West End Lectures

West End Lectures

Intersections is proud to present 'The West End Lectures'. This year's series focuses on the theme, 'The Heart of Conflict: Pathways to Peace' and features four national and internationally known presenters who will speak about various aspects of conflict transformation from their own personal histories.

The presentations, accompanied by an artistic offering, will be held at West End Collegiate Church on Manhattan's upper west side. Dates are Friday, October 10, 2008, Thursday, January 8, 2009, Thursday, March 19, 2009, Thursday, May 14, 2009. 7 pm - 8:30 pm.

 

To RSVP, please email rsvp@intersectionsinternational.org or email sthompson@intersecionsinternational.org with questions.

 

 

The first speaker, Michael Lapsley, a South African priest and social activist, shared his story on October 10, 2008. Born in New Zealand, he trained as an Anglican priest in Australia in the early 1970s before coming to South Africa in 1973. Lapsley's visa was not renewed in 1976 due to his affiliations with the banned African National Congress. On 28 April 1990, Lapsley was the victim of a letter bomb sent to him by an operative of the Civil Cooperation Bureau which resulted in the loss of both hands and an eye. He started the Institute for Healing of Memories in 1998.

Click below to listen to the audio files from the event:

 

Immaculee Illibagiza, a Tutsi woman who survived the Rwandan Genocide by the Hutus in 1994, is a living example of faith put into action. On January 8th, 2009, Immaculee shared how her life was transformed dramatically during the 1994 Rwandan genocide when she and seven other women spent 91 days huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor's house.

Click below to listen to the audio files from the event:


Anisa Mehdi and Michael Lame focused on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. For over 20 years, Anisa Mehdi has reported, written, directed and produced television news and documentary programs for major American media outlets. Her commentaries have been heard on NPR's "All Things Considered." Her specialty is Islam, religion and the arts. Michael Lame is a management consultant who has conducted leadership and communications programs for companies around the world. He is in the process of establishing an NGO to promote new ideas for resolving Middle East conflict.

Click below to listen to the audio files from the event:

The Pastor and the Imam features the reconciliation and the peace-making initiatives which have flowed between Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye. Both led opposing, armed militias, dedicated to defending their respective communities as violence broke out in northern Nigeria. Now the two men are co-directors of the Muslim-Christian Interfaith Mediation Centre, where they lead task-forces to resolve conflicts across Nigeria and are responsible for mediating peace between Christians and Muslims.

Click below to listen to audio from the event:

To learn more about upcoming Intersections lectures and events, click here.