Building Our Future:
Falling Apart or Rising Together in Greater New Haven
A Gathering of Dedicated Leaders
Saturday, December 8, 2007, 1:45 pm
Yale Divinity School Great Hall, 1st Floor, 409 Prospect Street
(Enter door near north side parking lot)

   A forum for religious and community leaders to connect with one another toward common understanding about the future of our communities and our planet. The list of leaders below are gathering to have a conversation about things that really matter to our greater New Haven area as we face the challenges of the next century, even as we continue to engage the struggles of the past.
On Saturday, December 8, we come to meet people we need to meet, though we may not know our need; we come to link with movements of which we are part, though we may not know our part. Please bring your resolve to think creatively and courageously, along with your willingness to turn away from despair and cynicism.

    We have great work to do together!

• Christin Arnini, Science Teacher, Co-op High School New Haven
• Ben Bokser, Student, Yale College
• Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Keiner, Director, Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
• David Cooper, Dean of Corporate and Continuing Education, Gateway Community College
• Kevin Ewing, Organizer, Elm City Congregations Organized
• Lisa Fernandez, President, Farmington Canal Rails to Trails Association
• Sue Frankewicz, Co-Chair, Connecticut Health Coalition
• Jeannie Graustein, Environmental Justice Coordinator, Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Urban Affairs
• Heidi Green, President, 1000 Friends of Connecticut
• Paul D. Hammer, Founder, Bicycle Education Entrepreneurship and Enrichment Programs (BEEEP!)
• Laine Harris, Principal, Community Yoga
• David Heiser, Director of Public Education and Outreach, Peabody Museum of Natural History
• Bill Hosley, Director, New Haven Museum and Historical Society
• Meleah Houseknecht, Coordinator, Yale Program on Climate Change
• Jasmin, environmental activist / student, Co-op High School New Haven
• Jessica, writer / student, Co-op High School New Haven
• Curt Johnson, Program Director and Senior Attorney, Connecticut Fund for the Environment INVITED
• Douglas Jones, Avocational Historian and authority on Broteer Venture Smith,   
• Imam Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan, Leader, Muhammad Islamic Center INVITED
• Steve King, Steering Committee Member, New Haven "Independent" Business Network
• John Laub History Teacher, Co-op High School New Haven
• Roland, Lemar Ward 9 Alderman, New Haven
• Zanette Lewis Cross-Cultural consultant
• Rebekah Menning, Social Justice Coordinator, Unitarian Society of New Haven  INVITED
• Rev. Richard Morton Sr., VP of Programs, Interfaith Cooperative Ministries
• Rev. Andy Nagy-Benson, Pastor, Spring Glen UCC in Hamden
• Jerome Ringo, Founder, Apollo Alliance and Past President, National Wildlife Federation
• Elnora Russell-Bell, Board Member, Christian Community Commission
• Robin Schafer, New Haven Bioregional Group, New Haven Environmental Justice Network
• Joanne Sciulli, Director, Solar Youth New Haven
• Roger Smith, Campaign Director, Clean Water Action
• Sheila Stiles Jewell, Board President, Interfaith Caregivers Assn
• Michael Taylor, President, Vita Nuova  INVITED
• Roger Uhlein, Owner, Never Ending Books INVITED
• Chris Zurcher, Founder, Zurcher Communications

Event Schedule:
1:45 pm      Light refreshments
2:00 pm      Undertake a lively mix of short presentations, world-café type conversations, fellowship and musical interludes 
5:45 pm      Dinner

Presentations to include:

• Pathways out of Poverty
• Pathways to a Green Connecticut
• Pathways to a Green-Collar Work Force
• Pathways Out of Denial
• Pathways to Action

Special Guest:

Jerome Ringo, President, Apollo Alliance; Past Chairman, National Wildlife Federation.
Mr. Ringo was the first African-American to chair a major national environmental organization. He speaks around the world and has shared stages with Al Gore and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Drawing on his extensive experience in environmental justice and a deep spiritual calling to help his fellow humans face the challenges of the 21st
Century, he shares a hopeful vision based on deep connections between global warming, poverty, and energy independence.

Expert Speakers:

Rev. Andy Nagy-Benson, Pastor of Spring Glen Church in Hamden
Pastor Andy addresses questions of environmental stewardship within our houses of worship and how religious communities can help make Connecticut a responsible steward of the Earth.
David N. Cooper, Ed. D., Dean of Corporate & Continuing Education, Gateway
Community College
Dr. Cooper is spearheading the creation of the Center for a Sustainable Future at Gateway, which will provide workforce training for green jobs in Connecticut.
Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Keiner, Director, Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
Drawing on extensive experience connecting communities of faith around shared concerns, Rabbi Andrea speaks eloquently about finding the spiritual strength to face the challenges of community, conscience, and environment.
Rev. Kevin Ewing, Organizer, Elm City Congregations Organized
Minister Ewing works as an organizer for Elm City Congregations Organized (ECCO) and is president of the West River Neighborhood Services Corporation

The organizers, listed here, are also participating leaders in this event:

Nathan Bixby, President, Havens for the Future
Aaron B. Goode, community organizer, Elm City Cycling
Rachel Holmes, Director, SPIRET, Yale Divinity School Earth Care Committee
Tamami Kawamura, Intern Minister, Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
Rachel Novick, Science Advisor, Connecticut Fund for the Environment
Kathleen Schomaker, 5th District Representative, Hamden Legislative Council
Melinda Tuhus, Field leader, New Haven Inner City Outings

Sponsored by Havens for the Future
Co-sponsored by 1000 Friends of Connecticut, Bioregional Group, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Inner City Outings, Interreligious Eco-Justice Network, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Roland Lemar Ward 9 Alderman, Slifka Center for Jewish Life, Yale Earth Care Committee, and Yale Student Environmental Coalition