizations struggle to adapt to ever-changing conditions in an era of relentless change, social turmoil and economic uncertainty, it is becoming clearer that an organization’s underlying structures, processes and culture play a crucial role in its ability to serve its stakeholders. What are the key factors that either enable or inhibit an organization to rise to the challenges of this unique time in human history? What animating principles should guide the structure, processes and culture of organizations that are equipped both to fulfill their mission and purpose and create an environment where the capacities of its members are more fully cultivated?
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Arts seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar will focus on gaining a greater appreciation of the incredible healing power of the arts, including art forms traditionally viewed as “crafts,” and gracefully integrating them into joyful community activities and celebrations. Current art criticism is increasingly focusing on diverse narratives, inclusivity and accessibility, globalization, and the use of social media. We will touch on some of these currents and, by blending scholarly analysis with hands-on creative activities, we will foster a space to reflect on the arts' role “as an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge and consolidating understanding” (Universal House of Justice).
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Climate Change seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
The environment is among Nine Year Plan concerns identified by the House of Justice. This seminar includes a day in nature, led by a retired environmental officer, and a day of study and discussion. We’ll share highlights from several years of Climate/Environment reading groups. Together, we’ll consult about present and future learning and action with many potential allies. Advance readings will help us look at what is currently known, likely projections and what they mean for our lives. Questions to discuss include: what will the change process look like in 2030, 2050 and later; what will the world be like? What kinds of institutions, community life, and individual qualities are needed to manage these challenges? How can we infuse Bahá’í principles of unity, love, justice and moderation into discourses? What process do we use to assess new phenomena and avoid falling prey to misinformation and disinformation?
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Evolution and Consciousness I seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Evolution and Consciousness II seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Indigenous Studies seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
In this enquiry-based, participatory, arts and science-centered seminar, participants will explore paths to reconciliation using Bahá'í consultation and Indigenous wisdom. It will build on the learning of previous reading groups and last year's seminar in a cooperative setting in a humble posture of learning and mutual respect. Reconciliation is a process rather than an event, a marathon rather than a sprint. Our consultation will center around Bahá'u'lláh's pivotal principle of the oneness of humanity, the nobility of the human soul, unity in diversity, love, and service to humanity following the guidance and goals of the global Nine Year Plan to release the Faith's society-building powers. Participants may send their questions, art contributions, relevant quotes, and topics for consideration. There are required preparatory materials as well as recommended materials for this seminar. Participant registration signifies a commitment to participating for both days of the seminar.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Introductory Economics seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar may be of interest to undergraduate students (in any discipline) who have taken at least one introductory economics course, graduate students, or others that work with discourses about economic life. It invites participants into a conversation in which the content of introductory economics courses are considered in light of the Bahá’í teachings and learning of the community in its efforts for social transformation. The aim is to encourage coherent thinking as students encounter ideas that are less than fully aligned with the Revelation and with the needs of the age.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Libraries seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
What commonalities do the community building goals of the Faith and public libraries share? How does librarianship conceive of human nature, and in what ways do these conceptions align with or pull away from conceptions found in the Writings? How does an historical view of librarianship evolve to meet the current needs of the Faith’s work in building community? How might access to information in a public library play a role in community building?
This seminar will explore the library as a social institution, its varied structures and functions, as well as its interaction with the community and with other institutions. Using conceptions of the library found in the writings of the Guardian, and comparing these conceptions to recent literature in librarianship and information studies, participants will elaborate a vision of the role of libraries in community building. Community building is a core value of librarianship and of the Bahá’í Faith. The library is a space where this value can be expressed both through direct Bahá’í educational activities and through contributing to conversations within the profession. Identifying connections between conceptions of community building drawn from librarianship and drawn from the conceptual framework of the Faith will strengthen our ability to make these contributions. Librarians have an opportunity to learn how insights from the Bahá’í Writings and the framework for action can be expressed in the many social spaces afforded through the profession of librarianship. The library is one among many institutions that make up the fabric of a society. Learning to analyze and imagine new directions for these institutions is one aspect of how we can contribute to the transformation of society in a more coherent way.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Mental Health seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar is designed for participants engaged directly within the field of mental health or education. Mental health challenges at any stage of life carry with them not only personal suffering and collective grief, but they may also keep hidden the society-building capabilities latent within each person. In North America we are seeing growing rates of depression, self-harm, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health challenges. In a continuation from the last several thematic seminars we will consider: What current conceptual models are used to understand mental health and illness and to inform treatment approaches, and what are their limitations and assumptions? What constitutes a vibrant community with respect to emotional and psychological well-being? What supports do communities need to better foster the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and groups? What current barriers exist to accessing mental health resources in our communities? Who are our vulnerable and historically underserved demographics within our communities? What support would institutions such as Local Spiritual Assemblies need to better address complex mental health challenges within our communities?
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Next Economic Systems seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
What is an economic system meant to solve for? What would spiritually rooted economic frameworks (for production, commerce, consumption, etc.) look like? What are the guiding principles on which it would be based? How does learning within and beyond the Bahá’í community advance our understanding of the roles of the three protagonists–the individual, the community and institutions–in an economy that serves the needs of humanity in the process of advancing civilization? In what ways does this learning help us redefine concepts of power and justice? For example, how might it be helpful to think of power in terms of collective action, or sacrificial effort? Or to think in terms of contributive justice? Although the Bahá’í teachings do not prescribe an economic system for the future, it is clear that the current system is lamentably defective and will need to evolve in order to better serve the needs of humanity. New patterns of economic life will emerge through processes of learning in action, in which spiritual principle is applied to meet the needs of communities and populations. This seminar aims to reflect on the experience and thought of the cooperative movement and broader endeavors to reshape economic institutions, systems, relationships and processes, and to correlate these with insights from the teachings of the Faith and the experiences of the Bahá’í community.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

PAR seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
Participatory action research (PAR) is a methodology gaining traction for its collaborative and emancipatory approach. Rooted in social justice movements, PAR emphasizes involving those most affected by research in knowledge production and action to challenge inequalities. It recognizes the agency and expertise of communities, contesting traditional notions of objectivity and offering pathways for systematic inquiry and action for justice. This seminar explores how PAR principles can cohere with Bahá'í community actions and how both can learn from each other, fostering dialogue between students, scholars, and community members.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Power of Expression seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This thematic seminar is dedicated to exploring the role of diversity and universal participation in releasing the power of expression in light of the Bahá’í Writings. Communication and expression across modalities, purposes, and peoples will be analyzed. Types of diversity explored will include linguistic, neurological, disability/ability, racial, gender, and types of artistic and cultural diversity. Some perspectives from the field of speech-language pathology will be given in this seminar. However, professionals from all fields are encouraged to participate.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Professional Identity in the Health Field seminar seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
The concepts of oneness and unity are fundamental within the Bahá’í Faith and have tremendous implications for a society plagued by a crisis of identity. In the health field, numerous professionals trained in various disciplines and domains exist, and while the underlying goal of most professionals is to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities, immense challenges around professional identity inhibit many from engaging in this noble aspiration. Polarizing identities furthered by lack of trust between professional bodies, artificial power dynamics, and dissonance between capacity to serve and politically defined domains of practice are among some of the challenges that health professionals experience. These challenges can hinder willingness to engage in multiple disciplinary work, despite how necessary it has become. In this thematic seminar, we will explore the following two questions: (1) What would a definition for professional identity look like, when informed by the Bahá’í approach to oneness and unity?; and (2) How would this definition guide the development of a practical framework for collaborative practice in the health field?
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Science & Religion seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
Glen 201
What are the implications for discourse that the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is “scientific in its method”? To promote discourse, can we draw on the concept of an evolving conceptual framework in a mode of learning? What role might spiritual virtues play in doing science? How do we engage our academic and professional peers in meaningful discourse on the ‘problems afflicting humanity’? In this seminar we will explore these questions by studying selected passages from the Bahá’í writings on the harmony of science and religion and the concept of the Revelation being ‘scientific in its method’, the need for ‘a humble posture of learning’, and the concept of an evolving conceptual framework for action and scholarship. Participants will be sent material in advance which they will be expected to have read before the start of the seminar. The objective of this seminar is to explore the coherence between science and religion, which provides a counter-balance to materialism and reductionism within academic discourse, within the professions, and in the wider world of thought.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
Glen 201 South building - 2nd level
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Social Change seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Systems Science seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
How does thinking of the whole community enable grass-roots efforts to be more effective? How can learning be more efficiently shared across seemingly different communities? How can teams use systems tools to improve the quality of consultation as we work towards a shared understanding of our reality? Systems science, the “science of the whole”, has a rich history in fields as diverse as public health, organizational management, and supply chains. The history of the Bahá’í faith is full of examples of systems science concepts being used in the worldwide teaching plans. This seminar will explore systems concepts and tools, especially causal loop diagrams, in an interactive manner. Throughout, we will be applying these methods and approaches to the context of the 9-year plan. This seminar is developed for those without any experience in systems science methods.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Technological Choice seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
The discourse on technology and society points to an urgent need for communities to strengthen their capacity to make wise choices about technology. Building on concepts from Reflections on the Advancement of Technology and Society, this seminar will examine some requisite capabilities and institutional arrangements that facilitate this strengthening. Drawing on insights and case studies from the discourse, participants will be challenged to apply the framework for action to questions such as: what social forces reduce technological choice to either personal preference or institutional imposition? How can communities evaluate choices about technology? What institutional arrangements make such choices more or less amenable to revision in light of learning processes at the level of the community? Grappling with these issues in a focused environment will prepare participants to elevate conversations about technology in their home communities and begin a process of building the capacities examined throughout the seminar.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Technology and Society seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
What does it mean to articulate a Bahá'í perspective on technology? How can our conceptual framework (as it relates to technology) be progressively shaped by the principles of the Bahá'í Faith and the experience of our community? The purpose of this seminar will be to examine some central concepts related to technology and the advancement of civilization. Participants will be able to articulate how elements of the conceptual framework apply to questions surrounding technology during humanity’s passage to maturity. We will cultivate the essential capability to evaluate the intellectual foundations of discourses about technology and society. Our exploration will assist us to move beyond a view of technology as “a neutral means to freely-chosen ends” by appreciating the power of technology to shape thought and action. We will critically examine prevalent notions about the proliferation of technology and its relationship to social transformation.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Underlying Assumptions in Health seminar - Thursday PM
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar aims to bring together students and those in the first several years of work in the field of healthcare to examine some underlying assumptions shaping contemporary approaches to health and health care systems. How do these assumptions affect our attitudes and approaches to wellbeing? What insights from the framework of the nine year plan can assist us in re-examining some of these assumptions? Particular topics of focus may include defining health, the role of illness and the human condition, and manifestations of illness at the level of the individual and society. We hope this space will provide an opportunity for reflection as we take our next steps into the field of health care and align our patterns of thought and action with the Revelation. This seminar is intended for undergraduate students, graduate students and those in professional health training (medicine, dentistry, etc), as well as those in the first few years of practice.
Thursday July 31, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar
 
Friday, August 1
 

9:00am MDT

Advancing Organizations seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
As organizations struggle to adapt to ever-changing conditions in an era of relentless change, social turmoil and economic uncertainty, it is becoming clearer that an organization’s underlying structures, processes and culture play a crucial role in its ability to serve its stakeholders. What are the key factors that either enable or inhibit an organization to rise to the challenges of this unique time in human history? What animating principles should guide the structure, processes and culture of organizations that are equipped both to fulfill their mission and purpose and create an environment where the capacities of its members are more fully cultivated?
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Arts seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar will focus on gaining a greater appreciation of the incredible healing power of the arts, including art forms traditionally viewed as “crafts,” and gracefully integrating them into joyful community activities and celebrations. Current art criticism is increasingly focusing on diverse narratives, inclusivity and accessibility, globalization, and the use of social media. We will touch on some of these currents and, by blending scholarly analysis with hands-on creative activities, we will foster a space to reflect on the arts' role “as an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge and consolidating understanding” (Universal House of Justice).
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Climate Change seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
The environment is among Nine Year Plan concerns identified by the House of Justice. This seminar includes a day in nature, led by a retired environmental officer, and a day of study and discussion. We’ll share highlights from several years of Climate/Environment reading groups. Together, we’ll consult about present and future learning and action with many potential allies. Advance readings will help us look at what is currently known, likely projections and what they mean for our lives. Questions to discuss include: what will the change process look like in 2030, 2050 and later; what will the world be like? What kinds of institutions, community life, and individual qualities are needed to manage these challenges? How can we infuse Bahá’í principles of unity, love, justice and moderation into discourses? What process do we use to assess new phenomena and avoid falling prey to misinformation and disinformation?
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Evolution and Consciousness I seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Evolution and Consciousness II seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Indigenous Studies seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
In this enquiry-based, participatory, arts and science-centered seminar, participants will explore paths to reconciliation using Bahá'í consultation and Indigenous wisdom. It will build on the learning of previous reading groups and last year's seminar in a cooperative setting in a humble posture of learning and mutual respect. Reconciliation is a process rather than an event, a marathon rather than a sprint. Our consultation will center around Bahá'u'lláh's pivotal principle of the oneness of humanity, the nobility of the human soul, unity in diversity, love, and service to humanity following the guidance and goals of the global Nine Year Plan to release the Faith's society-building powers. Participants may send their questions, art contributions, relevant quotes, and topics for consideration. There are required preparatory materials as well as recommended materials for this seminar. Participant registration signifies a commitment to participating for both days of the seminar.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Introductory Economics seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar may be of interest to undergraduate students (in any discipline) who have taken at least one introductory economics course, graduate students, or others that work with discourses about economic life. It invites participants into a conversation in which the content of introductory economics courses are considered in light of the Bahá’í teachings and learning of the community in its efforts for social transformation. The aim is to encourage coherent thinking as students encounter ideas that are less than fully aligned with the Revelation and with the needs of the age.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Libraries seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What commonalities do the community building goals of the Faith and public libraries share? How does librarianship conceive of human nature, and in what ways do these conceptions align with or pull away from conceptions found in the Writings? How does an historical view of librarianship evolve to meet the current needs of the Faith’s work in building community? How might access to information in a public library play a role in community building?
This seminar will explore the library as a social institution, its varied structures and functions, as well as its interaction with the community and with other institutions. Using conceptions of the library found in the writings of the Guardian, and comparing these conceptions to recent literature in librarianship and information studies, participants will elaborate a vision of the role of libraries in community building. Community building is a core value of librarianship and of the Bahá’í Faith. The library is a space where this value can be expressed both through direct Bahá’í educational activities and through contributing to conversations within the profession. Identifying connections between conceptions of community building drawn from librarianship and drawn from the conceptual framework of the Faith will strengthen our ability to make these contributions. Librarians have an opportunity to learn how insights from the Bahá’í Writings and the framework for action can be expressed in the many social spaces afforded through the profession of librarianship. The library is one among many institutions that make up the fabric of a society. Learning to analyze and imagine new directions for these institutions is one aspect of how we can contribute to the transformation of society in a more coherent way.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Mental Health seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar is designed for participants engaged directly within the field of mental health or education. Mental health challenges at any stage of life carry with them not only personal suffering and collective grief, but they may also keep hidden the society-building capabilities latent within each person. In North America we are seeing growing rates of depression, self-harm, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health challenges. In a continuation from the last several thematic seminars we will consider: What current conceptual models are used to understand mental health and illness and to inform treatment approaches, and what are their limitations and assumptions? What constitutes a vibrant community with respect to emotional and psychological well-being? What supports do communities need to better foster the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and groups? What current barriers exist to accessing mental health resources in our communities? Who are our vulnerable and historically underserved demographics within our communities? What support would institutions such as Local Spiritual Assemblies need to better address complex mental health challenges within our communities?
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Next Economic Systems seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What is an economic system meant to solve for? What would spiritually rooted economic frameworks (for production, commerce, consumption, etc.) look like? What are the guiding principles on which it would be based? How does learning within and beyond the Bahá’í community advance our understanding of the roles of the three protagonists–the individual, the community and institutions–in an economy that serves the needs of humanity in the process of advancing civilization? In what ways does this learning help us redefine concepts of power and justice? For example, how might it be helpful to think of power in terms of collective action, or sacrificial effort? Or to think in terms of contributive justice? Although the Bahá’í teachings do not prescribe an economic system for the future, it is clear that the current system is lamentably defective and will need to evolve in order to better serve the needs of humanity. New patterns of economic life will emerge through processes of learning in action, in which spiritual principle is applied to meet the needs of communities and populations. This seminar aims to reflect on the experience and thought of the cooperative movement and broader endeavors to reshape economic institutions, systems, relationships and processes, and to correlate these with insights from the teachings of the Faith and the experiences of the Bahá’í community.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

PAR seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
Participatory action research (PAR) is a methodology gaining traction for its collaborative and emancipatory approach. Rooted in social justice movements, PAR emphasizes involving those most affected by research in knowledge production and action to challenge inequalities. It recognizes the agency and expertise of communities, contesting traditional notions of objectivity and offering pathways for systematic inquiry and action for justice. This seminar explores how PAR principles can cohere with Bahá'í community actions and how both can learn from each other, fostering dialogue between students, scholars, and community members.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Power of Expression seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This thematic seminar is dedicated to exploring the role of diversity and universal participation in releasing the power of expression in light of the Bahá’í Writings. Communication and expression across modalities, purposes, and peoples will be analyzed. Types of diversity explored will include linguistic, neurological, disability/ability, racial, gender, and types of artistic and cultural diversity. Some perspectives from the field of speech-language pathology will be given in this seminar. However, professionals from all fields are encouraged to participate.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Professional Identity in the Health Field seminar seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
The concepts of oneness and unity are fundamental within the Bahá’í Faith and have tremendous implications for a society plagued by a crisis of identity. In the health field, numerous professionals trained in various disciplines and domains exist, and while the underlying goal of most professionals is to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities, immense challenges around professional identity inhibit many from engaging in this noble aspiration. Polarizing identities furthered by lack of trust between professional bodies, artificial power dynamics, and dissonance between capacity to serve and politically defined domains of practice are among some of the challenges that health professionals experience. These challenges can hinder willingness to engage in multiple disciplinary work, despite how necessary it has become. In this thematic seminar, we will explore the following two questions: (1) What would a definition for professional identity look like, when informed by the Bahá’í approach to oneness and unity?; and (2) How would this definition guide the development of a practical framework for collaborative practice in the health field?
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Science & Religion seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
Glen 201
What are the implications for discourse that the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is “scientific in its method”? To promote discourse, can we draw on the concept of an evolving conceptual framework in a mode of learning? What role might spiritual virtues play in doing science? How do we engage our academic and professional peers in meaningful discourse on the ‘problems afflicting humanity’? In this seminar we will explore these questions by studying selected passages from the Bahá’í writings on the harmony of science and religion and the concept of the Revelation being ‘scientific in its method’, the need for ‘a humble posture of learning’, and the concept of an evolving conceptual framework for action and scholarship. Participants will be sent material in advance which they will be expected to have read before the start of the seminar. The objective of this seminar is to explore the coherence between science and religion, which provides a counter-balance to materialism and reductionism within academic discourse, within the professions, and in the wider world of thought.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
Glen 201 South building - 2nd level
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Social Change seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Systems Science seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
How does thinking of the whole community enable grass-roots efforts to be more effective? How can learning be more efficiently shared across seemingly different communities? How can teams use systems tools to improve the quality of consultation as we work towards a shared understanding of our reality? Systems science, the “science of the whole”, has a rich history in fields as diverse as public health, organizational management, and supply chains. The history of the Bahá’í faith is full of examples of systems science concepts being used in the worldwide teaching plans. This seminar will explore systems concepts and tools, especially causal loop diagrams, in an interactive manner. Throughout, we will be applying these methods and approaches to the context of the 9-year plan. This seminar is developed for those without any experience in systems science methods.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Technological Choice seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
The discourse on technology and society points to an urgent need for communities to strengthen their capacity to make wise choices about technology. Building on concepts from Reflections on the Advancement of Technology and Society, this seminar will examine some requisite capabilities and institutional arrangements that facilitate this strengthening. Drawing on insights and case studies from the discourse, participants will be challenged to apply the framework for action to questions such as: what social forces reduce technological choice to either personal preference or institutional imposition? How can communities evaluate choices about technology? What institutional arrangements make such choices more or less amenable to revision in light of learning processes at the level of the community? Grappling with these issues in a focused environment will prepare participants to elevate conversations about technology in their home communities and begin a process of building the capacities examined throughout the seminar.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Technology and Society seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
What does it mean to articulate a Bahá'í perspective on technology? How can our conceptual framework (as it relates to technology) be progressively shaped by the principles of the Bahá'í Faith and the experience of our community? The purpose of this seminar will be to examine some central concepts related to technology and the advancement of civilization. Participants will be able to articulate how elements of the conceptual framework apply to questions surrounding technology during humanity’s passage to maturity. We will cultivate the essential capability to evaluate the intellectual foundations of discourses about technology and society. Our exploration will assist us to move beyond a view of technology as “a neutral means to freely-chosen ends” by appreciating the power of technology to shape thought and action. We will critically examine prevalent notions about the proliferation of technology and its relationship to social transformation.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

9:00am MDT

Underlying Assumptions in Health seminar - Friday AM
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
This seminar aims to bring together students and those in the first several years of work in the field of healthcare to examine some underlying assumptions shaping contemporary approaches to health and health care systems. How do these assumptions affect our attitudes and approaches to wellbeing? What insights from the framework of the nine year plan can assist us in re-examining some of these assumptions? Particular topics of focus may include defining health, the role of illness and the human condition, and manifestations of illness at the level of the individual and society. We hope this space will provide an opportunity for reflection as we take our next steps into the field of health care and align our patterns of thought and action with the Revelation. This seminar is intended for undergraduate students, graduate students and those in professional health training (medicine, dentistry, etc), as well as those in the first few years of practice.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Seminar

12:00pm MDT

Serving in the Holy Land - Information gathering
Friday August 1, 2025 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
TBA
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.
Friday August 1, 2025 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
TBA

2:00pm MDT

Advancing Organizations seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
As organizations struggle to adapt to ever-changing conditions in an era of relentless change, social turmoil and economic uncertainty, it is becoming clearer that an organization’s underlying structures, processes and culture play a crucial role in its ability to serve its stakeholders. What are the key factors that either enable or inhibit an organization to rise to the challenges of this unique time in human history? What animating principles should guide the structure, processes and culture of organizations that are equipped both to fulfill their mission and purpose and create an environment where the capacities of its members are more fully cultivated?
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Arts seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar will focus on gaining a greater appreciation of the incredible healing power of the arts, including art forms traditionally viewed as “crafts,” and gracefully integrating them into joyful community activities and celebrations. Current art criticism is increasingly focusing on diverse narratives, inclusivity and accessibility, globalization, and the use of social media. We will touch on some of these currents and, by blending scholarly analysis with hands-on creative activities, we will foster a space to reflect on the arts' role “as an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge and consolidating understanding” (Universal House of Justice).
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Climate Change seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
The environment is among Nine Year Plan concerns identified by the House of Justice. This seminar includes a day in nature, led by a retired environmental officer, and a day of study and discussion. We’ll share highlights from several years of Climate/Environment reading groups. Together, we’ll consult about present and future learning and action with many potential allies. Advance readings will help us look at what is currently known, likely projections and what they mean for our lives. Questions to discuss include: what will the change process look like in 2030, 2050 and later; what will the world be like? What kinds of institutions, community life, and individual qualities are needed to manage these challenges? How can we infuse Bahá’í principles of unity, love, justice and moderation into discourses? What process do we use to assess new phenomena and avoid falling prey to misinformation and disinformation?
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Evolution and Consciousness I seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Evolution and Consciousness II seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar is intended for current undergraduate or graduate students and practitioners or researchers working in the biological sciences. Most biology curricula purport to be focused on biological mechanisms. Yet these mechanisms are often interpreted within a materialistic framework, the implications of which are not always apparent to students. Such materialistic interpretations can unfortunately lead students down a line of thought which seems to imply the non-existence of spiritual reality. Two major themes that are often taught this way are evolution and consciousness. These topics are also referenced in the Bahá’í Writings in ways that must be carefully correlated with prevailing scientific findings. This seminar will therefore explore the following questions: What is the relationship between evolutionary biology and the Bahá’í teachings on evolution? What is the relationship between findings from neuroscience and the Bahá’í teachings on the mind and soul? How do social forces influence biological phenomena as well as the study of those phenomena? What qualities, attitudes, skills, and habits of mind can we develop in order to find coherence between scientific findings and insights from the Revelation?
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Indigenous Studies seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
In this enquiry-based, participatory, arts and science-centered seminar, participants will explore paths to reconciliation using Bahá'í consultation and Indigenous wisdom. It will build on the learning of previous reading groups and last year's seminar in a cooperative setting in a humble posture of learning and mutual respect. Reconciliation is a process rather than an event, a marathon rather than a sprint. Our consultation will center around Bahá'u'lláh's pivotal principle of the oneness of humanity, the nobility of the human soul, unity in diversity, love, and service to humanity following the guidance and goals of the global Nine Year Plan to release the Faith's society-building powers. Participants may send their questions, art contributions, relevant quotes, and topics for consideration. There are required preparatory materials as well as recommended materials for this seminar. Participant registration signifies a commitment to participating for both days of the seminar.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Introductory Economics seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar may be of interest to undergraduate students (in any discipline) who have taken at least one introductory economics course, graduate students, or others that work with discourses about economic life. It invites participants into a conversation in which the content of introductory economics courses are considered in light of the Bahá’í teachings and learning of the community in its efforts for social transformation. The aim is to encourage coherent thinking as students encounter ideas that are less than fully aligned with the Revelation and with the needs of the age.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Libraries seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
What commonalities do the community building goals of the Faith and public libraries share? How does librarianship conceive of human nature, and in what ways do these conceptions align with or pull away from conceptions found in the Writings? How does an historical view of librarianship evolve to meet the current needs of the Faith’s work in building community? How might access to information in a public library play a role in community building?
This seminar will explore the library as a social institution, its varied structures and functions, as well as its interaction with the community and with other institutions. Using conceptions of the library found in the writings of the Guardian, and comparing these conceptions to recent literature in librarianship and information studies, participants will elaborate a vision of the role of libraries in community building. Community building is a core value of librarianship and of the Bahá’í Faith. The library is a space where this value can be expressed both through direct Bahá’í educational activities and through contributing to conversations within the profession. Identifying connections between conceptions of community building drawn from librarianship and drawn from the conceptual framework of the Faith will strengthen our ability to make these contributions. Librarians have an opportunity to learn how insights from the Bahá’í Writings and the framework for action can be expressed in the many social spaces afforded through the profession of librarianship. The library is one among many institutions that make up the fabric of a society. Learning to analyze and imagine new directions for these institutions is one aspect of how we can contribute to the transformation of society in a more coherent way.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Mental Health seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar is designed for participants engaged directly within the field of mental health or education. Mental health challenges at any stage of life carry with them not only personal suffering and collective grief, but they may also keep hidden the society-building capabilities latent within each person. In North America we are seeing growing rates of depression, self-harm, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health challenges. In a continuation from the last several thematic seminars we will consider: What current conceptual models are used to understand mental health and illness and to inform treatment approaches, and what are their limitations and assumptions? What constitutes a vibrant community with respect to emotional and psychological well-being? What supports do communities need to better foster the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and groups? What current barriers exist to accessing mental health resources in our communities? Who are our vulnerable and historically underserved demographics within our communities? What support would institutions such as Local Spiritual Assemblies need to better address complex mental health challenges within our communities?
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Next Economic Systems seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
What is an economic system meant to solve for? What would spiritually rooted economic frameworks (for production, commerce, consumption, etc.) look like? What are the guiding principles on which it would be based? How does learning within and beyond the Bahá’í community advance our understanding of the roles of the three protagonists–the individual, the community and institutions–in an economy that serves the needs of humanity in the process of advancing civilization? In what ways does this learning help us redefine concepts of power and justice? For example, how might it be helpful to think of power in terms of collective action, or sacrificial effort? Or to think in terms of contributive justice? Although the Bahá’í teachings do not prescribe an economic system for the future, it is clear that the current system is lamentably defective and will need to evolve in order to better serve the needs of humanity. New patterns of economic life will emerge through processes of learning in action, in which spiritual principle is applied to meet the needs of communities and populations. This seminar aims to reflect on the experience and thought of the cooperative movement and broader endeavors to reshape economic institutions, systems, relationships and processes, and to correlate these with insights from the teachings of the Faith and the experiences of the Bahá’í community.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

PAR seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
Participatory action research (PAR) is a methodology gaining traction for its collaborative and emancipatory approach. Rooted in social justice movements, PAR emphasizes involving those most affected by research in knowledge production and action to challenge inequalities. It recognizes the agency and expertise of communities, contesting traditional notions of objectivity and offering pathways for systematic inquiry and action for justice. This seminar explores how PAR principles can cohere with Bahá'í community actions and how both can learn from each other, fostering dialogue between students, scholars, and community members.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Power of Expression seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This thematic seminar is dedicated to exploring the role of diversity and universal participation in releasing the power of expression in light of the Bahá’í Writings. Communication and expression across modalities, purposes, and peoples will be analyzed. Types of diversity explored will include linguistic, neurological, disability/ability, racial, gender, and types of artistic and cultural diversity. Some perspectives from the field of speech-language pathology will be given in this seminar. However, professionals from all fields are encouraged to participate.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Professional Identity in the Health Field seminar seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
The concepts of oneness and unity are fundamental within the Bahá’í Faith and have tremendous implications for a society plagued by a crisis of identity. In the health field, numerous professionals trained in various disciplines and domains exist, and while the underlying goal of most professionals is to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities, immense challenges around professional identity inhibit many from engaging in this noble aspiration. Polarizing identities furthered by lack of trust between professional bodies, artificial power dynamics, and dissonance between capacity to serve and politically defined domains of practice are among some of the challenges that health professionals experience. These challenges can hinder willingness to engage in multiple disciplinary work, despite how necessary it has become. In this thematic seminar, we will explore the following two questions: (1) What would a definition for professional identity look like, when informed by the Bahá’í approach to oneness and unity?; and (2) How would this definition guide the development of a practical framework for collaborative practice in the health field?
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Science & Religion seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
Glen 201
What are the implications for discourse that the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is “scientific in its method”? To promote discourse, can we draw on the concept of an evolving conceptual framework in a mode of learning? What role might spiritual virtues play in doing science? How do we engage our academic and professional peers in meaningful discourse on the ‘problems afflicting humanity’? In this seminar we will explore these questions by studying selected passages from the Bahá’í writings on the harmony of science and religion and the concept of the Revelation being ‘scientific in its method’, the need for ‘a humble posture of learning’, and the concept of an evolving conceptual framework for action and scholarship. Participants will be sent material in advance which they will be expected to have read before the start of the seminar. The objective of this seminar is to explore the coherence between science and religion, which provides a counter-balance to materialism and reductionism within academic discourse, within the professions, and in the wider world of thought.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
Glen 201 South building - 2nd level
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Social Change seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Systems Science seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
How does thinking of the whole community enable grass-roots efforts to be more effective? How can learning be more efficiently shared across seemingly different communities? How can teams use systems tools to improve the quality of consultation as we work towards a shared understanding of our reality? Systems science, the “science of the whole”, has a rich history in fields as diverse as public health, organizational management, and supply chains. The history of the Bahá’í faith is full of examples of systems science concepts being used in the worldwide teaching plans. This seminar will explore systems concepts and tools, especially causal loop diagrams, in an interactive manner. Throughout, we will be applying these methods and approaches to the context of the 9-year plan. This seminar is developed for those without any experience in systems science methods.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Technological Choice seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
The discourse on technology and society points to an urgent need for communities to strengthen their capacity to make wise choices about technology. Building on concepts from Reflections on the Advancement of Technology and Society, this seminar will examine some requisite capabilities and institutional arrangements that facilitate this strengthening. Drawing on insights and case studies from the discourse, participants will be challenged to apply the framework for action to questions such as: what social forces reduce technological choice to either personal preference or institutional imposition? How can communities evaluate choices about technology? What institutional arrangements make such choices more or less amenable to revision in light of learning processes at the level of the community? Grappling with these issues in a focused environment will prepare participants to elevate conversations about technology in their home communities and begin a process of building the capacities examined throughout the seminar.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Technology and Society seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
What does it mean to articulate a Bahá'í perspective on technology? How can our conceptual framework (as it relates to technology) be progressively shaped by the principles of the Bahá'í Faith and the experience of our community? The purpose of this seminar will be to examine some central concepts related to technology and the advancement of civilization. Participants will be able to articulate how elements of the conceptual framework apply to questions surrounding technology during humanity’s passage to maturity. We will cultivate the essential capability to evaluate the intellectual foundations of discourses about technology and society. Our exploration will assist us to move beyond a view of technology as “a neutral means to freely-chosen ends” by appreciating the power of technology to shape thought and action. We will critically examine prevalent notions about the proliferation of technology and its relationship to social transformation.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

2:00pm MDT

Underlying Assumptions in Health seminar - Friday PM
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
This seminar aims to bring together students and those in the first several years of work in the field of healthcare to examine some underlying assumptions shaping contemporary approaches to health and health care systems. How do these assumptions affect our attitudes and approaches to wellbeing? What insights from the framework of the nine year plan can assist us in re-examining some of these assumptions? Particular topics of focus may include defining health, the role of illness and the human condition, and manifestations of illness at the level of the individual and society. We hope this space will provide an opportunity for reflection as we take our next steps into the field of health care and align our patterns of thought and action with the Revelation. This seminar is intended for undergraduate students, graduate students and those in professional health training (medicine, dentistry, etc), as well as those in the first few years of practice.
Friday August 1, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Seminar

5:00pm MDT

Serving in the Holy Land - Information gathering
Friday August 1, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
TBA
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.
Friday August 1, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
TBA

7:30pm MDT

Developments in Baha’i Administration: 100th Anniversary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada
Friday August 1, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Macleod ballroom
This panel, marking the 100th anniversary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, examines the evolution of Bahá'í administration and governance. The session will reflect on the historical development of the Bahá’í Faith in North America, focusing on early efforts to establish the first Bahá'í Temple in the Western world, the challenges of gender and racial equality, and the formation of the joint NSA before it evolved into two distinct bodies for the U.S. and Canada. Panellists will explore the evolution of the Bahá'í administrative system, the strengthening of its distinguishing features of consultation, equality and unity, and how it operates today as a model of systematic learning, standing in stark contrast to systems of governance prevalent in wider society. The session will consider how insights from the Bahá'í administrative experience, both in the U.S. and Canada, can advance contributions to academic and professional discourses.
Speakers
KB

Kenneth Bowers

Kenneth Bowers currently serves as the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, the annually elected governing council of Bahá'ís in the 48 contiguous states. Before coming to the Bahá’í National Center in Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Bowers... Read More →
SR

Saphira Rameshfar

Currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. She previously served for a decade as a Representative for the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in New York City and as a Senior Manager at... Read More →
MK

Michael Karlberg

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 →
avatar for Kathryn Hogenson

Kathryn Hogenson

Kathryn Jewett Hogenson graduated from Emory & Henry University (political science) and from the University of Virginia School of Law, after which she clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Twice, she has worked to get legislation through the Virginia... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Macleod ballroom South building - lower level
  Plenary
 
Saturday, August 2
 

9:00am MDT

Dust Shaped Hearts - The Shape of Dust
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Glen 208
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.
Speakers
avatar for Donald Camp

Donald Camp

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 208 South building - 2nd level
  Arts & Humanities, Breakout

9:00am MDT

The Power of Speech and the Role of the Humanities in Contemporary Discourse
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Aleta Leftwich

Aleta Leftwich

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 →
JN

Jean-Marie Nau

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 →
PM

Pierre-Yves Mocquais

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Arts & Humanities, Breakout

9:00am MDT

Experiencing Social Transformation Discourse
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Ymasumac Marañón Davis

Ymasumac Marañón Davis

Educational Consultant, Limitless Learning Lab
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 →
CG

Chitra Golestani

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 →
JS

Justin Scoggin

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Community, Breakout

9:00am MDT

From Fragmentation to Cohesion: Regenerating Society Through Social Capital
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
CG

Christopher Gourdine

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Community, Breakout

9:00am MDT

The Climate Crisis and Attraction to Beauty: A Bahá’í Perspective on Fashion
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
NE

Nava Esmailizadeh

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Environment & Development, Breakout

9:00am MDT

"When Medicine is Perfected": Past, Present, and Future
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
RE

Rebecca Eshraghi

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 →
AE

Adrien Eshraghi

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Health & Mental health, Breakout

9:00am MDT

Less Passion, More Precision: Bahá'u'lláh's Blueprint for an Effective News Media
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MO

Murray Oliver

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Media, Breakout

9:00am MDT

Cultivating Racial Unity in Education: Insights from the Bahá’í Writings and Roots ConnectED
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Sahba Rohani

Sahba Rohani

Executive Director, Roots ConnectED
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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Race Unity, Breakout

9:00am MDT

From the Mind of the Conqueror to the Mind of the Humble Servant: An Examination of our “Call to Serve"
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.  
Speakers
avatar for Rolando Aguilera

Rolando Aguilera

Legal Counsel
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 →
MM

Maral Moradipour

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Race Unity, Breakout

9:00am MDT

Illuminating Technological Choices: Insights from the ABS Technology Working Group
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MD

Mark Dittmer

Mark is a professional software developer and Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo.
avatar for Quddus George

Quddus George

Ridvan
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 →
SJ

Sami Joubert

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.
JN

Janice Ndegwa

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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Science & Technology, Breakout

9:00am MDT

Towards a Bahá’í Theology of Religions: Integrating Diversity in Comparative Theology
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Caleb Gilleland

Caleb Gilleland

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 →
ABS 2025 Slide Deck pdf
Fazel, Seena Religious Pluralism and the Baha'i Faith pdf
may principle religious unity pdf
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
TBA
  Study of Religion, Breakout

9:00am MDT

Academic Discipline-specific session (Behavioural Sciences)
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Discipline-specific session, Psychology

9:00am MDT

Academic Discipline-specific session (Biological sciences)
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Discipline-specific session, Biology

9:00am MDT

Academic Discipline-specific session (Sociology & Anthropology)
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
Macleod A2
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 A2 South building - lower level
  Discipline-specific session, Sociology

9:00am MDT

Youth Program - Morning session
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Youth, Special program

10:30am MDT

An Exploration of the Profound Influence of Music on Society and the Human Soul
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MM

Melody Mazloom

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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Arts & Humanities, Breakout

10:30am MDT

An Arts-grounded Practice of Intentional Self-Reflection for Community Building
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Chuck Egerton

Chuck Egerton

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 →
TG

Trina Gluckman

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 →
DS

Dina Sandgreen

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Community, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Logic, in Service of Spiritual Education
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
HG

Hoda Ghadirian

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Education, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Reaching Development Goals through Empowerment of Prosocial Protagonists
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
DH

Darren Hedley

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Environment & Development, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Globalization: A Baháʼí Perspective
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Robert Kim-Farley

Robert Kim-Farley

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Health & Mental health, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Why is it relevant to Bahá’í Communities in North America to study the transformation of the Iranian Bahá’í community from 1979-82
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
AM

Artin Mahmoudi

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  History, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Building Future Ready Lawyers: A Bahá’í-Inspired Vision for Transforming Legal Education
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Nishat Ruiter

Nishat Ruiter

General Counsel, TED Conferences LLC
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 →
Future Ready Lawyers ABS Slides 4.20.25 pptx
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Law, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Beyond Cellphone Bans: Young People Learning to Interact Meaningfully with Media
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
NL

Nwandi Lawson

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.
DR

Daniel Rinaldi

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Media, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Skepticism, Sources of Information, and the Pursuit of Truth
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MO

Mehrtash Olson

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Media, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Preserving Human Agency over Artificial Intelligence
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Farzin Aghdasi

Farzin Aghdasi

Senior Manager, Nvidia Corporation
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 →
avatar for Doug Allen

Doug Allen

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 →
CF

Cindi Fukami

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 →
DW

Dennis Wittmer

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Science & Technology, Breakout

10:30am MDT

Presence as Paradise: Imám Husayn in the Devotional Writings of The Báb
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Nima Rafiei

Nima Rafiei

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Study of Religion, Breakout

12:00pm MDT

Serving in the Holy Land - Information gathering
Saturday August 2, 2025 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
TBA
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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 12:00pm - 12:30pm MDT
TBA

12:30pm MDT

Arts Working Group Networking Session
Saturday August 2, 2025 12:30pm - 1:15pm MDT
TBA
Information session hosted by the ABS Art Working Group.
Saturday August 2, 2025 12:30pm - 1:15pm MDT
TBA
  Arts & Humanities, Special program

12:30pm MDT

Canadian Baha'i History Group - Networking Session
Saturday August 2, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm MDT
TBA
This informatl session is for participants interested in Canadian Baha'i History to meet to discuss strengthening research, writing and publishing of this history.
Saturday August 2, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm MDT
TBA
  History, Special program

2:00pm MDT

Art and Community
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
GB

Garry Berteig

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 →
LD

Lorenzo Dupuis

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Arts & Humanities, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Consultation: A Spiritual Technology for Transformative Times: A Hands-on Interactive Journey
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Glen 208
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.
Speakers
EC

Eliza Cooper

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 →
GP

Geri Peak

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 208 South building - 2nd level
  Community, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Reflections on the Practice of Discourse: Widening Circles of Unity and Participation in a Fragmented World
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
RL

Raphael Lencucha

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 →
avatar for sujaya neupane

sujaya neupane

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 →
EO

Ezgi Ozyonum

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 →
LP

Lorraine Pritchard

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Community, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Emergence of Post-growth Economy and Social Justice: Implications on Consumption and Production in the Bahá’í Writings
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
RA

Rama Ayman

CEO, https://www.mmg.capital/team/
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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Economics, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Parenting with Purpose: Integrating Spiritual Growth and Parenting
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
VT

Victoria Talwar

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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Education, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Ripples from the Rupununi: Dr. Aidun’s Healing Journey
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
BC

Brian Cameron

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 →
LP

Laureen Pierre

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 →
JF

Jim Ferguson

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.
SS

Somava Saha

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Environment & Development, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

A Haven and Refuge from Severe Mental Tests: Baha'i Teachings and Polyvagal Theory
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Marie Gervais

Marie Gervais

CEO, Shift Management Inc.
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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Health & Mental health, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Second Century Believers
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Deborah Vance

Deborah Vance

Independent writer and researcher
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 →
2CB 5 8 pptx
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  History, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Leveraging Media to Amplify Positive Conversations and Drive Change
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Gazalle Ardekani

Gazalle Ardekani

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 →
AD

Altea DiGirolamo

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Media, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Contribution to Discourse in an Increasingly Partisan Climate: Reflections from Political Scientists
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MS

Michael Sabet

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 →
avatar for Babak Bahador

Babak Bahador

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 →
BK

Bernie Kaussler

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Political science, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Emerging Unity of Thought on "Ennobling Leadership"
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
SM

Sovaida Maani-Ewing

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Political science, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Abdu'l-Bahá and Evolution: Bringing 21st Century Evolutionary Biology into the Discourse
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Douglas Perry

Douglas Perry

Core Faculty, Wilmette Institute
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 →
Overview of Evolution Britannica pdf
SAQ Excerpts on Evolution pdf
Religion and Evolution Reconciled pdf
'Abdu'l Bahá and Evolution (ABS) Slide Deck ppsx
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Science & Technology, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Using Knowledge of Science and Religion to Transform Our Lives
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
‘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.
Speakers
avatar for Kurt Kreuger

Kurt Kreuger

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 →
avatar for Amelia Villagomez

Amelia Villagomez

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 →
JV

Jesse Villagomez

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. 
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Science & Technology, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Youth Program - Afternoon Session
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Youth, Special program

3:30pm MDT

Building Vibrant Communities through Art
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Ania Telfer

Ania Telfer

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Arts & Humanities, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

The Limits of Our Words, The Limits of Our World: How Expanding Our Emotional Language Transforms Human Connection
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
PH

Parham Holakouee

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Arts & Humanities, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Bringing Those Who Have Been Excluded into the Circle of Intimate Friends
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
TN

Tania Nordli

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Community, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Building Community by Creating "Common Memory"
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Joan Young

Joan Young

Writer/educator
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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Community, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Economic Justice as a Means Toward Race Unity: Case Studies
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
SM

Shamim Maani

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Economics, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

The Pedagogy of Higher Education
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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?
Speakers
MA
avatar for Julia Berger

Julia Berger

Adjunct Faculty, Montclair State University
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 →
MK

Michael Karlberg

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 →
DS

Derik Smith

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 →
NT

Negin Toosi

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Education, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

The Role of Service-learning in the Moral and Intellectual Empowerment of Youth
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Tahirih Naylor

Tahirih Naylor

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 →
avatar for Gordon Naylor

Gordon Naylor

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 →
SR

Sonja Rowhani

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.
ST

Shabnam Tashakour

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Education, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Peace for Health and Health for Peace
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
JG

John Guilfoyle

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).
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Environment & Development, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Reframing Risk in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MD

Michelle Duren

Michelle Duren uses quantitative approaches to advance the state of knowledge on how to promote safe and sustainable transportation systems.
JE

Johnathon Ehsani

Johnathon Ehsani uses policy and behavioral research to prevent motor vehicle crashes and advance the health promoting aspects of transportation.
BG

Brydon Grant

Brydon Grant uses advanced analytical methods to conduct research that advances knowledge about human behavior and health.
HH

Hsing-Fang Hsieh

Hsing-Fang Hsieh conducts research on violence prevention and resilience-promotive factors among young people.
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Health & Mental health, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Drawing Nigh to Baha’u’llah for World Peace: A Bahá’í Alternative to International Relations Theory
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
NP

Navid Pourmokhtari

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Political science, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Uncovering the Salutary Truths of Democracy
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
MS

Michael Sabet

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 →
TS

Todd Smith

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Political science, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Understanding Neuroscience in an Age of Transition
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
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.
Speakers
avatar for Tara Raam

Tara Raam

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 →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT
TBA
  Science & Technology, Breakout

5:00pm MDT

Serving in the Holy Land - Information gathering
Saturday August 2, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
TBA
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.
Saturday August 2, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
TBA

7:30pm MDT

Weaving a Fabric of Unity
Saturday August 2, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Macleod ballroom
Speakers
HA
GC
BC
BW
Saturday August 2, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm MDT
Macleod ballroom South building - lower level
  Plenary
 
Sunday, August 3
 

9:00am MDT

Closing plenary session
Sunday August 3, 2025 9:00am - 1:00pm MDT
Macleod ballroom
Sunday August 3, 2025 9:00am - 1:00pm MDT
Macleod ballroom South building - lower level
  Plenary
 

Get help with the event

Contact event planner Event login
View support guides Find upcoming events
Create an event you'd love to attend!
Explore why organizers choose Sched • Success stories
Sched forms • Call for papers • Badges • Conferences • Event App • Scheduling • Event registration • Event ticketing
© 2025. SCHED LLC - All rights reserved - Helping events since 2008
Conference Scheduling Software • Privacy • Terms
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Thursday, July 31
Friday, August 1
Saturday, August 2
Sunday, August 3
Glen 201
Glen 208
Macleod A2
Macleod ballroom
TBA
  • Arts & Humanities
  • Community
  • Discipline-specific session
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Environment & Development
  • Health & Mental health
  • History
  • Law
  • Media
  • Plenary
  • Political science
  • Race Unity
  • Science & Technology
  • Seminar
  • Study of Religion
  • Youth