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Invigorating times at warm winter Baha’i schools

Photo Gallery Youngsters singing a prayer they learned at Bosch Bahá’í School. Click to enlarge and browse a gallery of related photos. Office of Education and Schools Many Americans would tell you their winter breaks were consumed with activities that left them drained and exhausted as they return to work and school. Friends attending the [...]

Harold Jackson helped launch Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute

Harold C. Jackson Jr., a longtime educator, was the first director of the Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute in South Carolina. He was an active public speaker for the Faith in California for many years, and was energetic in helping develop the potential of youth. He passed away March 29, 2012, after living 37 years [...]

Waldo Boyd managed Geyserville Baha’i School

Waldo T. “Walt” Boyd served for seven years as manager of Geyserville Baha’i School in California, predecessor to Bosch Baha’i School. He was for many years a technical and fiction writer and radio hobbyist. He passed away September 15, 2012, in Santa Rosa, California. He was 94. A letter of tribute from the National Spiritual [...]

‘Living examples of unity’: Youths gain spiritual strength at Oregon summer school

Janice Blumer enjoys being a “fly on the wall” as for one week each summer, youths from the Pacific Northwest “become living examples of unity in action.” Carmel Baha’i School, held on the shores of Oregon’s Fall Creek Reservoir, is planned and run primarily by young adult Baha’is. The result, says Blumer, is a “spiritually [...]

Irfan Colloquium pursues studies of Baha’i Faith

The ‘Irfan Colloquium in 2013 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Universal House of Justice. The Colloquium program presents several scholarly gatherings each year in various countries and in various languages, organized under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the countries where they are held and assisted by the Office [...]

Baha’i Studies conference views facets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit

When ‘Abdu’l-Baha visited North America, His goal was not only to teach the Faith and consolidate the nascent Baha’i community, Shapour Rassekh pointed out during a key presentation at the 36th annual Conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies. Universal peace, he said, was also central to the message that the son of the Founder [...]

Summer schools mindful of Master’s visit, sometimes in lively ways

Office of Education and Schools Photo Gallery Summer schools demonstrate abundant creativity during centenary year. Photo courtesy of the Office of Education and Schools Click to enlarge and browse a gallery of related photos. Summer Baha’i school sessions across the country, at seasonal and permanent schools alike, commemorated the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to the [...]

‘Irfan Colloquium shares systematic Baha’i studies

“Discovering Pearls in the Ocean of His Words” is the theme for the English-language session of the ‘Irfan Colloquium, set for Oct. 5–8 at Louhelen Baha’i School. A friendly gathering in an informal and collegial atmosphere, ‘Irfan Colloquium presents a unique opportunity for meeting and associating with those interested in systematic Baha’i studies. Programs include [...]

NABI’s neighbors apply new consultation skills to trash problem

Photo Gallery Consultations at Native American Baha’i Institute lead to roadbed improvements. Photo courtesy of Saraiya Ruano Click to enlarge and browse a gallery of related photos. Jerry Bathke has a feeling neighborhood consultations held over the years at the Native American Baha’i Institute have helped improve lives. It’s a sensation repeated every time the [...]

School session in Spanish builds capacity

Photo Gallery Participants in a week-long Spanish session put institute process into practice. Photo courtesy of Louhelen Baha’i School Click to enlarge photo. Office of Education and Schools Latinos are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States, and at 16.3 percent of the population, they comprise one of the largest. Over the past [...]

Eight lives: reflections on lasting influence of youth service at Baha’i schools

Office of Education and Schools Youth service programs at the permanent national Baha’i schools have evolved considerably since they were established in 1984, and additional changes are anticipated in the coming year. In that light, and considering the current need for more youth volunteers, the Office of Education and Schools took a moment to reflect [...]

Deeper views of the Master’s example at Baha’i schools

Office of Education and Schools Photo Gallery Storyteller Joyce Stohr and a young participant at the Florence Mayberry Baha’i School in Missouri. Click to enlarge and browse a gallery of related photos. This year the National Spiritual Assembly asked the American Baha’i community to reflect frequently on the example set by ‘Abdu’l-Baha during His visit [...]

Film illuminates spiritual side of 1905 peace process

Seven years ago Don Alusic was captivated by the history-making role of grassroots spiritual and religious activity — carried out by Episcopal, Orthodox, Baha’i, Christian Science and other adherents — in the 1905 peace conference that ended the Russo-Japanese War. So he worked for years to produce his first-ever film. Photo Gallery Sarah Farmer’s Peace [...]

Baha’i schools seek creative approaches to develop insight into the Master’s vision

The spirit of the 2012 centenary commemorating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America is pervading Bahá’í activity nationwide, ranging from the nationally sponsored events to innumerable instances of individual dedication. The national Bahá’í schools, both permanent and seasonal, are seeking to support this special spirit by offering focused study that not only highlights ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit, but also [...]

‘Irfan Colloquia set 2012 sessions

The ‘Irfán Colloquia present several scholarly gatherings each year in various countries and in various languages, organized under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the countries where they are held and assisted by the Office of Persian-American Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. ‘Irfán Colloquia include presentations on systematic [...]

Serving those who serve: Youth mentors support school volunteers

By the Office of Education and Schools Two volunteers began blazing a trail in the new role of youth mentor in June 2011 — one at Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan, and the other at the Native American Bahá’í Institute (NABI) in Houck, Arizona. Mentorship is a new practice being employed at the permanent [...]

What it’s about: Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies

For the past 35 years, the Association for Bahá’í Studies-North America has staged an annual conference to help carry out its mission of supporting scholarly study of the Bahá’í Faith as well as generally stimulating an appetite for learning in the Bahá’í community. At this year’s conference Aug. 11–14 near San Francisco, California, the Association [...]

Stories come alive at Baha’i media boot camp

Multimedia on laptops, video on smart phones, apps for tablet computers — what’s next? The landscape for mass media is evolving year by year at an astonishing pace, and fresh possibilities for storytelling blossom steadily as the public embraces new technology. Recognizing that, the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Communications teamed with U.S. Bahá’í Media [...]

Young people claim roles in their own growth at Bahá’í schools

Youths gain confidence through artistic expression, consultation

BNASAA gathering aims at healing, learning through consultation

The Baha’i Network on AIDS, Sexuality, Addictions and Abuse (BNASAA) is holding its 2011 annual conference at Bosch Baha’i School from Thursday evening, Sept. 8, to Sunday noon, Sept. 11. The objective of BNASAA conferences is to promote healing and growth related to personally sensitive issues in an atmosphere of love, trust, respect and confidentiality. [...]

Colorado Springs Baha’i Center serves the Five Year Plan

By Baha’i Center Assistance Corp. More than just a venue for Bahá’í meetings, a local Bahá’í center can be placed effectively at the service of the Five Year Plan, as a springboard for teaching and core activities that spread into the community. That lesson has emerged clearly as the Bahá’í Center Assistance Corp. (BCA) examines [...]

Women’s retreat uses music, art, dance to nourish souls

Spiritual retreat celebrates women’s strengths and provides mutual support

Louhelen provides a safe space for sensitive discourse on race

Race is one of the most divisive and intransigent issues in American society, and that reality loomed large before the 60 Bahá’ís and friends who came to Louhelen Bahá’í School in October 2010 to consult on the relationship between black and white in the United States. But the participants in “Engaging in the Discourse on [...]

Louhelen seeks Spanish-speaking teachers for 2012 session

Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan, is looking for four Spanish-speaking teachers to offer two beginner-level courses in Spanish to assist people with limited use of Spanish in reaching out to Spanish-speaking populations and sharing basic concepts of the Bahá’í Faith. The six-day course would be held near the end of June 2012. Room and [...]

2011 ABS conference features Nader Saiedi as Balyuzi lecturer

Author and educator Nader Saiedi will deliver the 29th Hasan M. Balyuzi Lecture at the 2011 Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Aug. 11–14 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel in Burlingame, California. With the theme “Transforming Habits of Thought” inspired by a passage in the Dec. 28, 2010, message of the [...]