CRN Diversity Academy: Dietary Challenges for Diverse Cultures

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 02:00 pm

2:00 - 3:30 pm

Speakers: Fred Stella, Cary Fleischer, and Ghazala Munir

KEYNOTE SPEAKER*: Fred Stella- President of Interfaith Dialogue Association, an affiliate organization of Kaufman Interfaith Institute, and Outreach Minister for the West Michigan Hindu Temple

Fred Stella is a product of 16 years of Catholic education, including a degree in Communications and Mass Media from the University of Detroit.  His interest in Hinduism began at age 15 when studying comparative religions, and had embraced Dharma in his 30’s.  In 2009, after studying and practicing in various ashrams and temples throughout India and the US, Fred was ordained as a Pracharak, or  Outreach Minister, by The West Michigan Hindu Temple.
 
In 2005, Fred completed a 30 city lecture in India that, in part, addressed the challenge of what is termed “predatory evangelism”.  He repeated a similar tour in Guyana last year. For the past 23 years, Fred has served as President of the Interfaith Dialogue Association, an affiliate of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at GVSU.
 
In 2012, Mr. Stella was presented with his city’s “Champion of Diversity Award” for his work in interfaith relations.  Finally, Fred sits on the National Leadership Council of the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, DC.

Cary Fleischer- Retired Attorney at Law, specializing in Business Litigation
Cary Fleischer is a 71-year-old retired Chicago Lawyer who managed a large Chicago law firm and appeared in courts throughout the country. Five years ago Cary retired from the practice of law and moved to Grand Rapids. Cary is Jewish. In Grand Rapids, Cary regularly attends an Orthodox Synagogue where most participants follow very strictly, Jewish dietary laws. Cary also attends a Conservative Jewish institution where participants differ as to which Jewish dietary laws each person follows. Cary also attends a reform Jewish local institution where participants know very little about Jewish dietary laws and follow few of those restrictions. Cary is very active in the local interfaith community and is always happy to discuss anything with anyone by contact at email, text, or home address.

Ghazala Munir- Former Treasurer and Vice President of the Interfaith Dialogue Association
Ms. Munir was born and raised in Pakistan. She finished her secondary education in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Pullman, Washington. She earned her Masters Degree in Bio-Chemistry from the University of Peshawar and moved the United States in 1973. At one point in her life, by destiny or default, Ghazala’s interests in religion and diversity led her to become involved with interfaith and she then helped establish the Interfaith Dialogue Association in Grand Rapids, MI. Some highlights of her career include being one of 250 invitees from around the world at the United Religions Initiative’s Third Global Summit at Stanford University where the summit goal was an action plan for the cooperation between people of faith and calling for a global religious cease-fire.
 
One of five workshop leaders for the Association for Religion and Intellectual Life Consultation held at Brown University. Authored an Essay entitled Muslim Women in Dialogue - Breaking Walls, Building Bridges. Featured in a book titled, Amazing Women in West Michigan. Awarded the Champion of Diversity by Mayor George Heartwell. At present, Ghazala is pursuing her interests in faith and spirituality on a social and personal level.

Registration Required!

Email: registration@aaawm.org or call: 616-222-7032. Once registered, you will be provided with the information for phone and online meeting access.