A DVD of a panel of speakers and audience Q&A that took place in Palo Alto on August 31st 2009.

Please Note: We are offering this DVD at cost. The price for this DVD includes 1st. Class Mail Shipping.

About the DVD:

The forum was planned, in part, in response to the tragic teen suicides and suicide attempts at the end of the last school year, prompting faith leaders from diverse traditions to come together to offer care and support to the whole community.

A six member panel was moderated by Palo Alto Mayor Peter Drekmeier, and included representatives from Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Christian Science traditions. The discussion focused on what various faith teachings and practices can offer the community (parents, friends, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, teens -- anyone who cares about youth) as together we strive to better support our youth's spiritual, mental, social and physical well-being as they begin the school year. The purpose of the forum was to add the unique gifts of spiritual traditions and communities as sources of strength and guidance in service to the whole community.

After brief opening remarks from each of the panelists, the core of the evening consisted of  these speakers' responses to questions from the community.  Several midpeninsula faith communities are organizing "youth-only" events which will be open to all teens, and will be announced during this program. 

Panelists: 

Rev. William Masuda, Ed.D., of the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
Contact: office@pabt.org or revwtm@yahoo.com

Rabbi Janet Marder of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills

Rev. David Howell, Pastor, First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, United Church of Christ
Contact:  David@fccpa.org or 650-856-6662

Eric Nelson of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Palo Alto
Contact: eric@ericdnelson.com

Sherry Cassedy, Catholic Community of Palo Alto, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
Pastor: George Aranha; Website: paloaltocatholic.org
Email Sherry at: sherrycassedy@aol.com

Samina Sundas of American Muslim Voice (www.amuslimvoice.org)
Contact: saminasundas@gmail.com or 650-387-1994
Faith: Islam

Peter Drekmeier, Mayor of Palo Alto (moderator)

(Thanks to Baltimore County Public Library website for the opening photo.)