Complexified

In this episode, we sit down with Claire Giangravé, a Vatican correspondent for Religion News Service, to explore the pivotal discussions happening at the Synod on Synodality. With nearly 400 leaders of the Roman Catholic Church gathered in Vatican City, the role of women in church leadership has become a central focus. We dive into the historical resistance, theological debates, and cultural shifts that are shaping this centuries-old conversation. Will the Vatican finally open the door to greater leadership roles for women, including the possibility of female deacons? Tune in for an inside look at this momentous moment for the Catholic Church.

The changing political landscape of Hindu Americans: we explore their shifting alliances from traditional Democratic loyalties to a growing alignment with the right. Host Amanda Henderson and RNS Hindu reporter Richa Karmarkar discuss the factors driving this transformation, from the influence of leaders like Kamala Harris and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the impact of caste discrimination and immigrant identity in shaping party affiliations. Join us as we unpack how these dynamics are redefining the Hindu vote in the upcoming election.

"The modern world is impossible to narrate without the idea of land as property and the seizing of land as property." "Imagination is our gift in creating and building new worlds." In this episode, Amanda talks with Dr. Willie James Jennings about the profound impact of our conceptions of land on our world today. Our distorted understanding of land as a possession has led to a shallow sense of connectivity and belonging, impacting our relationship with the earth and each other. The conflicts around us are often centered in conflicts over land, and we need to restructure our communities to create shared living and press against how our communities have been shaped. Understanding the history, shape, and function of the land where we live is essential for deepening our connection to the earth and each other. Imagination plays a crucial role in anticipating the possibility of a lively life together, preparing us to receive the stranger and care for those who are different from us. GUEST: Dr. Willie James Jennings is an American theologian, known for his contributions on liberation theologies, cultural identities, and theological anthropology. He is an associate professor of systematic theology and Africana studies at Yale Divinity School. Willie Jennings’ book The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race (Yale 2010) won the American Academy of Religion Award of Excellence in the Study of Religion in the Constructive-Reflective category the year after it appeared and, in 2015, the Grawemeyer Award in Religion, the largest prize for a theological work in North America. Englewood Review of Books called the work a “theological masterpiece.”  His commentary on the Book of Acts, titled Acts: A Commentary, The Revolution of the Intimate (for the Belief Series, Westminster/John Knox) received the Reference Book of the Year Award from The Academy of Parish Clergy in 2018. Dr. Jennings has also recently published a book that examines the problems of theological education within western education, entitled After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging Writing in the areas of liberation theologies, cultural identities, and anthropology, Jennings has authored more than 40 scholarly essays and nearly two-dozen reviews, as well as essays on academic administration and blog posts for Religion Dispatches. Jennings is an ordained Baptist minister and has served as interim pastor for several North Carolina churches. He is in high demand as a speaker and is widely recognized as a major figure in theological education across North America.

What makes someone leave everything they know? Why do people risk their lives crossing treacherous deserts into a land they are not welcome in? Migration Activist and Humanitarian Dora Rodriguez shares her story of survival after fleeing political violence in El Salvador in 1980. She compels us to see the deep humanity of those simply seeking safety and opportunity. SHOW NOTES As the Biden Administration moves to limit admission to the U.S. for those seeking asylum, we take a trip to the southern border to meet with those who move between the two countries, supporting those simply seeking survival. In this episode, Amanda interviews Migration Activist and Humanitarian Dora Rodriguez, Director of Salvavision, a Tucson, Arizona-based organization providing aid and support to asylum seekers, migrants passing through or being dropped off by cartels, or migrants deported by Border Patrol in the remote town of Sasabe, Sonora. Hear about Dora’s experience as a migrant in the 1980 tragedy in Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ, where Salvadorans fled civil war, resulting in 13 deaths, including 3 minors. This experience propelled her to the forefront of the sanctuary movement in Tucson, AZ. Resources: https://www.dorarodriguez.org/ https://mexico.arizona.edu/revista/brief-legislative-history-last-50-years-us-mexico-border#:~:text=In%20September%201969%2C%20the%20Nixon,created%20our%20modern%20border%20lines. https://www.smu.edu/dedman/research/institutes-and-centers/texas-mexico/about/timeline https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/travel/nogales-arizona-mexico-border.html https://salvavision.org

Listening to the needs in their community for housing and childcare led this Colorado Church to make a big decision. Rather than building a bigger church on the 11 acres they sat on, they decided to give the land away and develop a new non-profit with community partners. Does awareness of our history of land ownership in the U.S. shift the way Churches think about their land? “We don't hear stories in scripture of …and then Jesus went home to his house and went to bed, watched Netflix, and had a snack. Jesus's ministry was dependent on the hospitality of others, people welcoming him into their own homes. And so for us, this is a measure of that hospitality, welcoming people here to Heartside Hill to say, ‘You have a safe and secure place to lay your head at night.’” (Rev. Melissa St. Clair) In today’s episode, Amanda talks with Pastor Melissa St. Clair, who shares the story of Heart of the Rockies Christian Church, which, after years of work, is giving away most of its 11 acres to support a new community-centered non-profit that will provide accessible housing, childcare, and supportive services.  https://religionnews.com/complexified GUEST: Rev. Melissa St. Clair, Senior Pastor at Heart of the Rockies Christian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado Senior Pastor since January 2013. She delights in the bike lanes, running paths, hiking trails, and the open-minded people in Fort Collins and at Heart of the Rockies Christian Church. Melissa was ordained in 2008 at St. John’s United Church of Christ in south central Pennsylvania, where her extended family still resides. Her Master of Divinity is from Eden Theological Seminary (St. Louis, MO). Melissa serves as Moderator-Elect for the Central Rocky Mountain Region and chairs the Board of Stewards for the Center for Faith and Giving. She is an alumna of the Bethany Fellows and a graduate of Leadership Northern Colorado. She currently serves on the Leadership Team of the Ecumenical Circle of the Bethany Fellows. Fort Collins church to transform part of their land for affordable housing Collaborative housing plan at Heart of the Rockies church set for neighborhood meeting Abundant Ground: A Congregational Land Initiative: Does your church have an underused parking lot or land? Could an affordable housing community revitalize your congregation?

Did you know that for some enslaved Africans, small plots of land became ways to maintain culture and heritage- and even pathways to freedom? Soul Food Scholar, Adrian Miller joins us to share stories that tie land to belonging and survival. Amanda Henderson and Adrian Miller dive deep into the stories about navigating the ways of the land to cultivate food sovereignty within African American communities, despite forced migration and slavery in the United States. As they discuss the truths about the ongoing struggle of food injustice for marginalized communities and the rise of consciousness towards food sovereignty, we learn the importance of connecting and adapting to the land as a means of survival.  GUEST: Adrian Miller is a food writer, James Beard Award winner, attorney, and certified barbecue judge who lives in Denver, Colorado. Adrian received an A.B in International Relations from Stanford University in 1991, and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1995. From 1999 to 2001, Miller served as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton with his Initiative for One America – the first free-standing office in the White House to address issues of racial, religious and ethnic reconciliation. Miller went on to serve as a senior policy analyst for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. From 2004 to 2010, he served on the board for the Southern Foodways Alliance. In June 2019, Adrian lectured in the Masters of Gastronomy program at the Università di Scienze Gastronomiche (nicknamed the “Slow Food University”) in Pollenzo, Italy. He is currently the executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches and, as such, is the first African American, and the first layperson, to hold that position. Miller’s first book, Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time won the James Beard Foundation Award for Scholarship and Reference in 2014. His second book, The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas was published on President’s Day 2017. It was a finalist for a 2018 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction,” and the 2018 Colorado Book Award for History. Adrian’s third book, Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue, will be published Spring 2021. Sharecropping, Black Land Acquistion, and White Supremacy (1868-1900) Food Sovereignty  Growing Your Own Food: Resources and Tools Talking Trash: Five Easy Steps to Reduce Food Waste

Amanda Henderson and Steven Newcomb discuss the Doctrine of Discovery and the ways in which religion has impacted the social and political frameworks amongst Native nations and the United States government.  In this conversation, Amanda Henderson and Steven Newcomb dive deeper into how the founding documents of the US contain a claim of a God-ordained right for Christians to take land from non-Christians, which continues to be used as legal precedent in today’s world. Together, they advocate for a more inclusive and holistic approach to social and political change, one that acknowledges and respects Indigenous perspectives and sovereignty. Steven Newcomb invites us to step into the view "from the shore" as conquerors landed on waters of the Americas and claimed dominion, or domination over all they could see and take. For more information: https://religionnews.com/complexified Guest: Steven Newcomb is a Shawnee-Lenape scholar and author. He has been studying and writing about U.S. federal Indian law and policy since the early 1980s, particularly the application of international law to Indigenous nations and peoples. Mr. Newcomb is the Director of the Indigenous Law Institute, which he co-founded with Birgil Kills Straight, a Traditional Headman and Elder of the Oglala Lakota Nation. Together they have carried on a global campaign challenging imperial Vatican documents from the fifteenth century. Those documents resulted in the decimation of Original Nations and Peoples of Mother Earth and thereby deprived the planet of life-ways, sustainable ecosystems, and Sacred Teachings. Newcomb’s book Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery (2008) relies upon recent findings in cognitive theory and a semantic analysis of the Latin and English versions of 15th century Vatican documents. He has identified the little noticed patterns found in those documents and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which claimed a right of a “Christian prince or people” to discover and exert a right of domination (dominorum Christianorum) over the lands of “heathens and infidels.” For more episodes and info visit Complexified at RNS

Amanda and Amy dive into the complex relationship between land ownership and belonging in the US, drawing on biblical interpretations. Amanda emphasized the significance of land in shaping political and religious beliefs, while Amy offered nuanced interpretations of the Hebrew Bible, revealing how it has been used to justify land ownership and extraction. In this conversation, Amy and Amanda discuss the Bible's views on land and its interpretation. They explore the contradictory perspectives on land ownership and the connection between land and identity. They also examine the impact of assumptions about land in the United States and the disconnect between urban elites and the land. Amy shares her personal journey of developing a deeper connection with the land through activities like hunting and fly fishing. The conversation highlights the healing power of the land and the importance of understanding our relationship with it. Chapters  00:00 Introduction and Background 03:13 The Bible's Contradictory Views on Land 08:29 Genesis 1 and the Interpretation of Land 12:22 John Locke and the Interpretation of Land Ownership 14:20 The Connection Between Land and Identity 20:23 The Impact of Assumptions about Land in the United States 23:10 The Disconnect between Urban Elites and the Land 26:08 The Impact of Land Use on Communities 28:30 Personal Connection to the Land 30:26 The Healing Power of the Land 33:18 The Bible's View on Our Relationship with the Land Guest:  Amy Erickson is Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Iliff School of Theology. Erickson teaches a range of courses in biblical interpretation, including The Body and Sexuality in the Hebrew Bible, The Hebrew Bible and Ecology, and Jonah and Its Afterlives. Her research interests include Hebrew poetry, poetic and mythological texts in ancient West Asian literature, and the Hebrew Bible’s history of interpretation. She has recently completed a commentary on the book of Jonah and its history of interpretation entitled Jonah: Introduction and Commentary (Illuminations; Eerdmans, 2021), and has written articles on Job, Jonah, the Psalms, Zechariah, and Amos for academic journals and edited volumes. Erickson is also a regular contributor to workingpreacher.org, the Huffington Post ON Scripture, The Christian Century, and The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (de Gruyter). She is currently working on a book on the Hebrew Bible and ecology. An Interview with Eerdmans Publishing Co. about Erickson’s book on Jonah. Commentary on Psalm 146 Commentary on Psalm 121 Psalm 1: Putting Evil in Its Place For more episodes and info visit Complexified at RNS

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, a biracial scholar and professor at the Iliff School of Theology. They explore the American dream through the lens of personal experiences and the stories of ancestors, especially focusing on the immigrant journey. Dr. Lizardy-Hajbi shares tales of her grandparents from Italy and Puerto Rico, revealing the challenges they had to overcome to settle in America and the personal experiences tied to these journeys. The conversation touches on aspects such as name Anglicization, language loss, and various legal hurdles in the quest for the coveted American Dream.  Also discussed is the paradoxical political situation of Puerto Rico as an intricate part of the United States, but lacking in full political representation. Amanda interrogates how religion and differing cultural contexts shaped these immigrant experiences. 00:01 Introduction and Background 01:14 Exploring the History of Puerto Rico 01:41 Guest Introduction: Dr. Kristina Lazardi-Hajbi 02:22 The Prerequisites of the American Dream 04:10 The Story of Puerto Rican Immigration 06:13 The Complexities of Puerto Rican Citizenship 10:23 The Impact of Americanization on Immigrant Families 14:48 The Italian Immigrant Experience 27:31 The Role of Religion in Immigrant Communities 33:14 Reflections on the American Dream 35:52 Conclusion and Future Plans   Want to Learn More? Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis Article:   https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/puerto-rico-us-territory-crisis New Partnership in 2024 with Religion News Service. Learn more about RNS here: https://religionnews.com/   Want to Take Action?  Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, Amanda Henderson interviews Dr. Albert Hernández - a Cuban-American academic with a unique perspective on the American Dream. Dr. Hernández discusses the challenges faced by those who exist in-between cultures, feeling a lack of belonging to either.  He shares historical perspectives on the experience of immigration to the U.S, particularly from Cuba, and explores how global political conflicts can drive individuals to relocate, seeking safety and better futures for their offspring. The episode illuminates the significance of personal and political narratives in shaping our understanding of the past and our vision for the future. The discussions range from colonial legacies, racialization, to the long road to societal change. Lastly, it presents a reflective poem reading by Mariela Saavedra Carquin – I swear There Was a River. In Maps You Can’t Make, Mariella Saavedra Carquin confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward. 00:00 Introduction: The Hyphenated Existence 00:33 Understanding the American Dream 02:04 Historical Context: Cuba and the United States 03:25 Interview with Dr. Albert Hernández: A Cuban-American Perspective 05:55 The Cuban Revolution and Its Impact 07:50 The Hyphenated Existence: A Personal Journey 09:01 The Struggle of Belonging: Between Cuban and American 10:19 The Influence of Personal History on Academic Interests 13:09 Generational Differences in Immigrant Experiences 20:22 The Complexity of Identity and the American Dream 23:39 The Role of History in Shaping Our Present and Future 30:56 The Long Haul Commitment to Change 33:12 Poetry Reading: I Swear There Was a River by Mariella Saavedra Carquin  35:58 Conclusion and Acknowledgements   Guest Bios Dr. Albert Hernández joined the Iliff faculty in 2001. He teaches courses in the history of Christianity from Medieval to Early Modern times with additional expertise in the history of the ancient Hellenistic-Roman period. His research and teaching areas include the history of mysticism and pneumatology; Muslim and Christian relations beginning with the Crusades; religious diversity in medieval Iberia and the Spanish Empire; and the history of medicine and pandemics. Hernández led the faculty design team that created the Authentic Engagement Program™ focusing his contribution on human flourishing and the philosophy of Happiness. Poet Mariella Saavedra Carquin is a graduate of Middlebury College, holds an EdM and an MA in psychological counseling from Columbia University, and recently earned an MA from Middlebury's Bread Loaf School of English. She is a licensed mental health counselor who has practiced in clinical, higher education, and middle school settings and published in academic journals on the psychological impact of microaggressions experienced by undocumented immigrant youth. Born in Peru and raised in Miami, she currently lives in Colorado.   Want to Learn More? Cuban Missile Crisis - https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis Mariella Saavedra Carquin, the poet who read one of her poems at the end of this episode. Her recently published book of poems confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.   https://www.juneroadpress.com/maps-you-cant-make   Want to Take Action?  Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Nga Vương-Sandoval, a refugee from Việt Nam and United States Refugee Advisory Board Project Manager. The conversation explores the transformation of the American Dream, immigration histories and policies, and the experiences of refugees.  Vương-Sandoval shares her insights on the true meaning of the American Dream, which she believes should not be drowned by materialism but rather focused on essential human aspirations such as freedom, safety, and security. The episode also investigates how immigration laws shape daily life, how global events affect personal perspectives, and the complex realities of being displaced and navigating life in a foreign country. Lastly, it presents a reflective poem reading by Mariela Saavedra Carquin on the complex realities of loss that come with displacement and resettlement in a new land. 00:02 Introduction and Overview 02:01 Understanding Immigration Laws and Policies 03:55 The Impact of Immigration Policies 05:08 Guest Introduction: Nga Vương-Sandoval 06:34 Nga's Journey and Perspective on the American Dream 13:53 The Influence of Capitalism on the American Dream 17:53 The Global Perception of the American Dream 21:20 The Role of History in Shaping Perceptions 24:22 Empowering Refugees and Asylum Seekers 28:27 Reflecting on Personal Experiences and the Concept of Home 31:20 Closing Remarks and Preview of Next Episode   Guest Bio As a Việtnamese refugee, Nga Vương-Sandoval embraces her heritage and refugee experience and is empathetic to the plight and struggle of other underrepresented communities. In addition to being a TEDx Presenter, she is active in a number of advocacy roles, including being a member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; a founding member and public speaker with Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau; a refugee advisor for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Refugee Advisory Group; the first refugee elected to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Program Services Committee; a Noble Ambassador for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation; an advisory member for Denver’s Little Sài Gòn Redevelopment Group; and an advisory member to the Denver Elections Advisory Committee. She previously served as a Commissioner with the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission. Nga earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. In her free time, she enjoys meeting, learning and engaging with diverse communities, reading, writing op-eds on Medium.com, watching documentaries, traveling domestically and internationally, exploring and savoring cuisines locally and around the world and creating origami for her NVS Cre-Asian line that’s sold at Ruby’s Market in Denver.   Want to Learn More? Hart-Cellar Act of 1965: https://cis.org/Report/HartCeller-Immigration-Act-1965 The James Truslow Adams book Nga referenced that was published in 1931– The Epic of America: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1192936.The_Epic_of_America Mariella Saavedra Carquin, the poet who read one of her poems at the end of this episode. Her recently published book of poems confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.   https://www.juneroadpress.com/maps-you-cant-make   Want to Take Action?  Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

Last month, we had our first live audience recording of Complexified! Amanda Henderson and Lex Dunbar welcomed Denver Drag Performers Juiccy Misdemeanor and Dixie Krystals for a provocative conversation confronting the efforts across the U.S. to ban drag performances. We laughed, we cried, we learned, and we laughed some more!  00:02 Introduction and Welcome 00:27 The Complexified Live Episode: Why Ban Drag? 01:38 Introducing the Drag Performers: Dixie Krystals and Juiccy Misdemeanor 02:50 The Current State of Drag and LGBTQ Rights 04:41 The Origins and Evolution of Drag 10:41 The Role of Activism in Drag 12:34 The Intersection of Religion and Drag 13:35 The Impact of Politics on Drag and LGBTQ Community 18:37 The Challenges and Joys of Being a Drag Performer 46:57 The Importance of Community in Drag 49:09 Conclusion and Future Plans   Guest Bio & links Lex Dunbar - Co-Host for this episode Lex Dunbar (They/Them) is a Black ENBY, June Gemini, and Norf-Philly native. They are a passionate educator, avid protestor, dynamic workshop facilitator, and compassionate neighbor. Lex completed their second Master’s degree at Iliff School of Theology and is currently a PhD candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program at Denver University and Iliff School of Theology.   Guest Panelist and Performer: Juiccy Misdemeanor  Juiccy is a dancer, artist, drag performer, and a growing icon here in Denver, Colorado. Juiccy is the recent winner of Miss Peach 2023, a dynamic performer bringing life of the party energy to the spaces she occupies.  https://www.instagram.com/juiccymisdemeanor/   Guest Panelist and Performer: Dixie Krystals Dixie Krystals has been dazzling audiences for 25 years. Her passion for community is what drives her to excellence. She is an ordained minister, bingo queen, emcee and fabulous hostess with the mostess.Dixie has been featured in Generation Drags, Streaming on Max and Camp Wannakiki Season 5 on Out TV. https://www.dixiekrystals.com/  Music by DJ Erin Stereo for the live event:  Erin Stereo is a DJ, curator and record collector from Denver, Colorado. Recently, Erin was named Best House DJ by The Denver Westword, Erin Stereo is known for spinning House music designed to ignite and delight the dance floor. https://www.erinstereo.com/   Links for things shared in the episode: Learn more about Mx, the title in place of Mr or Mrs mentioned in the show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mx_(title)   Want to Learn More? From police raids to pop culture: The early history of modern drag https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/drag-queen-drag-balls-early-history-pop-culture 12 historic LGBTQ figures who changed the world - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/historical-lgbt-figures-activists-culture   Anti-Drag legislation - https://people.com/politics/anti-drag-legislation-united-states/ Trans History: https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/may-2018/what-is-trans-history-from-activist-and-academic-roots-a-field-takes-shape   Want to Take Action? https://www.lgbtqnation.com/branded/authentic-voices-of-pride/drag-as-activism/ https://glaad.org/drag/ https://action.aclu.org/give/support-drag-defense-fund Vote!    Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Colorado State Representative Iman Jodeh shares her family story of leaving Palestine in the late 1960s seeking refuge from daily discrimination and violence. Making a way meant teaching Americans about Islam and building bridges of understanding and awareness. Rep. Jodeh shares how the legacy of her parents inspires her to serve as a State Legislator and ensure future generations know the power they hold to shape their future.   Guest Bio & links Representative Iman Jodeh is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 41st district. Elected in 2020, she is the first Muslim elected to the legislature and assumed office on January 13, 2021.   Want to Learn More? History of Palestine: https://www.un.org/unispal/history/ Israel Gaza Conflict Timeline by the New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/07/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict-timeline.html   Want to Take Action? 6 ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza by the American Friends Service Committee https://afsc.org/news/6-ways-you-can-support-palestinians-gaza   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Rabbi Joe, from Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, shares his family story. His father’s family fled persecution in the late 19th century to find safety in the U.S.  After the terror of Kristallnacht, the night of the broken glass, his mother’s family fled to the U.S. Rabbi Joe shares how the legacy of seeking refuge and ensuring ‘never-again’ lives in him. You don’t want to miss Rabbi Joe’s song for his mother at the end of the episode, Salty Taste of Tears.    Guest Bio & links Rabbi Black has been the Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel since 2010, previously serving as rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010. He served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987-1996. He received his Bachelor's degree in Education from Northwestern University in 1982 and his Master's degree and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1987. In 2012 he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from HUC-JIR. Website:  https://www.emanueldenver.org/about/clergy#RabbiBlack   Want to Learn More? Holocaust Encyclopedia – KRISTALLNACHT https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht Holocaust Encyclopedia –  Pogrom is a Russian word meaning “to wreak havoc, to demolish violently.” https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/pogroms?gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC0Hm5LWaL36azOTif9FgHWyCrPG3hIeaO4ZiPVO6vhCajIMc9yWVqBoCRDQQAvD_BwE “ADL Records Dramatic Increase in U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Following Oct. 7 Hamas Massacre”  https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-records-dramatic-increase-us-antisemitic-incidents-following-oct-7   Want to Take Action? Donate – “By donating to ADL today, you’ll ensure we are well positioned to disrupt the spread of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, conspiracy theories and all forms of hate online …”  https://support.adl.org/give/174715/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC40oq1U92ujPFS4Z9w4vNotO-PEl9zd6yEKDgtRYVMI1hb4uZgdFMRoCwcQQAvD_BwE#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=paidsearch&utm_medium=googlepaid&utm_campaign=Evergreen&c_src=evergreen&c_src2=googlepaid Monitor – Act – Educate: https://americansaa.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC8c9_WKBVWvPxB0OFzn3-2jPaae0qm3pb5NW3oZeAW_I1f9_F6KT5RoCVWUQAvD_BwE   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

Why is homeownership such an integral part of the American Dream? Why have some been systematically excluded from homeownership while others have been incentivized and subsidized to own their home? In this episode, Dr. Ben Sanders shares his family story of ownership and belonging from an experience as a Black American, as we continue to peel apart the myth of the American Dream.    Guest Bio  Ben Sanders, Ph.D is the Chief Equity Officer of the City of Denver. He is an Equity Professional/Consultant, Social Ethicist, Theologian, Passionate Servant-Leader, Change-Agent, Community Builder, and a Dad. Ben creates measurable and effective, equity-centered systems, processes, and policies that help companies, communities, and organizations optimize and achieve their missions and goals.   Want to Learn More? NBC News: The American Dream while Black: ‘Locked in a Vicious cycle’: Homeownership is supposed to be the gateway to the American dream. Black Americans have been denied access – https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/american-dream-while-black-homeownership/ NAACP: the home of grassroots activism for civil rights and social justice. We advocate, agitate, and litigate for the civil rights due to Black America. In our cities, schools, companies, and courtrooms, we are the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Thurgood Marshall, and many other giants –  https://naacp.org/ Homeownership rates by Race: https://usafacts.org/articles/homeownership-rates-by-race/   Want to Take Action? Donate to NAACP: https://naacp.org/resources/reparations Donate to advancing Black Homeownership: https://www.habitat.org/our-work/advancing-black-homeownership https://www.dearfieldfund.com/ https://downpaymentresource.com/homebuyer-resource/highlighting-homebuyer-assistance-programs-for-black-homebuyers/#:~:text=The%20Dearfield%20Fund%20for%20Black,through%20affordable%20and%20sustainable%20homeownership.  Facing Race: A National Conference: https://facingrace.raceforward.org/   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website:  https://www.complexified.org/

One afternoon, her clothes, hair, language, name, and even her parents were taken from her.  In this episode, Navajo woman Bessie Smith, who survived the Indian Boarding Schools, shares her story of losing everything and then reclaiming the traditions she learned as a child to find healing.  Join us in this episode as we go to Bessie's home in Denver, Colorado, and hear about the day her parents were forced to hand her over to the U.S. Government. Bessie shares with breathtaking detail, remembering the gravity of all she lost. Listen to the full episode for ways you can learn more, and take action to first listen and feel, and then to heal, together.   Guest Bio Bessie Smith (Dzabahe) was born around January 12th, 1942 and raised on the Diné  reservation, halfway between Leupp and Tuba City, Arizona.  She was born into Hashkáán Hadzohí  (yucca fruit plant) clan, born for Bįįhbitodní clan (deer water), and paternal grandfather of Kiyáání (tower house people) clan, and maternal grandfather ofTłeziłaní (manygoats) clan.  She was raised in a traditional Diné way of life. Bessie has been designing and making jewelry for over 25 years. She currently works on a part time basis as a consultant to agencies who are in need of Navajo interpretation services throughout the State of Colorado.  Bessie’s Jewelry Website: https://www.dzabahe.com/   Links for things shared in the episode: The Denver Post article referenced by Amanda: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/10/03/native-american-boarding-schools-graves-fort-lewis-grand-junction/ Supreme Court preserves law that aims to keep Native American children with tribal families: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-native-american-children-adoption-8eee3db1e97cee84a7fdcd98d43df795#tbl-em-lnwebu7xuuio4ldv5e   Want to Learn More? CPR News Article: Legacy Of Indigenous Boarding Schools In Colorado Includes Unmarked Graves And Generational Scarshttps://www.cpr.org/2021/08/02/indigenous-boarding-schools-colorado-unmarked-graves-generational-scars/ 9 News interview with Bessie Smith: Federal Indian Boarding School survivor shares the abuse she endured, and how her jewelry business helps her heal:https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/federal-indian-boarding-school-survivor-abuse-jewelry-business-heal-denver-colorado/73-91ebf2d1-051f-413d-8977-f97f8ed5c199 New York Times article: Researchers Identify Dozens of Native Students Who Died at Nebraska School:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/us/native-american-boarding-school-deaths-nebraska.html New York Times article: ‘WAR AGAINST THE CHILDREN’ - The Native American boarding school system — a decades-long effort to assimilate Indigenous people before they ever reached adulthood — robbed children of their culture, family bonds and sometimes their lives:https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/30/us/native-american-boarding-schools.html   Want to Take Action? Land Back Movement: https://landback.org/ Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels: https://climatenetwork.org/can-event/global-fight-to-end-fossil-fuels/   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen:  https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75  Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website - https://www.complexified.org/

As debates rage in state legislatures and school boards about history curriculums or critical race theory or the impact of slavery, we know that how we imagine our future has everything to do with how we remember our past. In this episode, we begin our series pulling apart the stories we have been told about the American Dream through our own multiple, honest, complicated stories of Dreaming America. We begin with our host, Amanda Henderson’s own family story. Moving West to find a better life, open space, and a land of their own, Amanda’s grandparent’s encountered hardship and built community. Their story mirrors the classic stories we have been told about pioneers and homesteaders, and there was more to that story, and there is more to our story. Begin the journey for the weeks ahead in the American Southwest with the stories we are told before we move further into the many stories we hold.   Resources to learn more: Homestead Act of 1862 - https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/homestead-act#:~:text=The%20Homestead%20Act%2C%20enacted%20during,plot%20by%20cultivating%20the%20land.    Subscribe to the Complexified Newsletter on Substack - https://complexified.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/complexifiedpodcast/ Complexified Website - https://www.complexified.org/   Resources from the Guest: New River (Images of America) Book, Marcy Miller https://www.amazon.com/River-Images-America-Marcy-Miller/dp/1467115932 Land of Our Own: New River, Arizona Paperback by Pauline Essary Grimes (Author) "How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2016. Student Resources in Context A Brief History of the American Dream An Essay by Sarah Churchwell, Professor at the University of London, and Author, Behold, America: The Entangled History of ‘America First’ and ‘the American Dream’

The American Dream… is complicated.  It always has been. For some - this dream has been a nightmare … a mirage in a forsaken desert. A myth. For others, it’s been an oasis from hardship, oppression, violence. … a vision realized through physical freedom and material success. This season on Complexified, we’re asking: Where did the myth of the American dream come from? What’s it got to do with religion and politics? And how is it shaping our lives, for better or worse? Coming to you from the Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture at Iliff School of Theology, I’m your host, Amanda Henderson, back with a new season of Complexified…my show about the powerful ways religion and politics intersect and affect my life. Your life. And all of our lives, together. Each week, I’ll share what I’m learning as we turn the myth of the American Dream into our multiple, honest ways of Dreaming America. Complexified: Dreaming America launches October 5th. Follow and share the show now, wherever you listen.

Denise is an award-winning Latina filmmaker and cultural storyteller. Denise is the American-born daughter of first-generation immigrants from Puerto Rico, growing up first in the Bronx and then in a mostly white community further upstate in New York. She never felt like she belonged anywhere. not white enough and American enough for the suburban community around her. Nor fluent enough in Spanish to feel completely Latina. She was a girl and then a woman who felt out of place. So what did she do? She created a film called,  "Being Enye". All about that sense of being in between.

Dr. Butler is the founder of the seekr project, a distinctively black conversational artificial intelligence with mental health capacities, and is partner director of the Iliff School of Theology's  AI Institute, where he works to change how computers see people.