Women's Retreat 2012 Presenters
"Love Thyself"
A Message from our Keynote Speaker, Kristin Ritzau
Love Thyself- such a simple statement, such a hard way to live in today's societies. I am thrilled to be with the women of Interfaith Ministries to explore this idea for the annual retreat in February. It is my hope that by creating a safe space for women of all different backgrounds, cultures and faiths to come and be themselves that we can move towards healing together. First by healing ourselves and then our communities. Through different meditations and discussions, I will be facilitating ways of reconciling with our pasts in order to be present to what is happening now so that we can move with love into the future together. It promises to be a time of connecting to what is true and shedding the layers of false realities. By dialoguing about what has created division in our souls and facing the tension of the realities we all live in with grace, it is my hope to provide tools and resources, and my personal story, to begin the journey of moving us all towards a deepr understanding of what it means to love thyself.
Kristin Ritzau is a certified spiritual director and author of A Beautiful Mess: A Perfectionist's Journey Through Self-Care. The self-proclaimed Recovering Perfectionist studied leadership and spiritual formation in obtaining her Master's degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Since that time, Ritzau has become known for her Perfectionist Workshops and Retreats as well as her popular blog abeautifulmess.org. Working in higher education for past 6 years and recently becoming an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University, Ritzau continues to teach on Spiritual Formation, Identity development and Leadership in all different facets of life. She lives on her urban homestead outside of Los Angeles, with her husband growing over 100 pounds of produce this past year and raising seven chickens. Her passion revolves around people finding safety and belonging in all walks of life and discovering that whereever they are, they are truly loved.
Teresa Albright, A Roman Catholic, is the Director of Religious Education at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. She moved to Houston after completing her Masters in Theology at the Jesuit University, Boston College. Teresa has been active in various interfaith initiatives for the past 11 years. She currently sits on the Women's Committee at Interfaith Ministries. Teresa considers her true calling to be the building of mutual respect and understanding among the religions of the world; and she continues to be humbled by the faith and integrity of the "other" that she experiences during such interfaith encounters. Teresa is married with no children...yet.
Rev. Gena Davis serves as the Vicar at Grace Episcopal Church in Houston. She was ordained to the priesthood in January 2010. Before receiving her call to ordained ministry, Gena lived in Galveston, enjoying the outdoors and working for the University of Texas Medical Branch as a Human Resources Director. Throughout her career, she worked in various Human Resources management positions and was commissioned as a Spiritual Director with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Gena holds a Masters of Divinity, a Masters of Business Administration, and a Bachelors of Business Administration. She lives in Houston with her husband Gary, and her son, Cameron. During her free time, Gena enjoys yoga, swimming, beach time and reading.
Tina Dismukes, mother of four and grandmother of one, has a vibrant passion for creating lasting connection wherever she sees the potential for it. Whether it is in her professional life as a tech-savvy Information Technology Consultant for Houston PC Pro or as a gifted Spiritual Facilitator, she brings her passion for community building with her wherever she goes. Using technology and instinct in both her spiritual and professional pursuits, Tina draws together one stunning coming together of community after another. To share her passion for community building, Tina partnered with Andrea Longoria and created Texas Red Tent Experience, which is an organiztion that facilitates women's groups and women's retreats. The Texas Red Tent experience allows women to bond with other women, all while immersed in pillows and textiles of the red tent. For more information visit www.TexasRedTents.com.
Dr. Faith Foreman is a seasoned public health practitioner and academician. An expert in public and community health promotion, evaluation and planning, Faith has lead the design, implementation and evaluation of numerous health interventions at the local, state and federal level. Dr. Foreman leads a dynamic team of Health Educators, Wellness Professionals, Community Health Planners and Nutritionists. Under her leadership, the Health Department has been awarded over 2 million dollars in grant funding, built 12 sustainable Community Gardens at City of Houston Multi-Service Centers, and tobacco use, increasing physical activity and improving nutrition among Houstonians.
Raised and professionally trained here in the city of Houston, Faith is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Public Health and Texas Southern University. She also has a license to practice nursing in the State of Texas. Foreman has a special purpose and passion for eliminating health disparities among marginalized communities and strives to bring social justice and equity to the delivery of preventive health services. She is a woman of great faith and lives each day with an unwavering confidence that she can do all things through Christ Jesus.
Dr. Phyllis Gingiss is a Professor of Public Health Education at the University of Houston, where she's been on the faculty for many years. Her professional career has been dedicated to research and teaching to strengthen the abilities of individuals and communities to effectively meet the physical and mental health needs of our children and their families. Her research is widely recognized and applied both nationally and internationally. A past member of the Board and various committees at Congregation Brith Shalom, she also has been active in numerous community-wide projects involving volunteers and staff from many non-profit organizations and the Texas Medical Center. She is proud to serve on the Women's Committee of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. Phyllis has a delightful husband, as well as two children and five grandchildren who live in Los Angeles andNovi, Michigan.
Lauren Santerre is the Director of the Interfaith Relations at Interfaith Minitries for Greater Houston. She works to promote an appreciation of religious diversity among Houston residents. Her work includes coordinating one of the largest interfaith dinner dialogues in the nation, The Greater Houston Area Amazing Faiths Project. In addition, she serves as a central resource for faith communities, schools, and businesses with respect to religious education and dialogue. Lauren works in partnership with many excellent organizations in the city of Houston including The Rothko Chapel, The Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University, The Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and many others.
Lauren's interest in world religions began at a very young age, and as a result of her education and extensive travel she genuinely respects and admires the beauty inherent in the many faith traditions of the world. She earned her B.A. in Religion from The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO and completed her M.A. in Urban Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in May 2008. In addition, Lauren loves dancing, shopping, dark chocolate, and a good romantic comedy. Her other interests include fashion, organizational gadgets, environmental responsibility, affordable housing efforts, and global economics to name a few. She is blessed to have a loving family and a beautiful home here in houston.
Patricia Selmo is an ordained Interfaith Minister from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City, and a Medieval Astrologer and Life Coach in Houston. She is also in the Leadership Council of the Community of the Mystic Heart, an association promoting the inter-spiritual values taught by Wayne Teasdale and is on the Women's Board of Interfaith Ministries if Houston. A former aerospace engineer working on space shuttle guidance systems, Patricia now guides people to find their spiritual center and life purpose. She posts regularly at www.TheBlissfulSoul.com and www.CoachingWithTheStars.com
Claire Villarreal is from just west of Forth Worth. She graduated from Rice University in 1999 with a double major in Religous Studies and English. She spent several months in Thailand studying and practicing Theravada meditation in monastic and retreat settings. After returning to the US, Claire spent three years in secondary education before returning to Asia in 2003. During her second stay she spent nearly nine months in India, Nepal, and Tibet. When she returned to Fort Worth she wanted to share what she had learned with her community. Claire launched The Awareness Project in 2004 to offer meditation instruction in a variety of formats (including eight-week courses to introduce the basics of training the mind, in healing meditations for cancer patients, and awareness-enhancing meditations in a martial arts context).
In 2007, her persistent questions led her to enter graduate school, once again at Rice University. Claire achieved candidacy in Spring 2011, and has begun formulating her dissertation. Claire plans to trace the development of the shentong (gzhan stong) discourse from Dolpopa (14th century) to Jamgon Kongtruk (19th century), arguing for the deep impact of non-ordinary experiences on the major authors profiled.