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
Beth is interviewed here by Sara Toering
After graduating from high school in Upper Arlington, Ohio, Beth pursued her dream of becoming a journalist by majoring in journalism and minoring in political science at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Upon graduation Beth worked as a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In 2002 Beth moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where she covered politics, government and higher education for the Florida Times-Union, and where she won several state and regional awards, including the 2008 Freedom of Information award from the Florida Society of News Editors. Beth's reporting on the city council's violation of the Open Meetings Act led to systemic changes in the way that Jacksonville local government conducts its business. Beth and her husband Bart now live in Brooklyn, New York, where she works as the editor of Hotel Interactive and managing editor of Buyer Interactive, trade publications that cover the hospitality industry.
Beth's work as a journalist covering politics and local government has led her to ask significant questions the intersection of Christianity and politics, and to examine her own beliefs in juxtaposition to other Christians and other Catholics who may believe differently. She finds the way Christianity often has been equated with the Republican Party alienating, and the way politicians use religion has caused her to feel a sense of cynicism. Critical moments of potential change in the Catholic church – such as the election of Pope Benedict XVI – have felt like missed opportunities. In this Lenten season Beth is reflecting on the challenge of responding to these issues--what should that response look like? Engagement? Avoidance? Both at different times?
When asked to articulate the impact YTI had on her life, Beth stated that she deeply appreciated the YTI community and the lasting friendships she made there, and that YTI instilled in her a desire to seek community in other places in her life. She recalled the last day of YTI as one she will never forget. YTI also inspired Beth to become more of a leader as she headed toward college where she led a student-run fellowship group and was a leader in the campus Catholic organization. Finally, Beth shared that YTI taught her about expressing difference with compassion: She feels that YTI taught her to be a citizen of the wider world.
Beth has recently had several bylines published in the New York Times. Here are a few:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/nyregion/yeshiva-university-stunned-by-tale-of-a-tryst.html?ref=women
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/nyregion/marching-after-anti-semitic-vandalism-in-brooklyn.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion
Beth can be emailed at beth351@gmail.com
The Public Theologian: The latest news from the Youth Theological Initiative (YTI) at Emory University.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Class of 1996 Profile: Jermaine Freeman
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
Jermaine is interviewed here by Sara Toering
After leaving YTI Jermaine spent half of his senior year in New York City in a program designed to study the city itself. He finished his senior year of high school back in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jermaine went on to Morehouse College in Atlanta where he studied drama. While in Atlanta for college, Jermaine worked for fellow YTI 1996 alum Hannah Loring-Davis’s mom Murphy Davis at the Open Door Community. While he was at Morehouse he also had opportunity to do semester at sea and he traveled around world by ship during his junior year.
After graduating from Morehouse, Jermaine moved back to Chattanooga and worked in the airline industry for several years and then the U.S. postal Service. While working at the Postal Service, Jermaine and his brother Jarrod went into business together and started a web design company. As he and Jarrod worked on their upstart business, Jermaine continued his work with the U.S. Postal Service and then taught 6th grade world history. In April of 2010, Jermaine began working with the Obama campaign and he ultimately became a regional community organizer for the campaign in southeast Tennessee. Jermaine is currently in business with his brother, working for the Obama campaign, and in his last year of business school at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. When Jermaine finishes school his primary focus will be in business with his brother. Jermaine would also like to run for office in his local community.
When asked how YTI affected his life, Jermaine described how YTI taught him to always look for new and challenging experiences and to never stop dreaming. “We established a real community of people and to one extent or another, my life has always been in pursuit of community—I can do that if I am always opening myself up to new experiences and trying to make the world a better place.”
Jermaine described several questions that he is currently exploring regarding his vocation—in particular aspects of his business career. For example, Jermaine is exploring the balance of remaining humble and doing good for people in the world while also building a successful and profitable business. “How do I balance wanting to be financially secure with doing Gods will all at the same time?”
Jermaine asked to relay the following message to his YTI 1996 classmates: “Keep the faith. Life is tough and for any who have struggled with any aspect of life since 1996—keep the faith and try to be a lover!” Jermaine’s phone number is below and he invites anyone from 1996 to reconnect.
Jermaine Freeman: 423-785-6605
Jermaine is interviewed here by Sara Toering
After leaving YTI Jermaine spent half of his senior year in New York City in a program designed to study the city itself. He finished his senior year of high school back in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jermaine went on to Morehouse College in Atlanta where he studied drama. While in Atlanta for college, Jermaine worked for fellow YTI 1996 alum Hannah Loring-Davis’s mom Murphy Davis at the Open Door Community. While he was at Morehouse he also had opportunity to do semester at sea and he traveled around world by ship during his junior year.
After graduating from Morehouse, Jermaine moved back to Chattanooga and worked in the airline industry for several years and then the U.S. postal Service. While working at the Postal Service, Jermaine and his brother Jarrod went into business together and started a web design company. As he and Jarrod worked on their upstart business, Jermaine continued his work with the U.S. Postal Service and then taught 6th grade world history. In April of 2010, Jermaine began working with the Obama campaign and he ultimately became a regional community organizer for the campaign in southeast Tennessee. Jermaine is currently in business with his brother, working for the Obama campaign, and in his last year of business school at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. When Jermaine finishes school his primary focus will be in business with his brother. Jermaine would also like to run for office in his local community.
When asked how YTI affected his life, Jermaine described how YTI taught him to always look for new and challenging experiences and to never stop dreaming. “We established a real community of people and to one extent or another, my life has always been in pursuit of community—I can do that if I am always opening myself up to new experiences and trying to make the world a better place.”
Jermaine described several questions that he is currently exploring regarding his vocation—in particular aspects of his business career. For example, Jermaine is exploring the balance of remaining humble and doing good for people in the world while also building a successful and profitable business. “How do I balance wanting to be financially secure with doing Gods will all at the same time?”
Jermaine asked to relay the following message to his YTI 1996 classmates: “Keep the faith. Life is tough and for any who have struggled with any aspect of life since 1996—keep the faith and try to be a lover!” Jermaine’s phone number is below and he invites anyone from 1996 to reconnect.
Jermaine Freeman: 423-785-6605
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