Story Archives of 'Monadnock Summer Lyceum'

How does one person, or one congregation, or one religious organization continue the spiritual journey within chaotic times? Reverend Robinson will address the times in our lives where our spirituality can waver and how faith can inform us even as controversy or challenges in relationships, careers, and other life stresses can rock our beliefs and values. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson graduated from the University of the South, Sewanee in Tennessee in 1969 with a B.A. in American Studies and History. His M.Div degree followed in 1973 at the General Theological Seminary in NY and was ordained deacon, then priest serving in Christ Church, Ridgewood, NJ. He served as Youth Ministries Coordinator for the seven diocese of New England and served for two years on the National Youth Ministries Development Team, where he helped originate the national Episcopal Youth Event. In 1983 he served as Executive Secretary of Province I, coordinating all cooperative programs between New England’s seven diocese. On June 7, 2003, he was consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, having served as Canon to the Ordinary for nearly 18 years and was invested as the Ninth Bishop of New Hampshire on March 7, 2004. Gene has co-authored AIDS educational curricula for youth and adults and has worked in the United States, Uganda and South Africa in this field. In addition he has advocated against racism in the diocese and wider Church.

For the first time in human history every human being faces the same crisis, including climate change, diminishing resources, and economic turmoil. Because of the internet and cell phones, we all know that the old approaches have failed. It is time, Economist and New York Times Bestselling Author John Perkins says, to develop a model that takes us out of war-based, exploitative economies into ones committed to creating a world that future generations will want to inherit. Every major crisis can be traced to corporate goals of maximizing profits regardless of the social and environmental costs. By recognizing that the market place is a democratic voting booth, we, the people, have the power to demand new goals, ones focused on generating a sustainable, just, and peaceful world.

As Chief Economist at a major international consulting firm, John Perkins advised the World Bank, United Nations, IMF, U.S. Treasury Department, Fortune 500 corporations, and countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. He worked directly with heads of state and CEOs of major companies. John Perkins's classic exposé of his former life, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, spent over 70 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and is published in more than 30 languages. His follow-up New York Times bestseller, The Secret History of the American Empire, provides a plan for creating a sustainable, just, and peaceful world. He is the author of Shapeshifting, The World Is As You Dream It, and other books on indigenous cultures and personal transformation; a founder and board member of Dream Change and The Pachamama Alliance, nonprofit organizations devoted to establishing a world our children will want to inherit; and has lectured and taught at universities in many countries.

Patricia Klindienst talks about the ethnic gardener as a culture bearer and citizen of the land community, one who, in healing the wounds of displacement--whether by injustice, poverty, or war--brings a wealth of traditional wisdom to the task of healing the land as well. Patricia addresses where we might begin the work of remembering who and what we are. Patricia Klindienst earned a Ph. D. in Modern Thought & Literature form Stanford University in 1984 then began her career as an interdisciplinary scholar at Yale, publishing ground-breaking feminist re-interpretations of classical myths and biblical stories. An award-winning scholar and teacher, she left the academic world to write for a broader audience. Her first book, “The Earth Knows My Name”, tells the stories of ethnic Americans who transmit their cultural heritage through their gardens. She received an American Book Award for 2007.

A dramatic talk that tells the surprising story of someone who had everything that the American Dream is supposed to provide-- big house, six figure job and social status--and lost it all. The surprising news: by that very loss of material riches Michael found a new kind of spiritual happiness he could never have imagined. The son of New Yorker writer Brendan Gill, Michael Gates Gill was a creative director at J. Walter Thompson Advertising, where he was employed for over twenty-five years. He lives in New York within walking distance of the Starbucks store where he works, and has no plans to retire from what he calls the best job he’s ever had.

Media —everywhere, all the time are revolutionizing our children’s lives from the noted PBS series, Sesame Street, to video games, the rapidly growing world of advergames, MTV, BabyTV, texting, twittering and YouTube. Rona Zlokower will address media’s powerful influences on our children’s health and how we can empower ourselves and our children to be smart about media.

Rona Zlokower, MCM, has participated in and led public/private partnerships in the healthcare, corporate and nonprofit sectors for over 35 years. In 2000, Rona created MediaSmart with Selma Deitch, MD, founder of Child Health Services, Manchester, to address the increasing influence of media on children’s health and behaviors. In 2007, under Rona’s leadership, the program became Media Power Youth, a New Hampshire nonprofit that guides parents and professionals to empower youth to succeed in school and make healthy choices through smart use of media.