Collegium: An Association for Liberal Religious Studies

Craigville Conference Center in Cape Code near Providence, Rhode Island where I attended the Collegium Conference.

Another beautiful nature scene from the Craigville Conference Center



Heavenly sunset!

One of many beautiful sunsets! The next day a hurricane hit nearby bringing gale rains and high winds.

Collegium held its Annual Fall Conference November 1-4, 2007 at the Craigville Conference Center on Cape Cod. Collegium is an Association for liberal religious studies whose mission is to "bring together the best academic, ministerial, lay, andother resources to bear upon the intellectual life of Unitarian Univeralism through encouraging, sharing, and distributing scholarly and other creative work." Each conference features a distinguished guest. This years distinguished guest was Father Daniel Berrigan, one of the country's leading peace activists of the past half-century. Father Berrigan is a Jesuit priest, poet, pacifist, educator,social activist, playwright and lifelong resister to what he calls "American military imperialism." He recently celebrated his 85th birthday.

Thanks to a scholarship from Collegium, I had the opportunity to hang out with some high powered researchers and scholars. The format included research and research in progress in several categories that included: history, theology,ethics,and social justice. I presented my dissertation research on Clergy Sexual Misconduct under the ethics category. I posted another paper on Diversity and Religious Education but decided not to present it.

While there were a number of excellent presentations, my favorite was by far, Jane Rosecrans on Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Harper is one of my favorite sheroes! I was delighted to meet Jane and hear about the things she is doing.

Rev. Kim Beach, a minister that I knew previously from Lynchburg, VA where he served as Interim, shared his insights and experiences from a recent trip to Israel and Palestine.

Rev. Victor Carpenter was also present and presented a response to Bill Schulz's Berry Street Essay titled, What Torture Taught Me. Victor spent a number of years at the Cape Town, South Africa congregation as minister. Another important connection we have is his interest in the Black Empowerment Era. He has conducted and written the most extensive history on the Era in the UU Movement/denomination.

It was a delight to meet Myriam Reynaud. We both were trying to recall where we had met and realized it was at Wednesday evening Vespers at First Unitarian Congregation in Chicago, IL. She attends the University of Chicago and I attend Meadville Lombard Theological School. As Unitarians, we both attend Vespers. Because of my class schedule I am seldom able to attend, hence my poor memory. (What is your excuse Myriam?)I also ran into another "classmate," Rudra Dundzila that presented on Domas Sidlauskas-Visuomis. He and I both took a course, Hebrew Bible, on line together. While I was not able to attend his presentation I know that his scholarship is stellar.

I roomed with Betty Hoskins, a long time UU Women's Federation member and past Feminist Theology Chair. We talked about my research and the possibility of my doing a General Assembly presentation as well as potentially publishing and presenting my recommendations and findings on clergy sexual misconduct through the UU Women's Federation.

In regards to other research I am conducting, once this semester has concluded I will focus on writing up the conclusion for my research on African American Unitarian and Universalist and Unitarian Universalist women that was funded by the UU Women's Federation.

I would like to thank Rev. David Johnson and his gracious wife, Julie Coulter, for their warm hospitality. Yours truly scheduled a return flight for 6AM to Chicago with a two hour layover in Atlanta. As a result I was forced to leave the conference early on Saturday instead of Sunday. However, I was able to ride to Providence, RI with Rev. Paul Sawyer and Father Berrigan. What an earful hearing about their adventures over the years. We had a close encounter with Paul almost missing his train. He ended up handing his keys to his rental car that he was unable to return because they were closed and there was no drop box. Julie Coulter and I spent the next hour trying to return the car. I ended up keeping it overnight and driving it to the airport the next morning, thus getting me to the airport and getting the vehicle back where it belonged! What a win-win situation!

Collegium 2008
I had not expected to attend the 2008 session even though I suggested that they invite Mark Morrison Reed as their "Distinguished Guest." They followed up on the suggestion and he accepted! I have to figure out how to get myself there next year!

Blessings! Qiyamah A. Rahman

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Across the Waters

Rev. LaDonna Sanders speaking to sisters in Chicago, IL about her vision for Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and her dream to link it to the Mothers, Sisters, and Daughters in South Africa component.


Rev. Franshon Salter, one of the participants that came to contribute her support to Mothers, Sisters Daughters, Across the Waters


A group picture marking the conclusion of the first meeting of Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Across the Waters - L-R Rev. Franshon, Rev. LaDonna, Rev. Dr. Qiyamah and Mama Dawn holding Justice (4 months).


Kitchen Table Talk! Breaking bread together after talking, praying, and scripture reading. L-R Rev. Franshon, Rev. LaDonna, Mama Dawn and Justice.

Sankofa Project Archives First Ever Visiting Scholar

L to R Wendy Pantoja, seminarian at Meadville Lombard Theological School (MLTS) Rev. Shuma Chavarty, Sankofa visiting scholar and Rev. Dr. Qiyamah A. Rahman


Rev. Shuma at office of Sankofa


Rev. Shuma in front of 1st Unitarian Church in Chicago, IL where she preached


Shuma at her Brown Bag Lecture held at MLTS


L to R Rev. Nan Hobart, MLTS Chaplain and Rev. Shuma at Brown Bag Lecture

The Sankofa Project Archives, established in 2006, is a repository for documents, biographical information, sermons and photographic images of Unitarian Universalist Ministers and Laity of Color. The Sankofa Archives are both a physical archive and an on-line educational resource serving people at varying educational and research levels (www.uusankofa.org). It celebrates the lives, ministries and accomplishments of Unitarian Universalists: focusing on people who are multi ethnic/multicultural, African, African-American, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian, Caribbean, Hispanic-Latino/a, and Native-American descent. In doing so the Sankofa Project Archives helps to uncover the contributions and lives of its ministers and laity of color, thus strengthening the family of Unitarian Universalism.

It has been a privilege for me to work with the Sankofa Project Archives since moving to Chicago. Recently, Sankofa was able to bring its first Visiting Scholar, Reverend Shuma Chakravarty. While in Chicago she completed her biographical information that will be posted on Sankofa's website, served as guest minister at the First Unitarian Society of Chicago and delivered a brown bag lecture at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Shuma, author of three books, lectured on four spiritual giants and connected their prophetic voices and lives in a powerful lecture without benefit of one single note. These giants included: Mohatma Ghandi, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama.

Her presence in Chicago is just the kind of endeavor that Sankofa hopes to continue in the future.

Sankofa Project Archives provides three types of support:

•solicits and documents the scholarship and contributions of Unitarian Universalists (UUs) ministers and laity of color

•builds bridges between Unitarian Universalists by familiarizing UUs with the

•promotes presence and visibility of ministers, seminarians and laity of color

•promotes the small but growing number of Unitarian Universalist ministers (less than 50 ministers of color out of a total of 1,700 Unitarian Universalist ministers are ministers of color)

Our work helps to strengthen and support the documentation of the contributions of Unitarian Univeralist Ministers and Laity of Color in our larger movement of Unitarian Univeralism. Hence, encouraging the recruitment and presence of UUs of color to the ministry.

For more information, please contact: Reverend Doctor Michelle Bentley, Director, Sankofa Project Archives, 5700 S. Woodlawn Ave. Chicago, IL 60637 773 643 6988

Contributions can be sent to: Sankofa Project Archives
5700 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637

Blessed Be!

The Spirit Moved Me: and Look What Happened!

Well, I declared 2007 my year of completion. I have been true to my word so far. I moved to Chicago, January, 2007 so that I could finish seminary. That will happen the end of the year. Meanwhile, I have finished my dissertation and received my doctorate. I went before the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and was fellowshipped September 28. Last week, on October 21 I was ordained at my home congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte. It was a most memorable and moving ceremony. I will hold it in my heart and memory all the days of my life. The picture above was taken while I was delivering the benediction. After the ordination we went off to the social hall for the reception.

My family members present included my mom, all my children and daughter in law, two of my sisters (Betty and Brenda and her husband, Ira). Brenda and Ira gave me a beautiful pen engraved with the words, "ministers pen" in an equally beautiful wooden box with thes engraved words, "Answering the Call...God's Chosen Minister - It was he who gave some to be. . . evangelists, pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people. . . Ephesians 4:11."

Personal friends from church and other personal friends from outside the church came. A friend,Kathryn Liss that I had not seen in years drove from Asheville to be present. She gave me a beautiful framed picture of a sister who is joyfully poised to take flight with her arms outstretched and her feet taking flight. The picture is titled, Surrender All! One of the songs that I had requested from the soloist, Jennifer McCloud, was R. Kelly's, I Believe I Can Fly! The Choir sang, Wade in the Water with Jennifer's beautiful voice carrying a solo. They concluded with Siyahamba, a South African Freedom song in honor of my plans to begin my ministerial career in South Africa.

Evangelist, Betty Jean Holmes, my oldest sister, drove from Atlanta, as did my sister, brother in law and mother. My mother brought greetings from the family. She has been so active in her home church over the years that she had developed into a poised and confident speaker and I was so proud of her.

I was so delighted to see friends that I had not seen since I left Charlotte - Eva and Jan were present and gave me a beautiful prayer bowl. Amad was kind enough to share a reading in the service and he and his fiancee asked me during the reception if I would perform their marriage in May, 2009. I would be honored! Osei was present and it was good to see him. Jeanine came out to share my day and gave me a beautiful set of earrings.

I am grateful to Grace Mills, board member at the Church of Light of Religious Science, Dave Smith, President of the Board of Trustees of Mecklenburg Ministries and Annette Marquis, District Executive, TJ District for their presence and greetings that they delivered on behalf of their constituencies.

Special thanks to others that participated in the ordination. I have already acknowledged Ahmad Daniels beautiful recitation of the poem, In the Midst of a World. Leon Spencer, came all the way from Statesboro,GA to deliver his powerfully insightful sermon.

Rev. Leslie Takahashi-Morris, co-minister at Thomas Jefferso Unitarian Church in Charlottesville, VA carried out the ritual of the "laying on of hands" and gave such a powerful history lesson, while at the same time demonstrating while it is still a treasured ritual. I will carry the reassuring touch of her hand on my head as I move into the next phase of my life and my ministry.

Rev. Amy Brooks, affiliated Community Minister at the Church. You have been a guiding presence in my ministerial formation and it was apropo that you be present and to join me in this significant rite of passage in delivering the ordination prayer. Thank you for your poignant and powerful words!

Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, president of Meadville Lombard Theological School. You were my angel that agreed to show up at the last minute! Thank you for your presence and for saying yes to my request and bringing your usual wit and provocative words.

Rev. Jay Leach, my colleague and my pastor! We struggled and made it through to the other side of this beautiful ceremony. The outcome was worth every minute of struggle and time invested. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for the apology. Thank you for things known and unknown.

Thank you Cindy for your role in bringing things together with the super reception! I loved that you got the young people involved!

Lois, thank you for clearing your calendar for my ordination. I will make you proud!

Finally, while everyone worked really really hard, I must thank my daughters for their behind the scene efforts. A big thank you to Kaleema for your help with the ordination and particularly, Sankofa. For those that don't know, Kaleema made the invitations, did the mailing and came up with the idea for "planting" the hyacinth bulbs and packaging them. Her limited funds were the only reason that more were not available. And while I am thanking her I want to let you know that half the credit for my doctorate goes to you for the hours and hours you spent formatting the damn thing.

Before we left the hotel, I invited my family to join together in prayer as I acknowledged what the day meant for me and for my family. I acknowledged the prayers that have gotten me through as well as honoring my covenant with Spirit. I believe we covenant with Spirit before we are born to sign on for this life and the ministy/work we intend to do. My ordination is simply a milestone along that journey and a commitment to that covenant.


For anyone that I left out I do apologize! I love you all! You have helped me open my heart a bit wider as I step out in the world to do the work of healing self and humanity!
Blessed Be! Reverend Dr. Qiyamah A. Rahman
I am truly blessed!
warmest regards, Rev. Dr. Qiyamah A. Rahman
ps I will send pictures as soon as they are available!

Qiyamah's Angels

These are my three angels that I have been blessed with!
(left; Libra Malika) (right - Kaleema Haidera) and (background - Muhammad)

The Amazing Reverend LaDonna M. Sanders

The last of the summer party potluck poetry jams, and my first, was held as a fundraiser for the South African Mission Fundraiser in Chicago, IL. I was privileged for the first time to hear the amazing poetry and vocals of Rev. LaDonna M. Sanders. I was so moved that I shared bits of a poem that has been percolating in my brain, titled, "This is no Time to Jump off the Love Train." More about that in another post!

When LaDonna is not reciting poetry and raising her voice in praise to God's grace and love, she is working with the South Africa Ubuntu Project, a bridgebuilding mission founded by LaDonna. She has been hosting Love Poetry Jams and other gatherings to foster the spirit of connection here in Chicago and the U.S. for over 12 years. Her HIV/AIDS ministry has taken her to South African three times. Like yours truly, she is called to ministry in South Africa and is looking to return and eventually establish a plan that permits her the flexibility to travel back and forth between Chicago and South Africa.

Let us pray for the continued success of LaDonna's ministry and for the orphaned children and the communities that benefit from her ministry.
Blessed Be!

First Unitarian Society of Chicago - Religious Education Teachers

These are some of the hard working and dedicated religious education teachers that teach every Sunday at First Unitarian Society of Chicago so that the youth have the opportunity for exposure to world religions as well as acquiring information about Unitarian Universalism.

I have just begun teaching grades 4th-8th and using a curriculum titled, Neighboring Faiths along with Abby Dawes and Allen Harden. The year long focus is religions and denominations in the United States. Thus far, we have studied Judaism and Hinduism and have included field trips to said places of worship. Research indicates that when individuals are exposed to other faith traditions there is less chance of reacting fearfully and with hostility. May we continue to build briges and eliminate false boundaries in the human family!
Blessed Be!

Another Milestone

Reverend Dr. Qiyamah A. Rahman holding her dissertation and relieved to put it in the mail!

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Joe Cherry, Meadville Lombard Theological School seminarian and Rev. Doctor Qiyamah A. Rahman at Kinko's around 1AM mailing off the edited corrections of my dissertation! Joe is my hero!

Imagine this scenario, you defende your dissertation November 2006 and fully expect to graduate May 2007. You inform your Committee Chair that you will be taking a full course load so please send your dissertation back for any edits promptly. So it is returned June, 2007. As a result, I did not attend my graduation exercise in May, 2007, even though I was assured by administration that arrangements had been made and that my name was on the graduation roster. My sense of paranoia would not let me subject myself to the expensive trip and time only to face possible humiliation. Why am I telling you all of this? Because the pictures accompanying this post were taken the night that I put my edited dissertation in the mail. Neither time, nor space would allow me to articulate the emotional roller coaster I have endured as a result of engaging a dysfunctionl institution. I have ben assured that my dissertation will be backdated to May, 2007. At some point you just want to get on with your life. That is what these pictures represent. Thank you Joe Cherry for your superb editing skills that allowed me to put my dissertation in the mail around 1AM at the twenty-four hour Kinko's.

Stay posted to hear when they actually review the edited version and finalize my credentials. Meanwhile, I am sending out my love, prayer and reflections to anyone working on their dissertation. You will hear more about this after I have degree in hand. Meanwhile, Blessed be!
warmest regards, Reverend Doctor Qiyamah A. Rahman

I'm Back!

Qiyamah A. Rahman on front porch of daughter, Kaleema's apartment building in Jamaica Queens, MA



Kaleema Haidera Nur, 3rd year law student at Northeastern University - walkig down the street where she lives in Jamaica Queens, MA

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Kaleema painting in her studio apartment. We were doing some powerful conjuring! Look out folks!

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Kaleema's studio apartment that proves she is a humble and struggling law student. She is preparing for her last internship at the Inter American Human Rights (something something) in Costa Rica!

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Two angels in the back yard!

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Qiyamah enjoying the last of Boston's summer weather

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Be sure to get my good side!


I have been on somewhat of a "break" due to a combination of technical difficulties as in, "I can't figure out how to post my digital pictures." Additionally, I have been so busy with life and classes, engaging in enhanced spiritual practices as well as survival issues that it has been difficult to make time for my blog. But I'm back.

These pictures were taken in Boston, MA the weekend of interview with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee on September, 28, 2007. I hung out with my daughter Kaleema and indulged my inner artist with some art and conjuring time.

Facing (and Passing) the MFC: A First-Person Account
by Qiyamah A. Rahman
As I prepare for my next milestone, my ordination on October 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, I am reflecting on the fact that I will have experienced two major milestones in my ministerial journey less than a month apart. I recently met with the MFC and received a one on September 28, 2007 in Boston, MA. After such an intense buildup and what seemed like endless days and nights of muddling through what was supposed to be my plan of study, the conclusion felt almost surreal. These were my feelings that I noted immediately after the interview, standing in the foyer of Picket and Elliot where we met. I was talking with my daughter who had managed to find her way unbeknownst to me, to congratulate me. It seemed unreal that just less than an hour earlier I had been speaking to my assigned chaplain, Reverend Carlton, a fabulous chaplain. To finally have it all behind me just felt unreal. Afterwards, my daughter and I went for a marathon viewing of two feature back-to-back movies, preceded by dinner and drinks to toast my success.

So, what worked and what didn’t with the MFC process? What didn’t work was not preparing well in advance with dates and locations of continuing education, workshops, seminars, conferences and trainings that I would have to identify on the competencies section. I could easily transfer course work from my transcripts but this other information was packed away in my storage space in Atlanta. You will want to create a systematic way to compile this information over the years well before you put your MFC packet together. I have some suggestions, but space and time will not allow me to provide those details.

What worked:
Mock interview-This process was invaluable and gave me feedback that I am convinced allowed me to shine in my actual interview. This is also the place where you can receive feedback on your sermon and whether it is working or not. The feedback to cut mine, put more of myself into it and slow it way way down was invaluable! I also blew the RE questions and history questions in my mock and that alerted me that I really needed to focus on those areas. The fact that I was showing up as a “teacher” rather than a minister in several instances was again, important feedback that I worked on correcting.

Spiritual practices – You will want to increase your spiritual practices, what ever they may be. I found that doing so centered me and mobilized my energy and integrated body, mind and spirit. If we are unable to rally our inner and outer resources to facilitate our ministerial journey and in the time of our greatest need, then how can we do it for others? Thus, you will want to have identified your preferred spiritual practices long before you are scheduled for the MFC and begin to hone them for times such as these.

Sample Packet from a Friend – Two individuals shared their packets with me. Only ask your closest friend(s). These packets often contain the most intimate and vulnerable glimpses into a persons life, as well as information that you are not aware of. So only ask someone you are really close to. I will be eternally grateful to the individuals that shared theirs. I will be happy to share the outline. The one on the UUA website can be downloaded but you cannot work directly on it. I will be happy to send the outline since I now have it on my hard drive.

Consultation – Although no one informs you of this, you can request a review of your MFC packet and a subsequent consultation with David Pettee, Ministerial Credentialing Director. He will review your packet either prior to the deadline or immediately after you submit it. I am so glad I contacted him. He spotted a couple of things of concern. I was able to edit my packet to reflect his feedback. David knows what the MFC is looking for. We don’t. So utilize his expertise. You do not want any surprises, particularly around anything controversial. Also, the packet you receive from the UUA Administrator will reflect the complete packet including all your transcripts, RSCC letter, CPE Evaluations, Internship Evaluations, Letters of Recommendation, and any other information that has been placed in your file. Something like changing ones mind about an internship that was approved by the MFC and then doing a different internship got flagged in my file. David brought that to my attention and I was prepared to give an explanation about the change. If you have anything controversial in your file then the consultation with David will be very important. Because of the challenges around maintaining fellowship outside of the United States I even talked with David about this decision in the event that the MFC raised question. In other words, there should be no surprises!

MFC Packet – Be thoroughly familiar with your packet. I cannot stress this enough. The MFC reads every single line. Something said to me in confidence that I repeat to you, “If they (MFC) sees smoke, they will assume there is fire and they will investigate any concerns or questions they have.” I was asked about what appeared to be a discrepancy in my transcripts. It was four years ago. I didn’t even recall the incident and they had to remind me of the details before I could respond. They also asked me about a comment that my Internship Supervisor made about my ignoring a reporting protocol and another related incident. They asked me about these issues in relationship to how I deal with authority. By the way, know that you can challenge your CPE supervisor’s evaluations and the final versions will possibly be revised. When I realized they thought that they might be seeing someone that had an issue with authority I had a moment of panic and was entertaining bluffing my way through. Instead, I decided to go with the truth. I told them it was my perception that sometimes some of my supervisors gave us duplicitous tasks that appeared to be busy work and that I sometimes resisted that. Furthermore, I supposed that could come across as resisting authority but that as an adult learner there were times I needed to give them a reality check about their expectations and that I viewed myself as a mutual player in this learning process.

Acquire a Spiritual Director – Some psychology programs require all graduate level students be in therapy as part of their training. As seminarians, I think we are well served by having someone that is helping us think through ministerial formation and other things of a spiritual nature as a good sounding board and to challenge us on our blind spots. The MFC did not ask me if I had a spiritual director, but I have heard of others that were asked this question. Besides, it will look good if they pick up on anything of concern. It demonstrates your maturity, pro-activity and insightfulness. You can also use your spiritual director to help work through any anxiety you might have about your pending MFC process.

Sermon - This is the day to shine and let your minister self be fully present and show up. I think the sermon sets the tone so choose a topic that really sets the mood and demonstrates who you are. I had the most difficulty around this, and made several false starts before I landed on my topic. I was asked for a copy afterwards for the file. I had made last minute changes and had to send it to them afterwards.

First Question – Like the RSCC interview, you provide the first question. There are several strategies, use it to shine and wax eloquently; use it to proactively address something that could be controversial and that you want therefore to be able to take the offensive on; use it for a “deficiency” that you know exists that you want to be able to address and that you have made great stride on.

Notifications and Thank you cards- Send thank you’s to the MFC and emails to the world shouting your good news. And if you got a 2 and you know you are a minister, then buck up after you have a good cry, work with your spiritual director and Meadville staff and prepare to show the MFC that they are wrong! If you get a three, and you know they are wrong, then prove them wrong. I know one person that . . . Ok, that’s another story!
Blessings!!

Shout Outs to Georgia Battered Women's Advocates and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and so I am sending a shout out to the following women that I worked with many years ago in Georgia in the Battered Women's Movement before I have another senior moment and forget their names.

BJ Bryson, Priscilla Vandecar, Margo Smith, Victoria Toone-Jackson, Susan Schrader, Susan Mays, Cheryl Christian, Sylvia Gafford Alexander, Kathleen Carlin, Delbra Thomas, Geraldine in Milledgeville and Geraldine in South Georgia, Barbara Gibson, Lisa White.

NCADV
I was also on the steering committee of NCADV for several years back in the day! (mid to late 1980s). It was really one of my most transformative experiences as I began my evolution into an activist in the battered women's movement. Again, before I forget some of the names I want to speak them aloud! Beth Richey, Val Kahuna, Ruth Slaughter, Diana Onley-Campbell, Caitlin Fullwood, Nan Stoops, BJ Bryson, Barbara Hart, Tilly Blackbear, Suan McGhee, Susan Schcter, Ginny NiCarthy and Rita Smith.

To all those whose names I cannot recall! May the work that we do no longer be needed as the world becomes a safe place for women, children, men and all its inhabitants!

Blessed Be! Qiyamah A. Rahman

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Preparing for South Africa

This is Poomla. She was a staff person with Illita Labuntu. Her job was basically community education and awareness. It is amazing that I remember her name even though I was last there in 1994.

That is me at the far left with the staff of Illita Labuntu. If I recall, they had a picture of Malcolm X, AKA El Hajj Malik Shabazz on the wall. I remembered thinking, "hmmm" and was impressed with them even more.
This was a drawing hanging on the wall at Illita Labuntu depicting two individuals in the throes of violence that cycles through so many of our lives, encroaching on our happiness and our ability to function at an optimum level.
As I begin to prepare for my trip to South Africa next year I am renewing contacts and going through photo albums thinking about my previous experience. In the picture above the woman on the right is Mandisa, the Director of Illita Labuntu. On the left was the only male, and they jokingly called him their token male. Mandisa is holding a t-shirt that I gave her from the National Black Women's Health Project's HIV/AIDS campaign. The shirt was very popular everywhere I went. It reads: "You can get a new man but you can't get a new life." I have always thought how powerful that statement is. It gets at the heart of sometimes how we sacrifice our lives for those we love because we are so used to giving ourselves away as if we have no value or worth. However, that observation in no way seeks to minimize the violence that oftentimes serves to keep women in relationships. However, the emotional ties to partners that sometimes is stronger than our self interests and self love because we are so conditioned as women to be care takers of others and to put everyone else first so that it becomes second nature. Some of that socialization also results in us becoming dependent on others emotionally as we may find that we are dependent on them economically.

South Africa was my first real field research trip and I experienced the grass roots fund raising process I call scrounging around to get funds. I received small amounts of funds from various sources such as the Department of Health and Human Services out of Washington, DC, the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation, and the Unitarian Universalist Association to conduct a month of field research on violence against women.

While at the Rape Crisis Centre in Cape Town, the staff told me about a sister, Mandisa, that had previously worked with them and then had started an NGO in one of the black townships, either Gugalatu or Khailetcha. The NGO was named Ilita Labuntu. I recently googled Mandisa and discovered to my delight that she is still carrying on the work of educating the community about violence against women. At that time they had a youth component that trained the young people as peer mediators in their schools.

Keep your eyes and ears tuned to this blog as I begin to introduce you to some of the individuals that I was fortunate enough to meet in 1994 and that I am communicating with as I prepare for 2008.

Blessed Be!

The End of Poverty

If you have not read the book, The End of poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs then pick up a copy. This is a book that will make you hopeful that we can turn things around with determination and commitment. The book will make you angry when you realize that "we" are letting people die through pandemic disease, spread of uncontrolled infections, conflicts that are about encroaching on other populations and manipulation of natural disasters. And as we know,conflicts generate displacement and refugees. Sachs reminds us that when the rains fail in Africa, war is triggered. He contends that we will solve Darfur by peacekeepers, sanctions and disinvestment.

Sachs is one of the few authors that provides an insightful explanation about why some nations fail to thrive. Some explanations are suspect because they omit colonialism. Not Sachs. But he goes even further back and demonstrates how developing nations tapped innovations that allowed for the use of transport along with colonialism that shifted the wealth in the world. He talks about the parodox of the world of affluence and the worl of poverty. And reminds us that this is a resolveabl problem.

Furthermore, he believes there is enough wealth and technology to go around. He reminds us that 43% of the world is living on less than $1 a day.

Sachs not only believes that we can end poverty but he has begun a campaign to do so. He spoke at the University of Chicago this year about some of the things that he is doing in the area of malaria. Malaria kills 2-3 million children a year. These are all preventable deaths.
Sachs is currently working with China who he claims is providing the "single most important medicine in Africa for the prevention of malaria." He sponsored a village of 5,000 individuals in Tanzania. The government of Tanzania went door-to-door in September and handed out mosquito nets that cost $5 each that had been treated with a chemical that repels mosquitoes for five years. As a result, malaria was reduced by 90%. They did an assessment in January and determined that there had been no cases of malaria. How is this related to his campaign to end poverty? Malaria leads to poverty when people cannot work due to poor health. And as he reminds us, this is a resolvable problem.

The USA's military budget alone, 650 billion dollars, is greater than all of the rest of the worlds budgets.

Poverty and hunger are pervasive in Africa. Chronic hunger results in undernourishment. Chronic shortages of food production reflect in part, the poverty of farmers who cannot afford fertilizer and without the fertilizer they can't make use of high yield crops. Yet, fertilizer an seeds actually can triple the yield. One hundred million farmers are working the fields, mostly women. Farmers get one third of their yield. They cannot feed their families, much less have a surplus to take to the market.

Some of the statistics he shared:

Over 1 billion people around the wold live in extreme poverty, surviving o less than one dollar a day
Every 10 secnds, an African child dies of malaria
Across the globe, more than 800 million people go bed hungry every nigt
Every year me than 10 million children diebeore their fifth birthda from completely preventable diseaseslike diarrhea ad pneumonia
Every day over 20,000 pple die because they are too poor to stay alive.

Some Solutions
Sleeping under a bednet will preven children from getting malaria
Vitamin A and iron supplements willelp fith malnutrition and make children stronger
Basic fertlizer will replenis depleted soil and dramatically increase crop yields
Anti-retrovirals will keep people with HIV/AIDS alive in poor countries justs they do in rich ones
Free, daily school lunches will help ensure that students stay in school and are better able to learn.

Finally, bundling critical, life-saving interventions in agricultula productivity, health, educati and rural infrastructure in a comprehensive investment strategy will provie that the Millenium Development Goals can be achieved within five yes, and make the difference between life and death.

Finally, we have to break the mindset of "us" and "them." We are in this together. We will either survive and thrive together or we will perish together. The decision is ours!

For more information go to www.milleniumpromise.org
Blessed Be! Qiyamah A. Rahman

Amazing People and Amazing Events are Happening as I Speak

L to R Jeremy, Rev. LaDonna Saunders and Dr. Qiyamah A. Rahman in Chicago, IL sharing our amazing experiences and energy about South Africa.

L to R Rev. LaDonna Saunders, alum of McCormick and Dr. Qiyamah A. Rahman. We hooked up by accident - no by destiny, having met for the first time in person the previous night. It was like we had known each other all our lives. We brainstormed for hours. She is doing amazing things around HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Of course we had a lot to talk about. She has already been to South Africa three times and is ready to go for good. Hearing about the orphanages was particularly heart rending.
L to R Jeremy is a photographer and was sharing with us how beautiful his time was in South Africa. Taking pictures of the children was an amazing experience for him as well as for them. We all talked about our calling to South Africa and how blessed we feel to be able to be a part of things there. The energy between us was absolutely amazing.

Blessed Be! Qiyamah A. Rahman

Intergenerational Friendships

Welcome to a pictorial display of some of events from Norma Poinsetts life. This is my birthday gift to her. She will be eighty years old on September 2. Happy birthday Norma.

Second from the right - second row is Norma as a young girl and her six sisters.

Besides celebrating her birthday, Norma is also celebrating fifty years as an active Unitarian Universalist.
While the picture is a little fuzzy, there is nothing unclear about Norma's title of Dr. Norma Poinsett. Here she is shown receiving an honorary degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was an African American Unitarian in the nineteenth century that was involved in five movements: childrens, black literary movement, suffragette, abolitionist and temperance movement. She was a member of First Unitarian in Philadelphia. In this scence, a number of Unitarian Universalists gathered to pay tribute to Harper and to place a headstone on her gravesite.

This is Norma Poinsett, my friend. She will turn eighty years old on September 2. Happy birthday Norma and many more happy returns.



She gave me my first tennis lesson on Monday, August 27, 2007 and almost ran me into the ground. I want to be her when I grow up!

Norma was very patient with me and even told me I had potential! Now if I can just hang in there!

Norma and I played for an hour and then she played another game with her friend Terri. I am not sure that I could have played another hour. But Norma was all ready for another game.

Norma said that she does hundreds of leg exercises each morning and whenever she wakes up during the night. And her game showed it! She was running me ragged! I am just a little sore!

This summer, Norma and I worked on capturing some highlights from her life. She is not quite ready to write her memoirs but this came pretty close. I will be posting it later in the year once I finish the other essays. Norma is a great cook and I had fun writing while she talked about her life with her family and friends and her accomplishments. I would go to her house on Sundays after church and she would feed me a delicious home cooked meal. Then we got to work!

Norma has devoted fifty years of service to Unitarian Universalism and has served on almost every committee and entity that exists.

Norm, thank you for your friendship, the tennis lesson and your many contributions to Unitarian Universalism!