Annual Easter Program: Finding Common Ground
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Bill Bolling: Bill Bolling is co-founder, board chair and senior advisor of Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance, a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build community gardens and urban farms across metro Atlanta. Prior to co-founding Food Well Alliance in 2015, Bill founded the Atlanta Community Food Bank in 1979 and served as its executive director for 36 years. Under his leadership, the Food Bank distributed more than half a billion pounds of food to feed the hungry. As a charter member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, Bill played a key role in launching food banks across the country and was instrumental in starting the Georgia Food Bank Association. Bill serves on the boards of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Inspire Brands Foundation, and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He has facilitated the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum since founding it in 1984. Most recently, he co-founded and serves as board chair of the Atlanta Civic Circle, a new organization addressing civic journalism.
Plemon T. El-Amin, Imam Emeritus of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam: In addition to leading one of the most progressive Mosques in the United States, Imam El-Amin is the former director of Atlanta's Clara Mohammed Elementary School and W. Deen Mohammed High School. Imam El-Amin has traveled the nation and the world representing the concerns and interests of Muslim Americans,and is the co-founder and director of World Pilgrims, an interfaith organization that engages people of various faith identities with one another through international travel, dialogue, and interaction. He has served on various religious and civic councils, and presently serves on the boards of the Atlanta Masjid Majlis, the Elijah Interfaith Institute in Jerusalem, the ISB (Islamic Speakers Bureau), the National Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, and Interfaith Community Initiatives.
Beth Schafer, Buntzl Cantorial Chair of Temple Sinai: Beth Schafer is the Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair of Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs. This is her 10th year serving on Temple Sinai’s clergy team. The areas in which she does the most work when not designing and leading worship are, grief support, mental health initiatives, LGBTQ advocacy, women’s rights and refugee support. She serves on the advisory board of SOJOURN, Atlanta’s Jewish LGBTQ advocacy organization as well as the board for the National Council for Jewish Women. Beth has been a composer of contemporary Jewish music for over 30 years, shaping the sound of Reform Jewish music in America. Her compositions are used widely in worship and gatherings around the country and have appeared in numerous publications.
The Rev. Winnie Varghese Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: A national leader in the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Winnie Varghese is known for her inspired writing, teaching, and preaching. Winnie has been a leading voice on issues including mass incarceration; systemic racism; gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ issues; and immigration, among others. She is the 23rd rector of St. Luke's, Atlanta. Prior to St. Luke’s, Winnie served at Trinity Church Wall Street, St. Mark’s in the Bowery in New York City, and St. Alban’s, Los Angeles. Winnie has also served as the Episcopal Chaplain at both Columbia University and the University of California Los Angeles.