As part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the YTI Class of 1996, YTI alumni are interviewing each other, discovering and recording what is happening in the lives of our YTI family today. If you are a member of the class of 1996, and would like to participate in this project, contact Sara Toering at sjtoering@gmail.com
Laura is interviewed here by Rebecca Rich:
Laura graduated from Samford University with a nursing degree in 2001 and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. There, she worked as a nurse for one year, then enrolled at the University of Virginia in a nurse practitioner and public health master’s program. After completing the program, Laura stayed in Charlottesville and worked at UVA with kidney and liver transplant recipients for six years. She recently moved to Richmond, Virginia to do the kind of work that she’s always wanted to do at a community health center that serves Richmond’s homeless population. In fact, it was YTI’s focus on faith in action that prompted Laura’s realization that she wanted to go into a service profession.
YTI was also the first place Laura felt comfortable asking questions about faith and learning about other faith traditions. Now, Laura considers herself to be an evangelical Christian and currently attends a diverse, inner-city church in the transitional neighborhood where she lives in Richmond. She finds that being in community with people who have serious life struggles deepens her faith and helps her maintain perspective about her own life.
Laura is currently exploring questions that are rooted in both her vocation and her faith. In her work at the clinic, she is often overwhelmed by all of the confounding factors that go into a person’s health and has lately been thinking about how to address the breakdown of the family unit as a public health issue. Laura is also committed to being a good steward of her resources and thinks often about what that commitment means for how she lives her life.
Laura can be reached at: laurahealy@yahoo.com
The Public Theologian: The latest news from the Youth Theological Initiative (YTI) at Emory University.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Class of 1996 Profile: David Homan
As part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the YTI Class of 1996, YTI alumni are interviewing each other, discovering and recording what is happening in the lives of our YTI family today. If you are a member of the class of 1996, and would like to participate in this project, contact Sara Toering at sjtoering@gmail.com
David is interviewed here by Beth Kormanik Hubbuch.
David Homan is executive director of the American-Israel Cultural Foundation, which is Israel's largest private funder of the arts. Since 2006, under David’s tenure, AICF has raised more than $12 million and funded dozens of innovative programs and thousands of young artists.
David is also an active composer and pianist, and his work has been performed by the American Symphony Orchestra, University of Florida Orchestra, the Colorado String Quartet, at Carnegie Hall/Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, CAMI Hall, the Harmione Club, and Symphony Space. His music often involves societal context, including works focusing on Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer, and other topical issues. His newest project features a classical/rock band called Eva that incorporates classic and modern poetry. He plans to release an album this year. He is a graduate of Bard College and received his master’s from New York University. He married Ariel Grossman in 2010.
In YTI, David found a place where he could talk with others about religion. It gave teens access to a wider world when typically they are limited to their hometown. “It cemented my interest in learning where different people come from,” he said. It also provided him a solid introduction to urban life, which “was pivotal to my path to New York.” While YTI was a positive experience, David is disappointed that YTI reverted to accepting only Christian scholars. To know Christianity, he said, you should know about the world’s religions, and YTI was a more enriching experience with people from different faiths.
David remains passionate about studying the world’s religions and how they intersect with politics. “The balance between politics and religion was why I was interested in YTI in the first place,” he said. “I hate how religion is used for political gain and power.” While David has never been religiously observant, he said he shows his beliefs in action, not by attending temple every week: “One’s temperament, where one grows up and what one chooses to do is more informing that what religion they are.”
Contact: homanmusic.com
David is interviewed here by Beth Kormanik Hubbuch.
David Homan is executive director of the American-Israel Cultural Foundation, which is Israel's largest private funder of the arts. Since 2006, under David’s tenure, AICF has raised more than $12 million and funded dozens of innovative programs and thousands of young artists.
David is also an active composer and pianist, and his work has been performed by the American Symphony Orchestra, University of Florida Orchestra, the Colorado String Quartet, at Carnegie Hall/Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, CAMI Hall, the Harmione Club, and Symphony Space. His music often involves societal context, including works focusing on Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer, and other topical issues. His newest project features a classical/rock band called Eva that incorporates classic and modern poetry. He plans to release an album this year. He is a graduate of Bard College and received his master’s from New York University. He married Ariel Grossman in 2010.
In YTI, David found a place where he could talk with others about religion. It gave teens access to a wider world when typically they are limited to their hometown. “It cemented my interest in learning where different people come from,” he said. It also provided him a solid introduction to urban life, which “was pivotal to my path to New York.” While YTI was a positive experience, David is disappointed that YTI reverted to accepting only Christian scholars. To know Christianity, he said, you should know about the world’s religions, and YTI was a more enriching experience with people from different faiths.
David remains passionate about studying the world’s religions and how they intersect with politics. “The balance between politics and religion was why I was interested in YTI in the first place,” he said. “I hate how religion is used for political gain and power.” While David has never been religiously observant, he said he shows his beliefs in action, not by attending temple every week: “One’s temperament, where one grows up and what one chooses to do is more informing that what religion they are.”
Contact: homanmusic.com
Monday, June 20, 2011
Class of 1996 Profile: Richard Gurley
As part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the YTI Class of 1996, YTI alumni are interviewing each other, discovering and recording what is happening in the lives of our YTI family today. If you are a member of the class of 1996, and would like to participate in this project, contact Sara Toering at sjtoering@gmail.com
Richard is interviewed here by Sara Toering:
After graduating in 2001 from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's degree in public policy, Richard worked for several years in the Tennessee state government where he researched and shaped policy in the areas of health care and education, resulting in multi-million dollars savings for the state. Richard was promoted three times in three years in Tennessee government and was the youngest person ever to achieve the position of senior legislative research analysis. In 2004 Richard headed to Duke University's Fuqua School of Business where he earned a Masters in Business, and in 2006 he went to work for McKinsey & Company where he serves as an engagement manager. Richard's work at McKinsey allows him to gain content knowledge, build a network of industry, government and nonprofit leaders, and develop his own leadership skills while living out two personal passions—working to reduce the 800 billion dollars of waste in our country's health care system and helping people to develop connections with others. Richard loves his job.
Richard described the impact that YTI has had on his life in two ways. First, Richard shared with me that YTI showed him a picture of what healthy communities should and could be. YTI brought together people from wildly different walks of life and diverse perspectives. It provided an arena where each person's voice and uniqueness were not just accepted but celebrated. Richard's experience was that scholars and staff operated from the mindset that other members of the YTI community held their perspectives for good reasons. Moreover, Richard shared, "it was incumbent on me to listen to others in a way that would help me understand why they think differently than me." This particular aspect of the YTI experience was especially helpful to Richard when he was working in Tennessee state government. Richard found that most legislators indeed want to do what's best for the state. In most cases legislators tended to share the same values but had different assumptions about the ways the world works. Richard found that if he could help align leaders based on their values, rather than assumptions, then sometimes those leaders could end up on the same side of the table advocating together for a cause or program, rather than sitting across the table negotiating. YTI confirmed for Richard that often people who appear different are actually a lot alike at their core.
Richard also described some of the ways YTI shaped his spiritual life. YTI certainly solidified Richard's perspective that spiritual issues are complicated and answers are not easy--YTI created a safe place to ask those questions and discuss various answers. However, Richard pointed out that while he was comfortable asking the questions that he brought to YTI as a teen, he has found that the questions he heard from some of the other scholars and staff at YTI have created a safe space for the questions he has asked over the next fifteen years. Richard's questions about spirituality and faith have evolved--and occasionally he has found himself asking a question that someone else posed at YTI. Richard currently is exploring some of those questions and developing his spiritual practice as a member of Washington Community Fellowship—a non-denominational evangelical church in the Mennonite tradition—a church that he introduced to his fellow 96er and dear friend Lyndsay Moseley. One question in particular that Richard is asking is simply, "how should I live my life?" Richard commented that while this question might sound generic, it is a real and all-pervasive query in his life. Moreover, Richard has found there are so many routes that he could take to try and answer that question—choosing which route to take on a day to day basis is a key part of the question. In this context, Richard is very appreciative for the relationships he formed at YTI, and for the opportunity to be connected with one another again through the 2011 Facebook!
Richard can be reached at rkgurley@gmail.com
Richard is interviewed here by Sara Toering:
After graduating in 2001 from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's degree in public policy, Richard worked for several years in the Tennessee state government where he researched and shaped policy in the areas of health care and education, resulting in multi-million dollars savings for the state. Richard was promoted three times in three years in Tennessee government and was the youngest person ever to achieve the position of senior legislative research analysis. In 2004 Richard headed to Duke University's Fuqua School of Business where he earned a Masters in Business, and in 2006 he went to work for McKinsey & Company where he serves as an engagement manager. Richard's work at McKinsey allows him to gain content knowledge, build a network of industry, government and nonprofit leaders, and develop his own leadership skills while living out two personal passions—working to reduce the 800 billion dollars of waste in our country's health care system and helping people to develop connections with others. Richard loves his job.
Richard described the impact that YTI has had on his life in two ways. First, Richard shared with me that YTI showed him a picture of what healthy communities should and could be. YTI brought together people from wildly different walks of life and diverse perspectives. It provided an arena where each person's voice and uniqueness were not just accepted but celebrated. Richard's experience was that scholars and staff operated from the mindset that other members of the YTI community held their perspectives for good reasons. Moreover, Richard shared, "it was incumbent on me to listen to others in a way that would help me understand why they think differently than me." This particular aspect of the YTI experience was especially helpful to Richard when he was working in Tennessee state government. Richard found that most legislators indeed want to do what's best for the state. In most cases legislators tended to share the same values but had different assumptions about the ways the world works. Richard found that if he could help align leaders based on their values, rather than assumptions, then sometimes those leaders could end up on the same side of the table advocating together for a cause or program, rather than sitting across the table negotiating. YTI confirmed for Richard that often people who appear different are actually a lot alike at their core.
Richard also described some of the ways YTI shaped his spiritual life. YTI certainly solidified Richard's perspective that spiritual issues are complicated and answers are not easy--YTI created a safe place to ask those questions and discuss various answers. However, Richard pointed out that while he was comfortable asking the questions that he brought to YTI as a teen, he has found that the questions he heard from some of the other scholars and staff at YTI have created a safe space for the questions he has asked over the next fifteen years. Richard's questions about spirituality and faith have evolved--and occasionally he has found himself asking a question that someone else posed at YTI. Richard currently is exploring some of those questions and developing his spiritual practice as a member of Washington Community Fellowship—a non-denominational evangelical church in the Mennonite tradition—a church that he introduced to his fellow 96er and dear friend Lyndsay Moseley. One question in particular that Richard is asking is simply, "how should I live my life?" Richard commented that while this question might sound generic, it is a real and all-pervasive query in his life. Moreover, Richard has found there are so many routes that he could take to try and answer that question—choosing which route to take on a day to day basis is a key part of the question. In this context, Richard is very appreciative for the relationships he formed at YTI, and for the opportunity to be connected with one another again through the 2011 Facebook!
Richard can be reached at rkgurley@gmail.com
Class of 1996 Profile: Meg Smothers Robinson
As part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the YTI Class of 1996, YTI alumni are interviewing each other, discovering and recording what is happening in the lives of our YTI family today. If you are a member of the class of 1996, and would like to participate in this project, contact Sara Toering at sjtoering@gmail.com
Meg is interviewed here by Rebecca Rich:
After high school, Meg joined five other YTI ’96ers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (In fact, Meg, Laura Willard, and Jamie DeMent were suitemates in their first year at UNC.) Meg majored in public policy and was short only a few credits for a minor in religious studies.
After graduating in 2001, Meg moved to Atlanta and has lived there ever since. Her first job after college was a fellowship doing environmental policy and advocacy work, and in 2003, Meg became the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Georgia.
She then went to law school at Georgia State and became an Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County Juvenile Court. She returned to policy work in November 2010 and is working currently as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Georgia State Senator Jason Carter. Meg and her husband Jonathan have been married since 2006 and live in Decatur, where they continue to renovate their really old house (across the street from where Emily Saliers lives!).
For Meg, YTI impacted what she studied in college, and prompted her to think about spirituality and justice together. Since returning to the world of Georgia politics, she struggles with the role religion plays in politics and the way faith is used (and abused) in political discourse. She also cherishes being a part of the YTI world, full of people who are doing interesting and amazing things.
Meg can reached at: mrob22@gmail.com
Meg is interviewed here by Rebecca Rich:
After high school, Meg joined five other YTI ’96ers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (In fact, Meg, Laura Willard, and Jamie DeMent were suitemates in their first year at UNC.) Meg majored in public policy and was short only a few credits for a minor in religious studies.
After graduating in 2001, Meg moved to Atlanta and has lived there ever since. Her first job after college was a fellowship doing environmental policy and advocacy work, and in 2003, Meg became the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Georgia.
She then went to law school at Georgia State and became an Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County Juvenile Court. She returned to policy work in November 2010 and is working currently as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Georgia State Senator Jason Carter. Meg and her husband Jonathan have been married since 2006 and live in Decatur, where they continue to renovate their really old house (across the street from where Emily Saliers lives!).
For Meg, YTI impacted what she studied in college, and prompted her to think about spirituality and justice together. Since returning to the world of Georgia politics, she struggles with the role religion plays in politics and the way faith is used (and abused) in political discourse. She also cherishes being a part of the YTI world, full of people who are doing interesting and amazing things.
Meg can reached at: mrob22@gmail.com
Class of 1996 Profile: Lisa Taylor
As part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the YTI Class of 1996, YTI alumni are interviewing each other, discovering and recording what is happening in the lives of our YTI family today. If you are a member of the class of 1996, and would like to participate in this project, contact Sara Toering at sjtoering@gmail.com
Lisa is interviewed here by Sara Toering:
Inspired by her experience at YTI, Lisa Taylor took on increased leadership in her home church as a high school senior--including instituting a children's sabboth based on a similar service that occurred at YTI. After graduating from high school, Lisa attended Boston College where she majored in elementary education and theology. She went on to attend Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Chicago where she obtained her masters in divinity, and upon graduation she accepted a call in Illinois. Lisa's initial "yoked-call" required her to serve as both associate pastor at Mattoon Presbyterian Church, and also lead pastor at Neoga Presbyterian. After serving these churches for several years, Lisa accepted a call to serve as senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin in the fall of 2010. She is currently working with other clergy leaders to address bullying in the community, and is working with her congregation to build a program that provides opportunities for mission where participants are both able to serve in various communities in the world, and to be transformed by those communities. Lisa and her baby boy Paul live in Baraboo where they enjoy animals at the zoo, snacks, and all the art and culture that Baraboo has to offer.
When asked how YTI affected her life, Lisa described how YTI opened her eyes to "the next level of church." Lisa had long loved being an active part of the church, but at YTI she learned to read and study theology, and learned about the direct connection between the church and mission. Lisa shared that she often finds herself drawing on her YTI experience, including the exposure to so many issues in the world via the YTI presenters and speakers. For example, when attending a recent Habitat for Humanity meeting, Lisa recalled a YTI speaker who worked for an organization that provided voice mail services for homeless folks to give to potential employers. Lisa was able to suggest a similar voicemail program to the Habitat for Humanity group in Baraboo fifteen years later. She loved hearing and learning at YTI about how people organized and committed to mission in different ways in their lives, and appreciated learning about the debates going on in the world about various spiritual issues. Lisa reflected that she finds it encouraging to think back on our YTI summer in 1996 and remember that "there is a whole group of us out there doing great work in the world."
Lisa continues to explore her calling in the world, in both her professional and personal life. She is also committed to exploring what it means to be a good mother and how to raise a son that is happy and moral and aware--a son who cares for himself and for others. In that vein, Lisa and Paul are currently reading "Curious George Goes Green" together.
Lisa can be reached at lmtayl@gmail.com
Lisa is interviewed here by Sara Toering:
Inspired by her experience at YTI, Lisa Taylor took on increased leadership in her home church as a high school senior--including instituting a children's sabboth based on a similar service that occurred at YTI. After graduating from high school, Lisa attended Boston College where she majored in elementary education and theology. She went on to attend Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Chicago where she obtained her masters in divinity, and upon graduation she accepted a call in Illinois. Lisa's initial "yoked-call" required her to serve as both associate pastor at Mattoon Presbyterian Church, and also lead pastor at Neoga Presbyterian. After serving these churches for several years, Lisa accepted a call to serve as senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin in the fall of 2010. She is currently working with other clergy leaders to address bullying in the community, and is working with her congregation to build a program that provides opportunities for mission where participants are both able to serve in various communities in the world, and to be transformed by those communities. Lisa and her baby boy Paul live in Baraboo where they enjoy animals at the zoo, snacks, and all the art and culture that Baraboo has to offer.
When asked how YTI affected her life, Lisa described how YTI opened her eyes to "the next level of church." Lisa had long loved being an active part of the church, but at YTI she learned to read and study theology, and learned about the direct connection between the church and mission. Lisa shared that she often finds herself drawing on her YTI experience, including the exposure to so many issues in the world via the YTI presenters and speakers. For example, when attending a recent Habitat for Humanity meeting, Lisa recalled a YTI speaker who worked for an organization that provided voice mail services for homeless folks to give to potential employers. Lisa was able to suggest a similar voicemail program to the Habitat for Humanity group in Baraboo fifteen years later. She loved hearing and learning at YTI about how people organized and committed to mission in different ways in their lives, and appreciated learning about the debates going on in the world about various spiritual issues. Lisa reflected that she finds it encouraging to think back on our YTI summer in 1996 and remember that "there is a whole group of us out there doing great work in the world."
Lisa continues to explore her calling in the world, in both her professional and personal life. She is also committed to exploring what it means to be a good mother and how to raise a son that is happy and moral and aware--a son who cares for himself and for others. In that vein, Lisa and Paul are currently reading "Curious George Goes Green" together.
Lisa can be reached at lmtayl@gmail.com
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