People

Adam Davis from the Project on Civic Reflection (PCR) speaks about the importance of asking questions and allowing ourselves to feel unsettled in order to lead full and meaningful lives. Since 2003, Adam has been training facilitators, leading discussions, and composing materials for PCR. He is the editor of Hearing the Call across Traditions and coeditor, with Elizabeth Lynn, of The Civically Engaged Reader and Talking Service: Readings for Civic Reflection . In addition to his work with PCS, Adam is the founder and lead trainer of Justice TalkingMeaning of Service, a reading & discussion series for AmeriCorps and other service organizations around the US, and he is the board chair and former director of Camp of Dreams, a nonprofit organization providing yearround programming for underserved young people in Chicago. Hes also a philosophy & literature instructor in The Odyssey Project. (Chicago, Illinois) Interview by Erin Williams Camera by Amy Cargill Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Erin Williams

Adam McKay, comedian, director and writer talks about tridents, allowing the universe to invent itself, and losing yourself to laughter.  Adam McKay was head writer at Saturday Night Live in the late 90s and is also the cofounder of the comedy website Funny or Die, which he launched with comedic actor Will Ferrell.  Working with Ferrell, Adam also directed the films Anchorman , Talladega Nights , and The Other Guys. (Los Angeles, California) Interview by Danny Alpert Camera by Jordan Dawes Editing by Rebecca Parish Produced by Amy Cargill & Danny Alpert

Author Allan Gurganus talks about what it takes to be an artist.  Allan is American novelist, short story writer, and essayist.  His works include  include White People, Plays Well With Others , and The Practical Heart . His debut novel,  Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All , was on the New York Times bestseller list for eight months. It has also been adapted for  Broadway and television, including a CBS adaptation of the work, starring Donald Sutherland and Diane Lane, that won four Emmy Awards. Allans short fiction work has been featured in The New Yorker, Harper Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Paris Review. Allan currently lives in North Carolina. Interview & Camera by Ian Kibbe Editing by Maren Wickwire Produced by Ian Kibbe

Amaka Unaka, originally from Southern California, is a School Administrator at the KIPP Ascend Charter School in Chicago, Illinois.  In her Whats Your Calling? interview, Amaka talks about building up a sense of selfworth with the young people she works with so that they head to college and believe in themselves and their aspirations. KIPP is a national network of free, openenrollment, collegepreparatory public schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. Among many other things, Amaka enforces KIPPs school behavior expectations, coordinates social and emotional services for students, collaborates with teachers regarding classroom management, and creates partnerships with community organizations. Interview by Rachel Pikelny Camera by Rachel Pikelny & Ian Kibbe Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Rachel Pikelny Extra Thanks to Adam Davis of the Project on Civic Reflection

Amy Carol Wolff is a nonprofit marketing professional and blogger who, through her world travels and experience, has found that this life is completely about loving others well and being committed to lifting others up.

In January 2010, the Westboro Baptist Church planned an antisemitic protest of the Hillel at Stanford.  Led by Interfaith Youth Core Fellows Anand and Ansaf, the Stanford University student group F.A.I.T.H (Faiths Acting in Togetherness and Hope), quickly organized a counter protest bringing together different faiths and organizations from all across campus.  (Palo Alto, California) Interviews & Camera by Danielle Beverly Editing by Suree Towfighnia

Andy Kastner and Avi Rosenfeld, travel to upstate New York to learn shechita, the ritual slaughter of animals, also known as Kosher ritual slaughter. (New Rochelle, New York) Directed by Yoni Brook Editing by Matt Lauterbach Executive Produced by Danny Alpert

Asad Jafri, aka DJ ManoWax, describes his decision to postpone school with just one semester left in order to to follow his passion.  Asad is the Director of Arts and Culture for the InnerCity Muslim Action Network. As a multidisciplinary artist, Asad has created, curated, and presented original productions across many genres of music, theater, visual art, and dance. His fusion of art and social change has been recognized both nationally and internationally, especially in the Hip Hop Community. He holds a position on the National Office of the Hip Hop Congress and is a member of the Universal Zulu Nation. Check out stories about Asad and his work in The Chicago Reporter and on Chicago Public Radio (Chicago, Illinois) Interview by Erin Williams Camera by Ian Kibbe Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Erin Williams

Aura Brickler talks about the challenge of serving others and the difficulty of knowing whether or not youre actually making a difference. Aura is a social worker as well as the CoFounder of ProjectFOCUS, a grassroots initiative of artists, writers, activists, young professionals, and students bound by a common purpose: to educate, inspire, and empower local communities in Southwestern Uganda and the United States. (Chicago, Illinois) Interview by Erin Williams Camera by Ian Kibbe Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Erin Williams

When Benjamin Arevalos first came to the United States from Mexico as a young adult, he came primarily to earn money. Over a decade later, he follows a much different calling as he enters his final year of seminary study for the Catholic priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. As he prepares to serve a changing, immigrant Church, he encounters obstacles and weighs personal sacrifices. Directed by Maggie Bowman Edited by Matt Lauterbach Executive Produced by Danny Alpert

Beth Kanter is the author of Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media, one of the longest running and most popular blogs for nonprofits.  She coauthored the book titled The Networked Nonprofit with Allison Fine, published by J Wiley in 2010, which received Honorable Mention for the Terry McAdams Award.  Beth has over 30 years working in the nonprofit sector in technology, training, capacity building, evaluation, fundraising, and marketing. Beth is a cofounder and partner of Zoetica, a company that serves nonprofits and socially conscious companies with toptier, online marketing services. 

Bilal attends the I.S.N.A. (Islamic Society of North America) Annual Conference to connect with other Muslim leaders. Directed by Musa Syeed Edited by Susanne Suffredin Executive Produced by Danny Alpert

Bilal prays with fellow Muslims, speaks to them about honoring the memory of those have come before, and shares his story of meeting WD Mohammed. Web exclusive content from The Calling. Directed by Musa Syeed Editing by Susanne Suffredin Executive Produced by Danny Alpert

Bill Bentley is a music industry executive. In his interview, Bill talks about helping artists present their work, giving recognition to music that may otherwise be lost, and the importance of hope. Early in his career, Bill developed typesetting skills and used them to enter a position in 1974 as the music editor at the Austin Sun he later became the music editor at the L.A. Weekly. In the record industry, he has worked with Slash Records and Warner Bros. Records and musicians such as Green Day, Lou Reed, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., The Barenaked Ladies and Wilco, among others. Bill is notable for using his skills to assist artists whose careers have been impeded or who are otherwise in distress. Bill is the CEO of Sonic Boomers Inc. and the personal public relations representative of Neil Young. He remains a longtime contributor of music reviews and article to the Austin Chronicle. (Los Angeles, California) Interview by Danny Alpert Camera by Jordan Dawes Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Amy Cargill

Brad Roberts is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folkrock band Crash Test Dummies. In this Whats Your Calling? interview, Brad talks about the luck of being in a band at the height of the music industry, the hard work necessary to endure in music in the age of filesharing, and being in love with what he does. Interview & Camera by Thomas Peyton Editing by Neco Turkienicz Produced by Erin Williams & Rachel Pikelny

Britt Bravo is a blogger, podcaster, and social media coach who believes using social media should be fun. Shes also a creative career consultant who loves to help people find and express their calling. She loves to collage, bake cupcakes, write letters, interview big visionaries, and bring groups of people together.  You can learn more about her at www.brittbravo.com, and on her blog, her podcast, Twitter, and Facebook.

Brother Innocent Smith, O.P. is a Dominican friar at The Priory of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC. In this interview, Brother Innocent talks about the life of a Dominican friar, giving up stability, gaining harmony, Gregorian chants, and Irish folk music. (Washington, DC) Interview & Camera by Erin Williams Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Rachel Pikelny

Toy inventor Bruce Lund of Lund and Company Invention shares his thoughts on work, toys, the importance of play and making marvelous things. (River Forest, Illinois) Interview by Erin Williams Camera by Ian Kibbe Editing by Matt Lauterbach Produced by Ian Kibbe

Cathryn Wellner began her professional career as a French teacher and school librarian, in Idaho, Washington, and New York. Then she traveled ten years as a storyteller, mostly in the U.S. but also in Europe, the UK, and Canada. By that time she had followed her heart to Canada, where she spent thirteen years as an organic farmer, smallscale rancher, and, when she realized community organizing was really about stories, a community developer. After serving as the first Project Coordinator for HEAL (Healthy Eating and Active Living in Northern British Columbia), she moved to Oakland, California to be Storytelling Director for Stagebridge (America’s oldest senior theatre troupe). She returned to BC to take on the post of Food & Health Manager for Interior Health. Now she lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley and focuses full time on her writing, mostly for three blogs: Catching Courage, Story Route, and Crossroads.

Chris Stedman talks about becoming a Christian, leaving the faith, and his current efforts as  a secular humanist working to foster positive and productive dialogue between faith communities and the nonreligious. Chris is the Interfaith and Community Service Fellow for the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard  and the Managing Director of State of Formation. He is also the founder and author of NonProphet Status and a columnist for The Huffington Post Religion, where his work is among the most commented upon in the sites history. Chris is also the youngest member of The Washington Post’s On Faith panel. Chris serves on the Leadership Team of the Common Ground Campaign, and he previously worked with Interfaith Youth Core. Chris is writing a book on his work and speaks regularly as a member of the Secular Student Alliance Speakers Bureau. (Cambridge, Massachusetts) Interview & Camera by Erin Williams Editing by Neco Turkienicz Produced by Erin Williams