Busy spring for WIPPS!

As part of our mission to educate and engage the community, WIPPS continues to sponsor a host of programs and events on issues that matter. Our busy spring program season included:

A two-part series on February 1 and February 8, “A Community Interfaith Dialogue,” featured pastors from the Abrahamic faiths who engaged in an ecumenical dialogue, discussing living the faith in a diverse world, how sacred texts impact relationships with one another and how each faith views non-members.

A return of Palestinian performer Ali Paris on February 9. Paris combined his Western and Middle Eastern jazz with personal stories of his life on the West Bank during the war. In a blog he wrote while a student at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, he noted that his music represents “that Palestinians are a helpful, giving people. We want to overcome war and find peace. Music is peace.”

“Blue Jeans in High Places” author Mike McCabe described how “commoners can demand something new and better from the two main political parties ” at a talk on March 10.

The James F. Veninga Lecture Series brought two nationally recognized experts to discuss Pope Francis’ recent encyclical on caring for the planet. Sr. Simone Campbell presented on “A Call for Civic Responsibility March 15 in Wausau and March 16 in Menasha, WI. Long-time Catholic Bishop Richard E. Pates of the Des Moines Diocese followed May 9-10 in DePere and Wausau, continuing the dialogue with his presentation on “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”

The WIPPS Public Lecture Series traveled to Milwaukee and Madison on April 4-5 for a panel discussion on “Is Congress Still Relevant?” Four powerhouse speakers (Norman Ornstein, Thomas Mann, Dave Obey and Mickey Edwards) came together to answer the question, “Is Congress Still Relevant?”

To continue bringing relevant topics and programs of interest to the public, WIPPS relies on support from foundations, donors and other friends of WIPPS. Please see our website to learn how you can help.