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Lees-McRae College Spring Global Community Series April 7 and 9

Focus: Moral Leadership from the Baha’i Perspective

Lees-McRae College hosts its annual Global Community Series on Monday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 9. The topic this spring focuses on moral leadership from the Baha’i perspective. The series will feature guest speakers and a dance performance.

“The April Global Community Series on moral leadership gives the college and the community a wonderful opportunity to explore the issues of moral leadership on our campus, in the local community, and in our society,” said Rev. Kathy Campbell, chaplain of Lees-McRae College.

“Our speakers and dance troupe are sharing the role of moral leadership from the Baha’i perspective and provide us with a great opportunity for dialog about faith, ethics, morals, and how as institutions and individuals we will be engaged in these issues that affect every aspect of our lives,” Campbell continued. “I hope that people will participate in the Global Community Series events and in the conversation.”

The Global Community Series events are sponsored by Lees-McRae’s Global Community Center that also hosted Kerry Kennedy in 2007 and Arun Gandhi in 2006.

For more info, call 828-898-8729.

Violence Against Women—April 7

On Monday, April 7, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium in the Cannon Student Center, Layli Miller-Muro, executive director of the Tahirih Justice Center in Washington, D.C. will lead a talk on Violence Against Women: An Evolving Global Issue. The Tahirih Justice Center is committed to creating a diverse community of support for women seeking refuge from gender-based persecution such as genital mutilation, honor killings, sexual slavery and abuse.

Moral Leadership—April 9

Dr. Gordon Naylor, executive director of the Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute, a residential treatment agency for youth and children, will discuss moral leadership on campuses and in the world on Wednesday, April 9, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. Naylor has completed graduate studies in international education, clinical psychology and educational administration.

Wildfire Dance Theatre—April 9

Wildfire Dance Theater will perform Wednesday, April 9, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Hayes Auditorium. Wildfire Dance Theatre, established in 1998 by The Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute, is a group of students that works collaboratively with the Baha’i Council of Ontario and travels and shares their interpretation of the Baha’i faith through performing arts.

Their dances tell the story of the planet’s present challenges, while taking the audience through a time of reflection that will hopefully lead to greater understanding and change. The performance consists of a variety of dances from hip-hop and swing to folk and aboriginal. Topics include racial unity, extremes of wealth and poverty, substance abuse and peer pressure.

Baha’i 101 April 2

As a precursor to Lees-McRae College’s spring 2008 Global Community Series, Baha’i 101 offers an introduction to the Baha’i faith for those unfamiliar with the religion. Susan Shuford, who has a deep knowledge of the Baha’i faith, will give an overview followed by time for questions and answers on Wednesday, April 2, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

The Baha’i Faith is the youngest of the world’s monotheistic religions. Founded in Iran in 1844, it now has more than five million adherents in 236 countries and territories. Baha’is come from nearly every national, ethnic and religious background, making the Baha’i faith the second most widespread religion in the world.

Baha’is view the world’s major religions as a part of a single, progressive process through which God reveals His will to humanity. The central theme of the Baha’i message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for humanity’s unification into one global society.