Revisiting the Middle Passage Pilgrimage: Film Screening and Panel Discussion with Filmmaker and “Pilgrims”

Hosted by Buddhist Peace Fellowship and East Bay Meditation CenterSATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2014. 7 - 9:30 PMEast Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th St., Oakland, CA 94612Join us for the west coast premiere of Middle Passage Pilgrimage, followed by a panel of “pilgrims”—including filmmaker, Melinda Holm from New York; Kazu Haga, now a teacher at EBMC; and Brother Gilberto Perez who grew up in the Bronx and has, since the pilgrimage, become a monk.In 1998 Buddhist nun Sister Clare Carter and African American arts activist Ingrid Askew put out the call. 60 people from diverse backgrounds, ages, occupations and faiths answered, ready to commit a year of their lives to examine the legacy of slavery by walking the old slave trade routes back to Africa. Thousands more joined to walk or help along the way. “We’ve been waiting a long time for something like this,” many said.PanelistsFilmmaker Melinda Holm grew up in Europe, Africa and Mexico and lived in Selma, Alabama in the early 2000s. Her current project is to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the Voting Right Act in 2015. "There are people everywhere working to create a bridge with others."Before becoming a monk, Brother Gilberto Perez grew up in the Bronx and studied at SF State in the late ‘60s, joining in the political and spiritual ferment of the times—from Black Panthers' meetings to a seminar with Alan Watts. Of Afro-Cuban descent, he currently divides his time between Mexico and the Nipponzan Myohoji temple in Bainbridge Island, Washington.Kazu Haga’s introduction to social justice came at 17, when he participated in the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage, a walking journey to retrace the slave trade. He is a trainer in Kingian Nonviolence, Alternatives to Violence and The Work that Reconnects. He is the Founder & Coordinator of the East Point Peace Academy, co-founder of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), and a community teacher at East Bay Meditation Center.RegistrationSpace is limited & registration is required. Register at http://eastbaymeditation.org/event/377/revisitingmiddle-passage-pilgrimage or email admin@eastbaymeditation.org for registration information.DanaThe teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.Fragrance-Free PolicyIn order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.EBMC is wheelchair accessible