Join us for an interfaith panel on “Religion and Democracy” on October 26, 2016.

Register Here

Date: October 26, 2016 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124

Speakers:

Father Tim Heflin is the Rector (senior priest) at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke, Virginia and has been a local advocate for conversation and building friendships among strangers, especially for interfaith relationships in the Jewish and Muslim communities. Tim served in executive management and chaplain positions for hospice programs across the country prior to ordained ministry – in his native Mississippi, the Southside of Chicago, western Colorado, and the metro New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In one particular hospice, he oversaw the construction of the largest free-standing residential hospice in the United States.

Tim is part of a local, interfaith clergy group in northern Virginia that he calls friends, a group that is spreading the word that people can be different and be friends. This interfaith group is now meeting monthly in local congregations to model ways to have open, honest discussion, while encouraging friendship in the midst of difference. St. Andrew’s has an active relationship with a church in Ramallah, Palestine and Tim encourages travel to the Holy Land as a way to meet people and understand firsthand what is going on in a region of the world we hear about daily. St. Andrew’s opens its doors weekly to a local mosque – Peace Islamic Center in Burke – for Friday prayers as part of this commitment to relationships.

Alan Ronkin is an accomplished advocate and career Jewish professional who has been involved in Israel and community relations for over 20 years.In that time he has worked in Jewish communal institutions across the United States including in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle, Boston and now Washington DC.

As an advocate, Alan has focused on relationship building and policy development to support a society that reflects the best of Jewish values including support for Israel, equity and appreciation of difference. In his long career he has led successful campaigns to defeat anti-Israel ballot initiatives, conducted numerous tours of Israel for prominent non-Jewish leaders including elected officials and clergy, and advocated on behalf of domestic urban concerns.

In addition to his work in Jewish communal circles, in 2013, Alan served as Policy Adviser and Constituent Manager for Congressman Joe Kennedy III. In that role he assisted the congressman in enriching his relationships with Jewish constituents and in grappling with issues related to Israel and other Jewish causes.  He is a native of Bridgeport, CT, earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Masters in Jewish Communal Service and a Doctorate (honoris causa) in Jewish Non-Profit Management from Hebrew Union College.

Haris Tarin was raised and educated in Southern California where he received his undergraduate education and is currently pursuing his graduate work in Washington DC.

In his capacity as the DC Director of MPAC, Haris engaged various agencies within government including the White House, Department of Justice, State Department, Department of Homeland Security and offices on Capitol Hill. Haris was among three leading young Americans President Barack Obama called in a one of its kind discussion on public policy issues; the President called and then met with Haris, specifically to discuss policies pertaining to national security, countering violent extremism, the American Muslim community and civic engagement. Haris has been published in various national and international publications including the LA Times, CNN, Washington Post and has a regular column on the Huffington Post. He has spoken at various domestic and international conferences and media outlets on topics such as National Security, Islam and governance, US-Muslim World Relations, Role of the American Muslim institutions in Policy Formation, Religion and Public Life, and Civic Engagement. Haris is an Ariane de Rothschild Cambridge Fellow and a USC/Georgetown AMCLI Fellow and is also the author of Intro to Muslim America and Rethinking the Redlines: Free Speech, Religious Freedom and Social Change.