Projects
Reel & Meal at the New Deal Café
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Reel and Meal at the New Deal Café is a community based monthly film series exploring environmental, animal rights, and social justice issues. In recent years, Greenbelt Bahá’ís have provided the January Reel & Meal program as a contribution to public discourse.
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April 18, 2022 - around 65 (50 on zoom) attended our showing of “Rosenwald,” [view trailer] doc-umenting the story of Julius Rosenwald, who never finished high school, but rose to become the President of Sears. Influenced by educator Booker T. Washington, this Jewish philanthropist joined forces with African American communities during the Jim Crow South to build over 5,300 schools in the early part of the 20th century. Our discussion leader was Dr. Dennis Doster, head of the Black History Program of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, which restored the Ridgeley Rosenwald School in Capitol Heights and now operates it as a museum.
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January 20, 2020, Martin Luther King Jr. Day - around 55 attended our showing of “Dawnland,” [view film] a PBS documentary that traces the removal of Native American children from their homes in Maine, their forced assimilation into white society, and the trailblazing Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission formed to begin the process of healing, cooperation and justice. Anne Arundel County Bahá'í Julie Geredien introduced the film, reminded attendees that the land beneath them was originally the land of Native Americans, and ably moderated the lively discussion that followed.
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January 21, 2019 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - around 40 attended our showing of “Changing the World, One Wall at a Time,” [view film] documenting a global street art (giant murals on the sides of buildings) and human rights campaign to raise awareness of education discrimination against Bahá’ís in Iran and other minorities around the world – after the film, Greenbelter Ingrid Hass described the several year process by which a local group of artists, parents and students created the huge and very attractive mural now adorning the front of the Greenbelt Elementary School.
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February 19, 2018 - Black History Month - around 90 attended our screening of the film “Walking While Black” [view film] which exposes the effects of racial profiling on American communities and describes instances of healing reconciliation. Our moderator was Mr. P.J. Andrews, Race Discourse Officer at the Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs in Washington, DC. Greenbelt’s acting Police Chief brought the Police Department’s senior management staff, who after the film, discussed their efforts to improve communication and their ability to work with the community, sharing some of their own vulnerability. During discussion the audience offered a steady stream of deeply felt questions that were fielded by the police officers and the mayor.
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January 16, 2017 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - around 60 came out to watch our film "Sisters of Selma" [film trailer] which recalls the involvement of Catholic nuns and other people of faith in the 1965 civil rights campaign for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. This struggle for justice 50 years ago then inspired an active discussion among participants about contemporary issues including a planned march for women's rights to take place in D.C. the following week.
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January 18, 2016 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - nearly 100 attended our showing of "Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity." [film trailer] Reporter Jim Link highlights the film and summarizes the post film discussion that was expertly facilitated by Thomas Mays, in his half page article on page 7 of the February 4 edition of the Greenbelt News Review “‘Cracking the Codes’ Sparks Conversation” [here].
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January 19, 2015 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - around 50 attended to watch our video "I Am," [film trailer] a story of individual awakening to the connectedness of the peoples of the world – Dara Shaw artfully introduced the film and facilitated the audience discussion that followed.
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January 20, 2014 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - at least 50 attended our showing of "In Transition 2.0" [view film] documenting the "Transition" movement focusing on development of local projects that can move communities toward economic and environmental sustainability.
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August 20, 2012 - 40-50 attended our showing of "Education Under Fire" [view trailer] hearing how thousands in Iran are denied formal university education due to their religious beliefs, and how the internet based Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) provides their only chance to receive an education. After the film, Dr. Haideh Yazdani Sabet shared personal observations. Handouts gave attendees ways to help including becoming an English language tutor via Skype for BIHE students. This program was co-sponsored by the Prince George's County Peace and Justice Coalition.
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Peace Month in Greenbelt
We collected Bikes for the World.
Here are Eric Zhang's photo blog of the 2012 collection day.
Here are Eric Zhang's photo blog of the 2012 collection day.
Button Making Booth in the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival
We have a booth in the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival where we make buttons for our customers and where we share the Teachings of the Baha'i Faith.
Here is Eric Zhang's photo blog of the 2012 Labor Day Festival.
Here is Eric Zhang's photo blog of the 2012 Labor Day Festival.