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January 2024

A monthly electronic Newsletter

programs, courses, student feedback

Webinars and Podcasts

The live web video talks, known as webinars, are free and open to all. Simply click to register or visit our YouTube page to watch the talks in real-time. Don't worry if you miss the live broadcast, as the recorded video will be available on our website. You can also enjoy the audio/podcast version on platforms such as SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Featured 2023 Webinars

The Baha’i Faith and an Evolving Framework for Action

with Wilmette Institute Staff

Recorded 4 April, 2023

Mysticism and the Baha’i Faith

with Vargha Bolodo-Taefiwith

Recorded 5 March, 2023

Recent Webinars on YouTube and SoundCloud

The Rashh-i-ʻAma in Living Color

Karen Anne Webb

Artificial Intelligence and Ethics—a Search for Coherence

Farzin Aghdasi

The Bab's Epistle to the 'Ulama

Nima Rafiei

Student News

head shot of Winnie Merritt wearing a deep red turtleneck blouse

Student reflects on her personal sustainable development goals

Winnie Merritt of High Point, North Carolina, took the extension course Sustainable Development and Human Prosperity in 2023, She says: "One of the most important understandings is further insight into the Sustainable Development Goals that I am personally addressing and how I might do more. Posted on my fridge for a couple of years now is the saying “Be satisfied with little.” During the course this saying has had a renewed meaning resulting in further examination of my needs versus my wants."

head shot of David Bellamy in a dark suit and black rimmed glasses

Student shakes off doom and gloom, hopeful about making a difference

Dave Bellamy also took Sustainable Development and Human Prosperity. He reflects: "Despite the doom and gloom that is especially strong at the beginning of the course, it did not minimize my excitement about having the opportunity to participate. That excitement has grown each week." Read on to hear about his plans to begin to "make a bigger difference"...

Student reflects on personal responsibility and accountability

Liz Smith recently completed the extension course Anti-Black Racism in the U.S. and Building a Unified Society. She says her focus was on "application of skills in the areas of courage, patience, listening, knowledge—specifically with respect to anti-Black racism—within myself first, and also encouraging in others." To the question "Has there been a change in your values or beliefs?" she reflects: "I’ve misplaced my complacency. That idea that “things will continue to get better over time” is replaced by personal responsibility and accountability to God, to humanity, to you who read this."

Social Transformation Certificate

Tuition-free | Open to graduate and

undergraduate (upper division) students

flyer for Transforming Education course featuring 3 students of diverse ethnicities around a laptop computer

Applications are open for this unique, tuition-free program. We are seeking students interested in committing to complete the program and provide meaningful feedback on each course.

One participant said: "There are no words to express the transformation happening within me... I have never participated in higher education courses that actually build my capacity spiritually and intellectually to this degree and cannot wait to take more courses in the future!"

Tips for Sustainable Living

by Christine Muller

close up screenshot from Baha'i International Community website featuring words One Planet and One Habitation

Support the Baha’i International Community

Representatives from the Baha’i International Community (BIC) participated at COP28, the international climate change conference held in Dubai early December 2023. At the next IEF webinar on Reflections on COP28 and Ideas for Moving Forward, you will have the opportunity to listen to Baha’1s who attended the COP in person, and ask them questions. It will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 1pm EST, 7pm CET. For more information and to register, visit this IEF Zoom registration page (tinyurl.com/IEF-COP28).

January and February Courses

Fees for the extension courses below

range from US$50 to US$110.

Fees and Tuition Support

Fostering a Baha'i Identity in Families

Jan. 10 - Mar. 5

Writing Creative Content for the Campaign #OurStoryIsOne

Jan. 10 - Feb. 27

Flyer for the course about the OurStoryIsOne Campaign which starts in January

Baha'i Perspectives on Agriculture and Food

Jan. 24 - Mar. 12

Flyer featuring an aerial photo of a section of farmland with crops sown in straight rows

Interfaith Dialogue and Collaboration

Feb. 14 - Apr. 2

Flyer for Interfaith Dialogue couse featuring a wheel in shades of brown and earth tones displaying a variety of religious symbols.

Anti-Black Racism in the U.S. and Building a Unified Society

Feb. 21 - Apr. 23

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The Wilmette Institute eNewsletter

Wilmette Institute's eNewsletter is published monthly by the Wilmette Institute, which offers quality online courses on the Baha'i Faith. Wilmette Institute is committed to engaging a broad and diverse international community of learners in the deep study of the Faith and fostering a love for the study of the Faith. Wilmette Institute was established in January 1995 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.

Information from the eNewsletter may be copied or reproduced, provided the following credit is given: "Reprinted from the eNewsletter of Wilmette Institute," followed by the issue's date. Recipients are encouraged to forward the eNewsletter to friends. Questions? email learn@wilmetteinstitute.org.

Editor

Nicola Daniels

Production

Nicola Daniels

Hasti Khoshnammanesh

Contributors

David Bellamy

Winnona Merritt

Christine Muller

Liz Smith

Wilmette Institute, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL, 60201 USA

Phone 1.877.WILMETTE (1.877.945.6388)

Email: learn@wilmetteinstitute.org

Website: https://wilmetteinstitute.org