Discussions on Diversity and the (Added) Mental Health Impact of COVID

This conversation has been postponed until Fall 2021

As a country we strive for diversity, equity, and inclusion, yet disparities and discrimination continue to be experienced by many and remain at the top of the news cycle.

The COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with an increase in hate crimes among Asian Americans, rising race relation conflict, and brought isolation to members of the LGBTQ community.

Please join us for a conversation with community leaders moderated by Rabbi Robin Nafshi (Bios below) to explore how we can encourage acceptance and understand.

This event is free, but registration is required

Rabbi Robin Nafshi: Ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2005, Robin has been the Rabbi at Temple Beth Jacob since July of 2010. Before that, she served at two synagogues in New Jersey. She also worked as a Hospice Chaplain for a VNA and as the Community Chaplain for a Jewish Healing Center. Currently, Rabbi Robin is on the Riverbend Board of Directors serving on the Development Committee and The Educated Community Work Group.

Shana Aisenberg: Shana plays various stringed instruments, specializing in styles from American roots to Eastern-European Klezmer. She performs with Beverly Woods (String Equinox), has recorded albums, written music instruction books, and teaches music lessons online, and at workshops and festivals nationwide. Shana is Music Director at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes in Tamworth NH.

Deborah Opramolla: Deborah is a court appointed Educational Surrogate Parent who assures that children in foster care experiencing a disability have an appropriate Individual Education Plan. She is a former oncologist who studied medicine at the University of Colorado at Denver. She is also the Co-Chair of the New Hampshire Poor People’s Campaign.

Grace Kindeke: Grace is the Program Coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee’s New Hampshire program. She is an artist, activist, community organizer and a B.A. student of Africana Studies and Sociology at UMASS Boston. She was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and immigrated to the U.S. as a toddler.