Leading up to "A Conversation with Christo Brand" hosted by the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on October 8, the Adult Forum at Emmanuel will present a special three-part series. Held in Wood Fellowship Hall beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays, this series will consist of:
• September 10: A facilitated discussion about what Nelson Mandela teaches us about resilience, courage, perseverance, and non-violent activism, led by the Rev. Dr. J. Barrington Bates, affiliate clergy.
• September 17: Further discussion with AndrĂ© Strydom about his experience in South Africa and how music can help us understand and heal from experiences of evil. He will focus specifically on Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph’s song about Mandela, He Walked to Freedom. Maestro Strydom lived in South Africa under apartheid, and he will share some of his personal experience. He currently serves as director of music at Emmanuel, as well as chorusmaster for the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra.
• September 24: Presentation and discussion with Heather Raue, Artistic Director of Crooked Tree Arts Center’s School of Ballet. Ms. Raue will be discussing how the arts generally and dance, in particular, can help us interpret difficult subjects or periods in history and how it is possible to find beauty and light in even the darkest of circumstances. She is working on an original dance piece that explores some of the themes from Mr. Brand’s book. The piece will debut on Oct 8.