Faith In Brooklyn for March 15

March 15, 2017 By Francesca Norsen Tate, Religion Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Vickie Austin. Photo courtesy of Vickie Austin
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Workshop’s Goal Is Empowering Women to Confidently Articulate Their Viewpoints

Career coach and motivational speaker Vickie Austin comes to First Unitarian Church next weekend to encourage people to “Stand Up, Speak Out” when presenting their ideas in the workplace.

The First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn’s Women’s Leadership Alliance and the Young Adult Ministry co-sponsor this free Women’s Forum with the slogan “Stand Up, Speak Out,” on Saturday, March 18. Ms. Austin will facilitate the workshop, which will cover several strategies: gaining confidence in presenting ideas, learn skills to support activism, clarifying the positions on issues on which one is passionate.

“Stand Up, Speak Out!” is an interactive, intergenerational workshop with the goals of training women how to develop and leverage the power of one’s voice to make an effective impact on these issues. Ms. Austin believes that “Women of all ages need to feel confident in their ability to present themselves effectively while representing their interests in a way that can be heard.”

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During this workshop, participants will share from their own experiences about communicating topics important to them; identify what’s working — and what isn’t working — with their current styles; learn skills and techniques for developing and delivering clear messages with impact; practice building those skills within a community of other supportive women; and to leave with further resources to continue their development as powerful communicators.

Vickie Austin is a veteran business and career coach who is committed to sharing with other women about the power of communication. She has been coaching since 1997 and speaks at corporations, associations and not-for-profit organizations about topics related to personal and professional success. She is the author of “Circles of Gold: Honoring Your Network for Business and Career Success.”

The workshop runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, in the Chapel of First Unitarian Church (entrance at street level). Lunch is included and reservations are necessary via an email [email protected] by March 15.

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Second Annual Green Fair Incorporates Activism, Arts

The weekend of March 18-19 is huge at First Unitarian Church. The day after the “Stand Up, Speak Out” workshop is the church’s second annual Green Fair.

First Unitarian’s Green Faith Team committee presents the fair, which will include expert speakers, literature and eco-art, poetry and song. Refreshments will be available from the congregation’s Food Justice Ministry.

The featured speakers are Cecil Corbin-Mark, executive director of We Act for Environmental Justice (www.WeAct.org) and Greta Zarro, NY Organizer for Food & Water Watch.

Corbin-Mark is a leader in the climate arena. He oversees We Act’s federal policy office. He has been instrumental in forming environmental justice leadership forums, both here and abroad. In the face of the assault on the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, he helped organize environmental justice leaders to testify at public hearings set up by the EPA. He served as moderator of a climate change panel for the First White House Forum on Environmental Justice and worked on former Gov. David Paterson’s Renewable Energy Task Force.  

Greta Zarro assists with field organizing campaigns, statewide coalition building and volunteer engagement in support of Food and Water Watch policy goals. She graduated from St. Michael’s College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology. Her interest is in the interdependence of social and ecological systems, which has inspired her to advocate for safe, affordable, and accessible food and water, and a clean energy revolution. Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all.

Other scheduled presenters expected are Alison Derevensky, student of Environmental Science at Brooklyn College and co-facilitator for The Green Faith Team; Co-organizer Daniela Gioseffi, American Book Award winning author, who will offer a brief reading of eco-poetry; renowned singer/songwriter, Judy Gorman, who will present eco-songs; Accomplished Brooklyn based artist, Jeanie Wing, who will display eco-art. The Food Justice Ministry of 1st Unitarian Universalist Church will offer food, human rights and climate literature; Nancy Wolf, First Unitarian Deacon and Mary Most, trustee, will table recycling tips.

The Green Fair runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with the speakers’ presentations starting at 2:15. The event will be held in the Pierrepont St. McKinney Chapel between Monroe Place and Clinton St. in Brooklyn Heights, near to all Borough Hall, Court Street and Montague Street subway stops. Tabling will begin in the undercroft at 1 p.m.

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‘Channel Your Inner Smart Aleck’ at Two-Part Comedy Workshop

Laughter is the best medicine, according to a paraphrase of Proverbs 17:22.

Underscoring the heritage of Jewish stand-up comedy, Congregation Mount Sinai hosts a workshop titled “Make ‘Em Laugh.”

David LaBarca hosts this Comedy Workshop on Mondays, March 6 and 13. Participants can learn to channel your inner smart aleck! “Anything you experience, observe, feel, or imagine can be a source for stand-up comedy,” reads an announcement of the workshop. Informed, practical lectures, and fun, challenging writing exercises, combined with encouraging constructive critiques will teach each participant how to originate ideas, write and revise material, acquire performance techniques, and find one’s comic point of view.

David LaBarca has performed stand-up comedy in several thousand shows in 25 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, throughout Canada, and on Comedy Central.  He has produced more than 1,000 stand-up comedy shows in the New York tri-state area.

The cost is $50 for the two-session package. For start-time and more information, contact Congregation Mount Sinai at 718-875-9124.

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East Midwood Series Examines Struggle to Save 20,000 Children from Holocaust

“Jews, Quakers, and the Holocaust” is the theme of the coming segment of NightShul at the East Midwood Jewish Center this month.

Professor Ira Zornberg will give a course on the struggle to save 20,000 children, the important role of the American Friends Service Committee, FDR, Mrs. Roosevelt, members of Congress and the 1924 Immigration Law. Professor Zornberg’s book will be available at $10 per copy. The series runs Thursday, March 16, and 23, at 8 p.m. (wine and cheese social hour starts at 7 p.m.)

Admission is $15 per class, or $35 for the series. RSVP to [email protected] or 718-338-3800.

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Friends of the IDF Hosted Concert to Support Outreach Programs

Music at the Center, the East Midwood Jewish Center’s ongoing series, presented a benefit for Friends of the IDF.

The fundraiser, on Monday, March 13 featured the Israel Defense Forces Band. The Friends of the IDF (FIDF) does outreach to soldiers, veterans and their families.

Last year, “FIDF touched the lives of over 68,000 soldiers, veterans and bereaved family members,” according to a flyer which announced the concert.


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