Chicago Staff

Executive Director
Rev Dirk Ficca

Program Director
Ms Grove Harris

Grove Harris is a pragmatic visionary and social justice educator with expertise in religious diversity in the United States. Grove worked for the Pluralism Project, based at Harvard, from 1994 to 2007, most recently serving as Managing Director. For all these reasons, Grove is well known to the interreligious movement, and was a participant at the 1999 Parliament in Cape Town and 2004 Parliament in Barcelona. She will be the staff leader for soliciting and selecting up to 500 programs for the Melbourne event. Grove has written on Paganism, Pagan involvement in the interreligious movement, and healing in feminist Wicca. She currently lives in Cambridge, where she is an appointed Peace Commissioner. Contact Grove Harris.

 

Deputy Executive Director & Partner Cities Director
Ms Zabrina Santiago

Zabrina Santiago brings over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, and relationship management to the Council. Previously, Zabrina served as Director of Client Services for the international firm of Morningstar Investment Services, Inc. Zabrina has been involved in the work of leading international organizations including UN Alliance of Civilizations, United Nations-USA, and the Council on Foreign Relations Religions and Foreign Policy Initiative. A longstanding leader in campaigns promoting social justice through the Presbyterian Church (USA), Zabrina combines religious commitment with social activism. Zabrina is recognized for her work in international community development, having guided religious and civic leaders in over 25 cities worldwide who have implemented programs focused on reducing religious, social and economic conflict. Zabrina holds a Masters in Theology from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Contact Zabrina Santiago.
 

Outreach Director and Development Associate
Ms Alisa Roadcup

 

Office Manager & Database Manager
Ms Sushmita Manatt

 

Partner Cities Associate
Ms Ruth Broyde Sharone

Honored internationally for her interfaith activism, Ruth Broyde Sharone is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, and popular public speaker.  She travels frequently to college campuses to lead interfaith programs and screen her award-winning film God and Allah Need to Talk. 

In 1993, together with a black minister, she co-founded the Festival of Freedom, a world movement to create bridges for friendship and peace. People of diverse religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds were brought together on annual peace pilgrimages to share their faith stories and re-trace the steps of the Exodus, from Cairo thru the Sinai to Jerusalem.

Ruth now serves as a Partner Cities Associate for the Parliament of the World's Religions and is Co-Chair of the Southern California Committee for the Parliament (SCCPWR) in Los Angeles.  She is also Co-Director, with Jerusalem peacemaker Eliyahu McLean, of the Rodef Shalom School for Peace which teaches peace building skills to clergy and lay people.  Her new book, Minefields and Miracles: Adventures In Interfaith will be published in 2009.  Contact Ruth Broyde Sharone.

Partner Cities Associate
Mr Timothy Manatt

 

Executive Associate
Amelia Perkins

Outreach Coordinator
Ms Dena Fokas

Dena Fokas has studied and worked in areas of Christian Orthodoxy, international studies and conflict resolution. Fluent in Greek and English, she received a Masters in Theological Research from the University of Durham in the U.K. and a Masters in Orthodox Theology from St. Vladimir Theological Seminary in New York. Dena previously worked for the Fund for Theological Education where she coordinated and administered the fellowship programs. Contact Dena Fokas.

 

Program Associate
Ms Precious Rasheeda Muhammad

Precious Rasheeda Muhammad—author, lecturer, researcher, poetess and publisher—is not only nationally known for her ability to educate and inspire audiences of diverse faiths and backgrounds about America’s unique Islamic heritage, but also for her ability to empower them with the tools to build community through a deeper understanding of history.

Precious holds a B.A. in Religion from The University of Iowa and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. She brings more than a decade of experience and commitment to interfaith work including chaplaincy at a 770-bed hospital and in person dialogue with seminarian inmates at Sing Sing prison.

Precious dedicates her Council work to the memory of Imam W.D. Mohammed, an internationally recognized champion of peace among the religions. Contact Precious Rasheeda Muhammad

 

Website Development Manager
Mr Matthew Black

Matt Black is committed to harnessing the power of the internet to bring people together. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Penn State University and an MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary. He has worked for years as a web developer for organizations in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, currently focussing his work in both the interreligious movement and peacemaking. He is also a singer/songwriter and lives in an intentional community in Chicago. Contact Matt Black

 

Web Developer
Mr Muhammad Khurshid

Muhammad Khurshid is President of Sigmen Group Inc. and works as a consultant for website development. He has years of experience in providing successful web development and e commerce software development services and maintenance of sophisticated internet applications for different industries including non profit organizations. Muhammad played a key role in designing and expanding our website for the 2009 Parliament event. Contact Muhammad Khurshid

 

Volunteer Coordinator
Ms Connie Sulkin

Connie Sulkin was a preschool teacher and director for over thirty years. She then developed preschool programs at The Field Museum and was an early childhood consultant for the Chicago Public Schools. During much of this time she volunteered for the Parliament and attended many Parliament activities at the 1993, 1999 and 2004 meetings in Chicago, Cape Town, and Barcelona. Contact Connie Sulkin.

 

Melbourne Staff

Ms Janetta Stones
Local Director

In conjunction with the Melbourne Visitors + Convention Bureau, Ms. Janetta Stones was instrumental in Melbourne being selected to host the Parliament of the World’s Religions 2009. Prior to moving ‘camps’ to take up the position of Local Director in 2007, Janetta held senior management positions within Qantas and United Airlines. Contact Janetta Stones.

Mr Petr Svoboda
Program Associate

Mr. Petr Svoboda is the Program Associate for the Melbourne office of the Parliament of World ’s Religions 2009. Petr studied International Development at Monash University where he completed BA Honours and MA and did research on community development and religion in India and Thailand. In 2007 he worked in Thailand for the organizing team of the 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness, and currently he is the secretary of Buddhist Council of Victoria. Contact Petr Svoboda.

 

Ms Alex Butler
Community Organiser – Leader

Ms. Alex Butler is Team Leader of the Community Organisers for the Melbourne Parliament. Alex is a social researcher, with postgraduate qualifications in sociology and anthropology. Over the past 30 years, she has been involved in working with ethnic communities in a number of areas, including broadcasting, the performing arts, and aged care. Alex is an active member of the Buddhist community, and has been involved in the preparations for several of the Dalai Lama’s visits to Australia. Contact Alex Butler.

 

Ms Helen Heath
Community Organiser

Ms. Helen Heath is a Community Organiser with the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia. She is actively involved with, and currently serves as President of the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong, the first Interfaith Network in Australia. A graduate of the Churches of Christ Theological College, Helen enjoys exploring spirituality through “Rhubarb” her silent clown character. Contact Helen Heath.

 

Mr Mikael Smith
Indigenous Community Organiser

Mr. Mikael Simpson Smith, a Kamilaroi man, is the Indigenous Community Organiser with the Melbourne Parliament of the World’s Religions, Co-Chairperson of Reconciliation Victoria and the Managing Director of Australian Aboriginal Management Solutions. Mikael provides specialized Aboriginal services aiming to modernize Aboriginal culture retaining old structures, change perceptions of Aboriginal culture in the mind of mainstream citizens and raise the profile of traditional people to take their rightful position in society. Contact Mikael Smith.

 

Ms Gemma McDonald
Youth Community Organiser

Ms. Gemma McDonald is the Community Organiser for Youth for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. She has worked as a performer and choreographer for Artworks where her work with youth also began. With a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Post-Graduate studies in Event Management under her wing, Gemma is now focused on the organisational work behind events and currently serves on the National Bahá’í Youth Conference Board. Contact Gemma McDonald.

 

Ms Fran Woodruff
Volunteer Coordinator

"Working as a volunteer at the Barcelona Parliament changed my life. It re kindled my hope in humanity and strengthened my belief in what is possible for us as human beings and for the changes we can make towards a more peaceful and just world" Contact Fran Woodruff

Ms Chris Hooper
Volunteer & Homestay Coordinator
Indigenous Community Organiser Assistant

Chris Hooper has been working part-time with PWR since November 2008. She has her own event management company, producing and promoting programs and events in personal development, health, spirituality, quantum physics, ancient and indigenous wisdom, sacred sound, etc., since the early 1970's. Chris organises very large international and national events, as well as events in a more intimate setting.Contact Chris Hooper

Ms Emma Bridgland
Administration Coordinator

Ms Emma Bridgland is the Administration Coordinator for the Parliament of World Religions (PWR) - Melbourne office. A graduate of Events Management, Emma brings an invaluable knowledge and background of events to the PWR team. She recently worked on Days in the Diocese – Melbourne's participation in the 23rd World Youth Day celebrations, where Australia hosted more than 200,000 young people from around the globe. Contact Emma Bridgland