"Meaningful Dialogue" with Jimi Calhoun & friends | G.I.F.T. Fest II

Thanks so much to Simone Talma Flowers, Rev. Dr. Paul Kraus, and Rev. Dr. Stephen Kinney, as well as Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Rev. Billy Tweedie, our sponsors, our musicians, and ALL who attended and supported this event.
ABOUT THIS EVENT ###
"Meaningful Dialogue" is part 3 of G.I.F.T. Fest 2024. Rev. Jimi Calhoun's life works, regardless of religion, really exemplify the ideals, "Grow. Inspire. Feed. Teach." As a youngster, he was of the originators of modern popular music, literally, a primary contributor to the first Pop, R&B, Soul, Funk, New Orleans Funk, and RocknRoll albums, with many of the biggest artists, of the 60s and 70s.
Then he became a full-time pastor, and has since not only started nine churches in at least two countries, he's written five books on celebrating humanity's gifts and differences, and building our future on that together.
His newest book, Border Dance, envisions a "choreography of altruism", and a philosophy of dancing with both the stranger and those we see every day. Exclusion, Race, these are constructs.
This conversation, with our incredible panel: Simone Talma Flowers, Rev. Dr. Paul Kraus, and Rev. Dr. Stephen Kinney, gets at the heart of how people who've been marginalized, ignored, devalued, broken, etc., need to be heard. First of all. Those of us in "the majority" need to listen to and empower those voices.
At the same time, people with economic power and culture dominance need to reach out. Why? They're missing out, for one. But more importantly, their fears are ungrounded. Our potential is our greatest resource. It's to engage that reality for our better future.
Lastly, and fundamentally -- Chris Searles (white guy and event creator/producer) is writing. I will not try and summarize Jimi's core points on divisions according to Race. They're in this video and in his writings. Please read and listen carefully.
PROGRAM ###
0:15 Welcome
1:15 Introductions
17:25 Care-frontation
33:40 Selfish Discomfort loses to Greater Good Discomfort
40:00 Doppleganging
48:00 A Choreography of Altruism
52:00 Getting to the Funk of It
55:20 Dance & Freedom
THANKS ###
Sincere Thanks to our sponsors:
• Rentsch Brewery rentschbrewery.com
• Texas Sake txsake.com
• Genuine Joe genuinejoecoffee.com
• Tres Monarcas & BioIntegrity
EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS to our extraordinary guests:
• Simone (exec. director, Interfaith Action of Central Texas, interfaithtexas.org),
• Paul (director of pastoral care, The Austin State Supported Living Center; president of the board, The International Association of Christian Chaplains), and
• Steve (retired, All Saints Episcopal, founder/director, The Front Porch Project) -- for bringing truth, empathy, insight, and clarity to this discussion on how to do better for each other.
BIG THANKS TO OUR MUSICIANS:
• Rev. Jimi Calhoun (BASS)
• Greg "Guitar" Willis
• Chris Searles
SPECIAL THANKS to
Reverend Julaine Calhoun for the extra footage.
LINKS ###
Jimi's books:
www.jimicalhoun.com/books
Order "Border Dance":
www.blackpearlbookstore.com
Event info:
giftfest.org/jimi-calhoun
a Jimi Calhoun playlist (scroll down):
mailchi.mp/biointegrity/03142...
author / musician, Rev. Jimi Calhoun:
www.jimicalhoun.com
G.I.F.T. Fest ###
"Grow. Inspire. Feed. Teach."
A series of classes & conversations on making the future better.
giftfest.org
Created/presented/videoed/edited by Chris Searles for BioIntegrity.net & AllCreation.org.