Elgin church's 'Live Love, Stop Hate' to discuss online bullying Jan. 28
First Congregational Church of Elgin believes that now is the time to "Live Love, Stop Hate" in Elgin and beyond.
They propose living radical love by opening up dialogue and getting educated on many important societal topics.
The community is invited to the "Live Love, Stop Hate Symposium and Dinner" from 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays through February at the church, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. It will feature a free dinner and keynote speaker as you can learn more about the issues that face your neighbors and put your faith into action through understanding and love.
• On Jan. 28, Lark Cowart, Kane County Juvenile Justice Council, will speak on "Anti-bullying and Online Civility for Adults." Online bullying has gotten a lot of press lately. Adult bullies were often either bullies as children or bullied as children. Understanding this about them may be able to help you cope with the behavior.
Bullying is basically a form of intimidation or domination toward someone who is perceived as being weaker. It is a way of getting what one wants through some sort of coercion or force. It is also a way for someone to establish some sort of perceived superiority over another person.
• On Feb. 11, Kareem M. Irfan, past chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and past president of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, will talk about "Forging Unified Action From America's Diversity of Faiths."
Drawing upon his decades of leadership experience within the American-Muslim community and active engagement with Inter-Faith initiatives around the world, Irfan will present a template for faith-founded solidarity to be forged among Americans of diverse faith backgrounds as a critical bulwark against the increasingly divisive sociopolitical circumstances confronting our country.
• On Feb. 18, John Knight, director of the LGBT & HIV Project at the American Civil Liberties Union-Illinois, will ask "Why Are Transgender People Still Having to Fight for Their Lives?" Every year the number of transgender people murdered increases and the suicide rates among young people are a national tragedy.
Our transgender sisters and brothers often face deeply ingrained bias at every step of their lives. The result isn't surprising - a disproportionately high rate of poverty, for example. And yet there is a long and rich history of transgender resistance we can all learn from.
• On Feb. 25, Kim Snoddy, senior manager of Cosponsorship & Housing at RefugeeOne, and client Mira Jan Darwish will discuss "Open Immigration with Closed Borders." Representatives from RefugeeOne will share information on the United States resettlement program and the changes that are happening under the current administration.
You will hear how for more than 35 years RefugeeOne has provided opportunities for refugees who have fled war, terror and persecution and how they help them build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance here in America.
Mira Jan Darwish, one of RefugeeOne's clients, will share how RefugeeOne and First Congregational Church of Elgin, through a cosponsorship program, helped him and his family begin their life in this foreign land.
Donations will be accepted and encouraged. Reservations are required; there is a 100-person maximum. To register, call the church office at (847) 741-4045 or visit the Eventbrite.com event page.
Dinner begins at 5 p.m. The Rev. Paris Donehoo will introduce the speaker at 5:30 p.m., with the presentation at 5:35 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a question-and-answer period and open discussion.
To learn more, visit www.fcc-elgin.org.