Why I am Not a "None"

Monday, June 9, 2014
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Northaven UMC
Sanctuary/Atrium

      Sridhar Kara       Drew  Alyeshmerni   Ali Mahmoud      Ron Powell          Moderator       

A panel of presenters representing three different religious perspectives will discuss why they are not a part of the growing percentage of the younger generation that respond “none of the above” in survey questions about religious affiliation or that they are “spiritual but not religious.” 

The presenters are:
Ali Mahmoud grew up in Plano and received a McDermott Scholarship at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he is majoring in Biology and Sociology.  At the end of his sophomore year he founded the first Muslim fraternity in America, Alpha Lamda Mu.  The fraternity has gained national media attention and has been featured on New York Times, NPR, and other major news networks.  Two new chapters have now opened at Cornell University and the University of California at San Diego.  He is currently working on a documentary called Brotherhood: America's Favorite Muslim Fraternity to showcase the struggles of young Muslim American college students in keeping their identity and their faith in post-9/11 America and how the fraternity has been a solution for members of the fraternity.

Drew Alyesmerni, 29, is Executive Vice President of the Southwest Jewish Congress, an organization dedicated to Israel education and awareness, defending the US Constitution, and celebrating intercultural diversity.  Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, as an Iranian-American Jew, Drew views her multi-cultural upbringing as driving force in her work to form bridges between people of different cultures and religions. In August of 2013, Drew relocated to Dallas from Israel, where she served in the IDF at the forefront of diplomatic relations, obtained a Masters in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University, and developed and implemented marketing strategy and outreach to North Americans on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.

Sridhar Karra graduated from Allen High School and is a junior at the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in Economics.  A member of the Hindu organization Chinmaya Mission since he was five, he is an active member of the organization’s youth wing, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra West (CHYK West).  He has attended several CHYK camps and has led various fundraisers and service projects.  Sridhar teaches a Sunday school class for high schoolers at Chinmaya Saaket, which is one of two Chinmaya Mission temples in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.  In the summer of 2013, Sridhar attended the Youth Empowerment Program, a course offered to youth by Chinmaya Mission, which consists of two months of scriptural study, followed by ten months of service.  He is a member of CHYK West’s National Steering Committee.

The comments of the panelists will be the stimulus for clusters of those who attend to address the meaning of the phenomenon of only 36% of their age group stating they have a religious affiliation and whether it represents a decline in spiritual interest or a different path of spiritual quest.  In either event, the implications for people of any faith perspective are significant.

The vision of The 2nd Community is to create a community of individuals of all ages representing the rich religious diversity of North Texas with the objective of being able to share faith stories “freely and fearlessly.”  The ultimate purpose is to provide an opportunity to achieve a more accurate and respectful understanding of the beliefs and practices of others and, in so doing, to enrich one’s own faith perspective.

A Multi-Faith Leadership Team is guiding a process of developing The 2^nd Community as a program that is inviting to persons from all faith communities and creating an accepting and respectful space that is safe for open discussion of faith stories without even the semblance of “proselytizing.”  The 2^ndCommunity has the potential of augmenting one’s own faith community, thus becoming a “2^ndCommunity” in which one can join others to have a unified voice for tolerance and mutual respect.

While there is no charge, we need for you to register.  Registration is not required, but helps us a great deal with planning for events.  Free childcare is available if requested.