ROBERT KENNEDY, JR. TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE SLATED FOR TULSA

Sacred Activism and the Power of Inclusion May 10-12, 2007

A coalition of diverse local and national political, social, and faith-based organizations and individuals will gather in Tulsa in May to create a vision for political and social action in the United States.

Sacred Activism and the Power of Inclusion convenes in Tulsa May 10-12 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. Presented by Wisdom University, a global learning community for adults open to personal, social and professional transformation, this conference seeks to focus on the demands of the future and the possibilities for our country at a time when multiple crises undermine security and the world looks to the United States for leadership.

A host of distinguished national and local leaders in the spiritual and political fields will address the critical moral challenges facing the United States, including Robert Kennedy, Jr., Caroline Myss, Lauren Artress, Andrew Harvey, Bishop Carlton Pearson, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Yvette Flunder, Warith Deen Mohammed, William Sinkford, and Benjamin Zander. Other Oklahoma leaders include Rabbi Charles Sherman, Laura Belmonte, Marlin Lavanhar, Robin Meyers, Sheryl Siddiqui, and Sebastian Llantos.

Exploring the deepening unease many feel about the direction in which our nation is headed, the conference will focus attention on the values and actions that can restore a sense of community and higher purpose. The goal of the gathering is to identify shared moral and political positions from community activists in Tulsa and around the country, to craft a positive vision for the country and the world, and to identify action plans that will establish those shared values in our world today.

"There is a new 'moral majority' emerging based on progressive values and a deep commitment to service," says Jim Garrison, president of Wisdom University in San Francisco and founder and president of the Gorbachev Foundation/USA.

Social research has identified a growing plurality of 50 million people in this country whose values are not adequately reflected in platforms or policy. Termed "New Progressives" or "Cultural Creatives" by sociologist Paul Ray and embraced by many, this emerging progressive bloc cannot be identified by traditional demographic means. Spanning age, income, geography, gender, sexual orientation, race, and religion, this growing cultural group significantly outnumbers the religious right and the classic liberals.

The public is invited to explore workshops on a wide range of topics, including the environment and sustainability, civil liberties, new forms of spirituality, the gospel of inclusion, domestic violence, women in leadership, developing advocacy skills, effective communication, and how different faiths can work together. Concluding the weekend will be a showcase of local non-profit organizations, featuring Tulsa's Sean Griffin in a facilitated process with all participants to develop a shared community vision of a brighter future.

Cost for the full three-day conference is $225, with reduced fees for full time students and seniors over 62. Reduced-price tickets are available for those wishing to attend portions of the conference. Call 918-378-6404 or e-mail sacredactivism@gmail.com for more information.

Visit www.wisdomuniversity.org for a complete agenda and to register for the conference. The Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Conference Center is located at 6808 S. 107th East Avenue in Tulsa. For reservations, call 918-378-6404. For more information on the Renaissance, go to http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/tulbr-renaissance-tulsa-hotel-and-convention-center/.  

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