The Presenters:

Fatemeh Keshavarz was born and raised in the city of Shiraz in southwest Iran. She is professor of Persian and Comparative Literature at Washington University, St. Louis. A published poet in Persian, the language in which Rumi wrote, Fatemeh also writes poetry in English and is the author of several books. Her book, Reading Mystical Lyric: the Case of Jalal al-Din Rumi (1998) analyzes the poetic contribution of the medieval Persian poet and mystic Rumi, and another literary study, Recite in the Name of the Red Rose: Poetic Sacred Making in Twentieth Century Iran, considers expressions of spirituality in present day Iran. Both works received the Choice Magazine Award. Her latest book blends personal memoir with literary analysis and social commentary. Jasmine and Stars: Reading more than Lolita in Tehran has been described as an “excellent counterpoint” to Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran.

In 2007, she was invited to speak at the UN General Assembly on cultural education for world peace and was awarded the 2008 Hershel Walker Peace & Justice Award by People’s Weekly. In 2008, she was featured on the radio show “Speaking of Faith” discussing Rumi’s ecstatic faith.

Jessika Kenney is a vocalist and composer known for a haunting sense of timbre. She has performed and recorded classical Persian vocal repertoire with her teacher, world-renowned ney and vocal master Ostad Hossein Omoumi. She has composed music to some of Fatemeh Keshavarz’ works and, in contexts led by Fatemeh and Ostad Omoumi, she has performed concert presentations which incorporate translation, readings, recitations, and music. Jessika teaches voice at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

A Weekend with Fatemeh Keshavarz

Rumi Scholar and Professor of Persian and Comparative Literature at Washington University, St. Louis

Friday, November 11, 6-6:30pm & 7-9pm

6-6:30pm What Is Sufism? 
The opening of the program will begin with an opportunity for one of Rumi's 21st century interpreters and successors, Fatemeh Keshavarz, to provide background and insight into the Islamic spiritual tradition of Sufism. There will be a brief break before the featured program.

7-9:00pm Wondrous Birds Grow from the Palm of My Hands: Rumi's Poetry in a Global Age. 
A vision for humanity that is beautiful and pregnant with God. 
Rumi scholar, Fatemeh Keshavarz, weaves threads of hope through Rumi's poetry that speak to the spiritual longing of our time. Using many examples from Rumi's work, Fatemeh will look at the ways in which Rumi’s poetry embodies his mystical teachings and why it appeals to us in the 21st century in the U.S. In a tapestry of learning, poetry and song, Fatemah’s presentation will be interspersed with movements of reading and singing by vocalist and composer Jessika Kenney. The evening concludes with booksigning and reception.

Sunday, November 13, 2-4pm
 

Jasmine and Stars: Looking for a Language of Global Kinship
The afternoon will include readings from Fatemeh Keshavarz’s memoir, Jasmine and Stars: Reading more than Lolita in Tehran. The book makes heavy use of poetry and prose, and Fatemeh will discuss the way literature can be used as "a language of global kinship." Her readings from the book will illustrate the traditional Persian way of using literature for reconciliation, healing and connecting with the world.

Sr. Joan Chittister coming to the Twin Cities

Sponsored by WomenSpirit

July 12, 2012

Joan Chittister, OSB, is one of the most articulate social analysts and influential religious leaders of our age. For over 30 years she has put her energy into advocating for the critical questions impacting the global community. Courageous, passionate and charged with energy, she is a much-sought after speaker, counselor and clear voice across all religions. A Benedictine Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania, Sister Joan is the author of more than 40 books.

Currently she serves as co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, a partner organization of the U.N., facilitating a worldwide network of women peace builders.

Her book, The Monastery of the Heart, published spring 2011, is part of a program she is helping to develop to enable lay groups to live Benedictine spirituality in a contemporary way. The best-selling, The Gift of Years: growing older gracefully, won Sr. Joan her 9^th Catholic Press Association award. It has already been published in German, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese and Korean.

Sister Joan writes a regular column, “From Where I Stand” for the National Catholic Reporter, and has received numerous awards and recognition for her work for justice, peace, and equality, especially for women in the Church and in society, including the U.S. Catholic magazine award for Furthering the Cause of Women in the Church.

She served as an advisor for the groundbreaking report, "A Woman's Nation" by Maria Shriver and was part of the interfaith council that theologian Karen Armstrong gathered to draft the “Charter for Compassion”–promulgated worldwide.

Sr. Joan has held positions of religious leadership among women in the Catholic Church, for over 30 years, including that of prioress of her Benedictine community. She holds a doctorate from Penn State University in speech communications theory, was an elected-fellow of St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge University, and is the founder and director of Benetvision: a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality located in Erie.

Her latest publications include: Uncommon Gratitude, co-written with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams; The Friendship of Women: the hidden tradition of the Bible; and Heart of Flesh: a feminist spirituality for women and men.