Supporting Our Teens: A Multifaith Community Response

Faith communities from diverse traditions present:

Supporting Our Teens: A Multifaith Community Response
Monday, August 31, 7:00-9:00 PM
Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto 

A six member panel will be moderated by Palo Alto Mayor Peter Drekmeier, and include representatives from Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Christian Science traditions.  The discussion will focus on what various faith teachings and practices can offer the community (parents, friends, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, teens -- anyone who cares about youth) as together we strive to better support our youth's spiritual, mental, social and physical well-being as they begin the school year.  The purpose of the forum is to add the unique gifts of spiritual traditions and communities as sources of strength and guidance in service to the whole community.  The event is free and open to the public.

Click here to download a flyer about the event (PDF format).

After brief opening remarks from each of the panelists, the core of the evening will consist of  these speakers' responses to questions from the community.  To submit a question in advance (which is encouraged), email it to multifaithpeace@aol.com by Sunday, August 30.  Representatives from other faith traditions and local congregations will be available at the end of the program for further discussion.  Several midpeninsula faith communities are organizing "youth-only" events which will be open to all teens, and will be announced during this program.  The forum is planned in part in response to the tragic teen suicides and suicide attempts at the end of the last school year, prompting faith leaders from diverse traditions to come together to offer care and support to the whole community.

Panelists: 

Rev. William Masuda, Ed.D., of the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
Contact: office@pabt.org or revwtm@yahoo.com

Rabbi Janet Marder of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills

Rev. David Howell, Pastor, First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, United Church of Christ
Contact:  David@fccpa.org or 650-856-6662

Eric Nelson of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Palo Alto
Contact: eric@ericdnelson.com

Sherry Cassedy, Catholic Community of Palo Alto, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
Pastor: George Aranha; Website: paloaltocatholic.org
Email Sherry at: sherrycassedy@aol.com

Samina Sundas of American Muslim Voice (www.amuslimvoice.org)
Contact: saminasundas@gmail.com or 650-387-1994
Faith: Islam

Peter Drekmeier, Mayor of Palo Alto (moderator)

(Thanks to Baltimore County Public Library website for the opening photo.)