Meet Our Expert Speakers :)t
Born in Maryland and raised in California, Rev. Sandra Olewine (Sandy) is a graduate of the University of California, Davis (BS) and the Claremont School of Theology (M.Div / ABD).
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She loves speaking on the following topics:​
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Christianity 101
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Why Interfaith Engagement Matters and How To Start Your Own Standing Together Dialogue Group
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Contact Rev. Sandy:
Co-Chair of Standing Together
Rev. Sandy Olewine
Introduce your team! Click here to add images, text and links, or connect data from your collection.
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He loves speaking on the following topics: ​
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Islam 101
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Why Interfaith Engagement Matters and How To Start Your Own Standing Together Dialogue Group
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Contact Imam César:
Co-Chair of Standing Together
Imam César Domínguez
John Ishvaradas Abdallah (meaning "servant of God" in Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Muslim traditions) is the preferred pen name of Syed Riyaz Mahdi. A speaker, writer and independent activist Sufi, he is the author of, "A Sufi's Ruminations On One World Under God". He is also the Founder and Executive Director of World Without Borders Interfaith Sufi Ashram, which is based on and draws its inspiration from the book.
"Sufi John" is passionately involved in interfaith dialogue, conversation and movement promoting a theology of love, peace and freedom through active nonviolence. And in addition to Standing Together, he currently also serves on the boards of California Committee for a Parliament of World's Religions, South Coast Interfaith Council, and Muslims for Progressive Values Los Angeles Chapter.
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He loves speaking on the following topics: ​
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Islam 101
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Why Interfaith Engagement Matters and How To Start Your Own Standing Together Dialogue Group
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Contact "Sufi John":
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Board Member of Standing Together
John Ishvaradas Abdallah
Tasneem Farha Noor is the award-winning author of the best selling book, "The Faith Connection: Your Journey Starts With Knowing Yourself". She is also the founder of Noor Enterprises: SOULful Transformations, and a past board member of Standing Together.
Tasneem has trained over 200 community leaders through 9 month long conflict transformational programs for healthy relations, productive engagement and social change. As a leadership coach, Tasneem helps her clients to build their teams and communities' capacity for authentic engagement, explore diversity, dismantle stereotypes, and create lasting partnerships. The Inter-Religious Council of Southern CA recognized Tasneem as an emerging faith leader...
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She loves speaking on the following topics:
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Navigating Through Difficult Conversations With Courageous Curiosity and Compassion
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The 3 Keys to Being a Confident Interfaith or Spiritual Leader
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How to Transform Conflict and Commotion to Opportunities for Lasting Connections and Change
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The 3 Keys to Using Your Faith to Be In Action & Answer Your Calling
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Contact Tasneem:
Tasneem@TheFaithConnector.com
The Faith Connector
Tasneem Farha Noor
Samia Bano is the award-winning author of 'Make Change Fun And Easy: How to Create Inner Peace to World Peace In 3 Simple Steps'. She serves as the resident Happiness Expert at The Academy Of Thriving, a transformative educational institution that helps ChangeMakers create massive positive change in their lives and the world. Using the principles she teaches, Samia lives happiness every day and believes that is the key to making change fun and easy :).
In the aftermath of 9/11/2001, Samia, who is easily recognizable as a Muslim since she chooses to wear the traditional head scarf for Muslim women, found herself a target of Islamophobic discrimination. It made her heart feel "heavy and sad". She recognized the negative reactions were based in a misunderstanding of her faith and religion and she determined to do what she could to heal the sense of pain and fear that caused people to react to Islam and Muslims in such a negative way.
Since then Samia has been actively engaged in various interfaith projects and dialogue groups.
She is one of the lead facilitators of the Standing Together Online Facilitated Dialogue Series.
She loves speaking on the following topics:
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Living Islam (Peace) in 21st Century America
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Islam 101
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Why Interfaith Engagement Matters and How To Start Your Own Standing Together Dialogue Group
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How to Change The World With Love
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Contact Samia:
Samia@AcademyOfThriving.com
Board Member of Standing Together