Sharing our Stories … Healing the Wounds

Nacogdoches, home to Stephen F. Austin State University, can be described as the small East Texas town with a big city feel.
    Known for welcoming a diversity of cultures, faiths and ethnicities, Nacogdoches will host the multi-cultural, multi-faith day-long community event, Sharing our Stories … Healing the Wounds. This event will span the whole history of Nacogdoches – from its beginning as home to the Caddo people, up to today where its people seek to reach across dividing lines of race, religion, culture, ethnicity and socio-economic status, to build true community.
    Hosted by the Episcopal Church, through the Province VII Anti-Racism Network, Sharing our Stories will take place at Austin Heights Baptist Church, 2806 Appleby Sand, on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
    Local leaders coordinating this event include: The Rev. Wanda Cuniff, Deacon of Christ Episcopal Church, Aloma Marquis, Professor of Art, SFASU, Dr. Jose Carbajal, Professor of Social Work, SFASU, Dr. Jerry Williams, Professor of Sociology, SFASU, and Rev. Kyle Childress, Senior Pastor, Austin Heights Baptist Church.
    Opening with video clips from the Doctrine of Discovery to Mass Incarceration, the program will first explore the Native American experience, then move seamlessly into broad cultural dialog with a multi-cultural panel discussion. There will be opportunity for audience feedback, and for story-sharing in small groups over lunch and throughout the afternoon.
    The various cultures will learn about, discuss, practice and experience cultural healing rituals, which will then be shared in inter-cultural conversation with the larger group. The day will end with an ecumenical service, led by Rev. Lorraine Brown, Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Nacogdoches. Among the visiting presenters for this event are: Dr. Catherine Meeks, Director, Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing, Rev. Brad Hauff, Missioner for Indigenous Ministries, the Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Angela Shepherd, Rector, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, and Rev. Nancy Frausto, Associate Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, California.
    Admission is free of charge; lunch and refreshments will be served. Space is limited, so register and reserve your free tickets by following this link: https://bit.ly/2P530Je, or go to province7race on Facebook.