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Reimagining (Again): Key Lessons on Ministry Sustainability in a Post-Pandemic World

The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) recently held its first in-person event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019. More than 70 clergy and faith-inspired community leaders met in an airy space at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach for a half-day conference to discuss the challenges and lessons of the pandemic–and simply to gather, mindful of public health precautions, to share stories and fellowship after a long period of isolation. Read More

Kumu Hina and Walter Ritte: ‘A very Hawaiian place’

Even if de-occupying the entire state of Hawaii is a nearly impossible dream, inklings of what a more Hawaiian Hawai'i might look like help to keep the dream alive. Wong-Kalu smiles when we tell her we are going to Molokai to interview Ritte, whom she calls Uncle Walter. “When you go to Molokai,” she says, “it’s a very Hawaiian place.” Read More

Nestor Castro: Better Red Than Dead

“When I was in the underground, we would hold meetings in CICM facilities,” Castro said. “And when I was a prisoner, Belgian priests visited me and gave me a gift of a cooking stove because they heard that there was not enough food for the prisoners.” Read More

Nica Aquino: Searching for Home

“I’m trying to bring more Filipino programming to northeast LA,” said 30-year-old Aquino, whose Filipino-American Day of the Dead exhibit, which includes original work by other Filipino-American artists, has become an annual feature at Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park, between downtown and Pasadena. Read More

Community Transformation: Outlining a Process for Change

The following report—geared for anyone who seeks to transform communities, from congregants to faith leaders to funders—shares the process, challenges and lessons from a project to consult with local faith groups ready to take on transformative work in their communities. Read More