United Women in Faith: Faith Talks

How do you pray when you are angry, afraid, or confused? If you’re like many people, you may struggle to find the words or even the desire to pray when your world has been turned upside down. Or you may be stuck with unrealistic notions of what prayer should or should not be. Join us on this episode of Faith Talks as we talk with Rev. Elizabeth Ashman Riley to discuss her new book, Rage Prayers.Rev. Elizabeth Ashman Riley is an Episcopal priest serving in the Diocese of Olympia. Riley was ordained through the Diocese of Alaska as a deacon in 2012 and as a priest in 2013. She previously served as a board member of Young Clergy Women International, and on the board of Stanford's Episcopal Campus Ministry. ​During the pandemic, Riley started to do this style of praying on TikTok and it resonated with her diverse following—even those whose relationship with God was tenuous. Her following has grown to nearly 60,000 people. We are delighted to spend time with Elizabeth and learn more about persisting in prayer, even when we am angry, afraid, or anxious. We believe you’ll not only enjoy this conversation but walk away with practical tips to strengthen your prayer life.

September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness of this urgently important crisis. Suicide impacts persons of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, and other demographics. This month is an opportunity to shift public perception, spread hope, and share vital information to people affected by suicide. If you are reading this and feeling discouraged, or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.For this episode of Faith Talks we are sharing a conversation Jennifer Farmer had with Desmond Meade. Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, a graduate of Florida International University College of Law, a Ford Global Fellow, and a 2021 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2019, Meade presently leads efforts to empower and civically re-engage local communities across the state, and to reshape local, state, and national criminal justice policies. As President and Executive Director of the FRRC, Meade led the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative which restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Amendment 4 represented the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States in half a century and brought an end to 150 years of a Jim Crow-era law in Florida.But Meade didn’t start out with all these awards. In this video, we talk about his experience considering suicide. In this touching segment, he makes an appeal for all of us to see the humanity in persons who’ve made mistakes, made amends for those mistakes, and are striving to live with peace in dignity.Now please settle in and enjoy this conversation.

We are sure you will agree that there are few rights as sacred as the right to vote. Our ancestors struggled to ensure the right to vote for women, people of color, and other marginalized groups. Unfortunately, every election cycle there are nefarious efforts to sway electoral outcomes or influence elections in a way that benefits persons with extreme wealth and power. This has always been a concern. However, with the emergence of artificial intelligence and deep fake accounts, we must be savvy, well-informed, and watchful. But how can we flag misinformation when some of the things that appear true may be false? We want to discuss and share resources to help you vet the information you receive. On this episode we will welcome Mike Webb and Danielle Davis as guests on the live recording of the Faith Talks podcast. We’ll discuss electoral misinformation that targets marginalized groups and unsuspecting voters. For background, Davis is the director of technology policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Webb is the senior vice president for communications for the News Literacy Project. You will leave this recording with tools to help you and the people you know discern information and vote with confidence.- - -Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer. It is produced by United Women in Faith. Visit http://www.uwfaith.org to learn more.

Have you ever felt like a problem? Have you ever been treated as if you are a problem? Or have you had the experience of struggling to access resources that others obtain with little effort or worry? Join us on this episode of Faith Talks as we  talk with Chioma Oruh, Ph.D. and Dara Baldwin.Baldwin is an activist, scholar, and an author with over 20 years of experience in policy and social justice work. We'll discuss Baldwin's book To Be a Problem: Black Women's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement. Oruh is a disabilities rights parent-advocate and a co-founder of Mothering Hands, a nonprofit organization working to improve the quality of life, working with government, business, and community partners to provide dynamic and enriching out-of-school opportunities for children and youth with disabilities in the District of Columbia. She has been on the Faith Talks podcast before and we know you'll enjoy listening to her as well as Baldwin.//Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer and produced by United Women in Faith. To learn more visit http://www.uwfaith.org.

This year Mission u will bring together adults, youth and children to explore what it means to draw closer to God and one another through transformative education, powerful worship, fellowship, and action.You are invited to join Mission u gatherings across the country to explore how we can transform ourselves and our communities in ways that bring us closer to the kin-dom and the kin-dom closer to us.Find an in-person event near you or a virtual event on the interactive Mission u map on the Mission uwebpage at http://www.uwfaith.org/events/mission-u

June is Caribbean Heritage Month and Faith Talks is excited to celebrate this commemorative time. We are delighted to talk with Barbadian-American author Dr. Gena Cox. Cox is an organizational psychologist with a commitment to helping leaders create healthy and dynamic work environments. Her award-winning book Leading Inclusion: Driving Change Your Employees Can See and Feel is a “how to” resource that helps leaders remove barriers to inclusive workplaces. Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer. Visit https://uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/ to learn more about this podcast and other digital resources from United Women in Faith.

The U.S. State Department notes that there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time. It is happening under our noses with all people, of all ages, of all backgrounds, and of all nationalities being vulnerable to trafficking. Faith Talks wants to talk about this issue in a substantive way. Please join a discussion with Jennifer R. Farmer; Hannah Estabrook of Sanctuary Night; Paula Harris of Freedom a la Cart; and Mike Premo of Community Development for All People, a United Women in Faith National Mission Institution.This programmatic work is near and dear to our hearts, and we wholeheartedly support the mission to end human trafficking against women and girls. However, UWFaith is not currently resourcing this work at this time. If you would like to learn more or participate, please reach out to the partners listed in the video.Visit http://www.uwfaith.org to learn more about the work of United Women in Faith.

The U.S. State Department notes that there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time.  This segment features organizations that are helping children and adults heal and recover from the horrors of sex trafficking. You’ll hear from Hannah Swift, director of community outreach and training at Gracehaven; Victoria Roland, statewide program administrator for the Susannah Wesley Community Center’s Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP); and Dr. Marlene Carson, a survivor and the founder of Black Leaders Against Sex Trafficking.//Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer and produced by United Women in Faith. Visit http://www.uwfaith.org to learn more.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Faith Talks will facilitate a discussion highlighting the intersection of mental health and disability rights. We are keen to focus on the ways racism impacts one’s mental health journey, and further endangers persons who are differently abled. We’ll examine what’s happening in schools with regards to students with disabilities and the loss of innocence of young people of color. Our guests include Dara Baldwin, who will discuss her forthcoming book To Be a Problem: A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement and Kristin Henning, author of The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth and Director of the Georgetown Juvenile Justice Clinic.---Faith Talks is produced by United Women in Faith and is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer.

May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month and we're committed to learning and celebrating this commemorative event on Faith Talks. Listen in as we talk with several members of United Women in Faith who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander or South Asian. This is a moment to highlight the community's trials and triumphs while committing ourselves to deeper learning. We are excited to interview Selina Soo Lim of Gum Moon Women's Residence; Joni Chun of Susannah Wesley Community Center; and Esther Barkat, a retired school psychologist and United Women in Faith member.Faith talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer and is produced by United Women in Faith. Visit http://www.uwfaith.org to learn more.

We are excited to invite you to treasure God's creation on Earth Day and every single day, whether we are attending large meetings or tending to small daily habits. United Women in Faith has a long history of caring for creation, preserving as sacred our places, serving as God’s stewards on Earth.In light of Earth Day and the upcoming General Conference, we encourage you to join our amazing and informative discussion with Rev. Kristina Sinks, a provisional Deacon in the California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist Church serving at GreenFaith, Rev. Dallas Conyers, a youth organizer with the Amanecer Project, and Pat Watkins, a former missionary working for the UMC General Board of Global Ministries as our first “Missionary for the Care of God’s Creation.”We will face the imminent Earth Day challenge of reducing plastic pollution. Other topics may include:The spiritual significance of environmental stewardship and Earth Day;Practical tips for reducing plastic usage in our daily lives;Initiatives within the United Methodist family and faith-based communities to promote sustainable practices;Our collective work towards economic justice and a healthy planet which upholds our faith valuesPlease join our community, committed to honoring God's creation, practicing and loving sustainability.- - - Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer.Visit https://uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/ for more podcasts and webinars from United Women in Faith.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and as an organization committed to women, children, and youth, United Women in Faith wants to talk about it. But we not only want to talk about it, we want to offer protective and preventive tips to help us better support and nurture children and families.We will talk with Chelsea Elliott of Somocom Lab; Ellen Reddy of the Nollie Jenkins Family Center; and Dianna Freelon-Foster of Activists with a Purpose Plus. This is an episode you won't want to miss as it'll be informative and encouraging.- - -Visit https://uwfaith.org/ to learn  more about United Women in Faith.Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer.

In continuing our celebration of Women’s History Month, we will interview author Deepa Iyer. We are excited to speak with Iyer about her books “We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future,” and “Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection.” We also want to preview her forthcoming children’s book, “We are the Builders,” which will be released in the fall of 2024.This episode will be extra special as it is the 5th year anniversary of the Faith Talks podcast. To help us celebrate, Yvette Moore, who served United Women in Faith for more than 30 years, including most recently as director of communications and marketing, will join us.Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer and produced by United Women in Faith.

Let's kick off Women's History Month with a look back and a look forward, situated solidly in this present moment. We'll celebrate the women of the Bible and challenge our understanding of women's roles in church and society today.Meet and re-acquaint yourself with some women who've loved our beautiful United Women in Faith (and its earlier incarnations) into existence.Get ready to share insights with Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, United Methodist Church; Ann Craig, formerly Spiritual and Theological Development executive for United Methodist Women; and Dr. Glory Dharmaraj, former director of Spiritual Formation and Mission Theology for United Methodist Women.We welcome our old friends. And this month, as always, we make new friends, inviting and learning from one another through United Women in Faith.

As we enter the season of Lent, join us as we talk with Whitney R. Simpson and discuss her book, Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit. Simpson’s book is a 40-day devotional written with Lent in mind. It includes daily prompts for lectio divina, breath prayer, simple yoga postures, essential oils, and journaling and reflection. It was created to engage the whole body on this 40-day Lenten journey with God. Additionally, we are delighted to interview Neomi Fletcher, a bi-vocational minister who splits her time between early childhood advocacy and equipping the body of Christ. We’ll discuss spiritual disciplines that promote peace within the home and church.As you know, Lent follows Epiphany and it is a wonderful opportunity to deepen our spiritual discipline and practices. We hope you’ll join us for what is sure to be a riveting live episode of Faith Talks!Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer, the founder of Spotlight PR.Visit https://uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/ to learn more about this show.

February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month and we are excited about this opportunity to learn and grow. Listen as we feature three remarkable leaders who are making history today. We will talk with our wonderful General Secretary and CEO Sally Vonner, Bennett College President Dr. Suzanne Walsh, and the Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert, who is the executive director of the Scarritt Bennett Center.Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer, the founder of Spotlight PR.Visit https://uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/ to learn more about this show.

Listen in as we talk with Sarah Augustine, a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, author, and climate justice activist. Sarah is the executive director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, and author of The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. We willll discuss her latest book, So We & Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis, and her advocacy on behalf of current and future generations. Be sure to register and invite a friend to join us.

The mission of United Women in Faith has always been to celebrate and encourage women leaders – in church and in the community.As we enter this new year, let’s learn about United Women in Faith’s latest leadership tools from guests Praveena Balasundaram, Director of Communications; Olivia DiAgostino, Transformation Program Coordinator; and Shannon Priddy, Executive for Development & Donor Relations.This trio from United Women in Faith has been on the forefront of opening and sharing a virtual space to connect members easily with one another and with our valued resources, such as the Program Resource, Prayer Guide, and Mission Studies.We will hear about our innovative networking site, created during the stay-at-home days of the pandemic. However, it is not just a band aid for the past but muscle for the future! In this safe and private place for thoughtful and moderated conversations, you won’t be distracted by advertising or other annoyances from the large and impersonal social media platforms. We understand you.Leadership development, resources for the daily journey, and chatting with new friends are all just a click away.Let’s hear about and share how, through United Women in Faith’s digital and in-person gatherings, we can grow together. After all, as women become leaders, churches and communities will thrive too.

Advent is a season of lighting candles, symbols of the coming light of Christ. Right? Yet what does the promise of rebirth mean to you? And why is there so much need?To be honest, many of us experience solitary moments of doubt and despair, whether we notice our financial lack, loneliness, poor health, grief, etc. For women experiencing such missing pieces, life can feel like a puzzle.Join this Faith Talks conversation where we will hold space for and discover the puzzles and beauty of this Advent season, while also acknowledging the pain that can be associated with the coming holy days and holidays. Whether you are ignited with the fires of inspiration or struggling with the solitude of holiday blues, you are not alone. We are here with and for one another as witnesses to the coming of hope.Our season's conversationalists are Margaret Fenton Lebeck, author of the United Women in Faith program book and editorial board member, and Hannah Kardon, a program resources author and speaker on Faith Talks on Peace.

Let’s celebrate God’s many gifts and the ways we’ve shown up for one another as friends, sisters, neighbors, and fellow travelers during this year!What is one blessing that you thank God for? How do you share that blessing? What is your strategy for giving? Do you give through word, deed, or material resources?In this episode, we’ll hear from our sisters in United Women in Faith on how to raise spirits and financial gifts to share with our beloved sisterhood. One way our sisters may lift up the power of sharing in United Women in Faith is through the open channel of the historic World Thank Offering.Tune in and learn from United Women in Faith guests: Deaconess Christi Campos, Executive for Development and Donor Relations for the National office of United Women in Faith; Glori Siebert, a teacher and Missouri Conference’s Education and Interpretation coordinator; and Adelaide Parsons, the Missouri Conference’s Legacy Liaison.Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer Farmer.Visit https://uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/ to learn more.