News from the FEZANA Interfaith Activities Committee
ZAKOI — Invitation to the People’s EcoChallenge
Zoroastrian Assoc of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana (ZAKOI) invites the North American Zoroastrian community to join other faith communities in the People’s EcoChallenge from Oct 6- 27, to build a better shared future together. Please let us join hands and take action together to create a more sustainable world and healthy planet. Please join our team by signing up for the the people’s ecochallenge and please register at: https://peoples.ecochallenge.org/participants/join?referral_code=0fa47262-4fae-4778-a38e-e1b1db345a35&team_invitation=true Our team’s name is: “Cincinnati Area Faith Communities Go Green” (FCGG)
“FAITH IN FREEDOM” VIDEO SERIES: EPISODE 7 FEATURING HOMI D GANDHI
A project by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, this series of videos features the voices of various religious leaders speaking about the meaning of freedom in their faith tradition. Homi D. Gandhi was invited to speak for Episode 7. The link to the video can be seen on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website. https://www.goarch.org/-/faith-in-freedom-
ZAKOI’S PARTICIPATION IN THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FAITHS IN CINCINNATI, OH
“Compassion through Action: We are in it Together.” This was the theme of our 4th Annual Cincinnati Festival of Faiths from 22nd to 29th August, hosted by EquaSion, Cincinnati’s premier interfaith organization. Due to covid restrictions, they have been having a virtual Festival since last year. This year also, it was a week-long virtual festival of 16 programs designed and put together by an interfaith Steering Committee of 50 members representing 12 major world religions. ZAKOI as always played an important role in all aspects of the festival, being on the Steering Committee, planning and organizing the programs, as well as participating in several programs. Ervad Dr. Faredoon N. Desai was invited to participate in the Festival’s Opening Devotional Ceremony. To see the Opening Interfaith Devotional Observance, see this video: https://vimeo.com/594194330
Shireen Desai was invited to participate in presenting on a Zoroastrian Wedding in the program on Wedding Ceremonies and Celebrations(https://vimeo.com/594197080)
Arish Antia serves on the youth Board of Beloved Community Youth, an interfaith program for youth offered by EquaSion. Arish was interviewed in the Youth program at the Festival on how he and his other fellow Board members will expand this program among the youth in the greater Cincinnati community. See him here: https://vimeo.com/594196448
Finally, Havovi Desai, a musician from our ZAKOI community, participated in the interfaith concert on the closing day of the Festival, by adding her flute music, an improv on the theme of healing, to the concert. To see the video please go here: https://vimeo.com/594192921
ZAKOI co-sponsored this event with FEZANA, for which they are thankful to FEZANA.
To learn more about our Festival of Faiths and see all our programs at your leisure please go to https://www.equasion.org/festival-of-faiths/calendar-of-activities/, and watch all the video recordings on that webpage. ZAKOI is dedicated to joining hands with other faith communities in this region (Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky) to build bridges of peace and harmony in our communities, and we believe that ‘Together, we are Stronger’!
ZAMWI AT THE ANNUAL 9/11 UNITY WALK, WASHINGTON D.C.
Unity Walk – InterFaith Council of Metropolitan Washington
(The annual IFC Unity Walk) brings together hundreds of people from all faiths and backgrounds in a public display of solidarity and hope. This year, too, on Sunday, September 12, 2021 people of various faith backgrounds came together to support one another and heal our communities. Once again Zoroastrians were represented at this Unity Walk by the local Association, ZAMWI, supported by FEZANA and the WZO (London, UK).
ZAMWI and FEZANA, both participated in the event’s virtual resource fair.
Mani Rao, from Chicago, IL, served as a panelist in the “Music in Worship” forum at the St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral during the Unity Walk event sharing Zarathushti songs and engaging in dialogue
OREGON ZOROASTRIAN ORGANIZATION
Rebecca DesPrez, President of the Oregon Zoroastrian Organization, gave a virtual talk at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, OR on August 22, 2021 about Asho Zarathushtra and the origin of the Humanist Thought. She is sharing her video with us. Please see the video here:
UU Speech-August 22, 2021-Rebecca DesPrez.mp4
RELIGIONS FOR PEACE, USA
In a program hosted by Religions for Peace, USA, on August 26, “Police Transformation –not police reform: Faith Perspectives”, FEZANA was one of three faith organizations which gave its perspective on the issue of Police Transformation. FEZANA was represented by Dr. Niaz Kasravi, a national expert and advocate on criminal justice, social justice, and racial justice. She is also the Founder and Director of the Avalan Institute for Applied Research Solutions, a research, advocacy & training institute. We thank Dr. Kasravi for her excellent presentation.
The FEZANA IAC is thankful to all the associations who are actively engaged in interfaith dialog and activities in their regions in North America. We invite more associations to send us their interfaith stories to share with the rest of the FEZANA community.
Submitted by Bakhtavar Desai & Homi D. Gandhi
Co-Chairs, FEZANA Interfaith Activities Committee
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