Confluence Rising has a long history of bringing our faith communities together to build bridges and foster dialogue. At this free event, our Executive Director Reena Hajat Carroll will be in conversation with Pastor Wayne Chaney from Antioch Christian Church, Rabbi Scott Fox from Temple Israel, Dr. Rohit Passi and Saima Husain about the role faith plays in harm and conflict from an interpersonal and global perspective. At the event, we'll share Confluence Rising's new Interfaith Literacy Guide as a resource for cultivating relationships across faiths.
Light dinner will be served.
FREE! Space is limited; RSVP by March 19 at https://forms.gle/NuJL4jKqzkSByWMy8
Questions? Contact Jessy Needham; jneedham@ConfluenceRising.org
About our panelists:
Pastor Wayne Chaney: Pastor Wayne Chaney, Jr., is the prototypical contemporary spiritual leader. His relevant teaching style and ability to cultivate spirited worship environments aids in unifying people from diverse cultural, ethnic, and generational backgrounds. Born into a three generation long spiritual lineage, he continues the legacy left by his grandfather, Joe Chaney, Jr., through his work as pastor of Antioch Church of Long Beach. However, Pastor Wayne’s ministry extends beyond the congregation. His determination to influence culture, with biblical wisdom, is evident in his work both inside and outside of the local church context. Pastor Wayne is the visionary behind the Long Beach Gospel Fest, the city’s premier gospel experience. This event brings over 20,000 people from all walks of life together for a day of inspiration. He is also the past president of the Long Beach Ministers Alliance, and continues to serve as a mentor and friend to many leaders across the region and globe.
Rabbi Scott Fox: Rabbi Scott Fox has served as the head rabbi at Temple Israel in Long Beach since 2020. Before joining Temple Israel, Rabbi Fox served as Associate Rabbi at the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and as the Reform Campus Rabbi at Cornell University. An innovator, community organizer, and practiced leader, Rabbi Fox worked in partnership with congregants, students and community leaders to bring new initiatives and make positive social change with these two large and historied communities. Born and raised in San Diego, Rabbi Fox graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BA in Modern Jewish Fiction with Highest Honors. He received his ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Rabbi Fox is also a trained Jazz guitarist, he studied with John Pisano in Los Angeles.When Rabbi Fox is not creating new and exciting initiatives with members of the community, he can be seen frequenting guitar stores and jazz jams. He loves to meditate, spend time by the ocean, and go on hikes in and around Long Beach with his partner Dori and their children.
Saima Husain (Muslim community): Saima Husain has over 20 years of experience in social justice movements in a variety of capacities from direct services, organizing, and facilitation to research, writing, and fundraising. Her work has primarily been in the intersecting areas of gender, sexuality, race, class, and immigration. Saima has served as the co-Director of generative somatics, a national organization on the cutting edge of trauma healing and embodied leadership and the Deputy Director at South Asian Network (SAN), a progressive, community-rooted service and advocacy organization. Saima has a B.S from Union College (NY) in Psychology and Sociology and a Ph.D in Human Rights from the School of Human Rights Research, Utrecht University, the Netherlands. She is also a teacher trained with generative somatics (gs). Saima was born in Karachi, Pakistan and raised in four countries. She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. Saima is a mama to an energetic and creative school kid. Together they find joy and resilience in the ocean waters, impromptu living room dance parties, and discussing the expansive night sky.
Dr. Rohit Passi (Hindu community): Dr. Passi is a dedicated healthcare leader, board-certified neonatologist, and passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in medicine. As the Physician Director for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity and Chief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Kaiser Permanente South Bay, he is at the forefront of advancing health equity within complex healthcare systems. He also serves on the Regional EID Advisory Council for Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Co-Chairs the CPQCC Ten Point Nine Workgroup, driving statewide perinatal and neonatal quality improvements. An Assistant Professor at the Bernard J. Tyson Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, Dr. Passi’s work centers on maternal and child health equity, systemic change, and inclusive clinical cultures. Beyond his professional roles, he is deeply committed to community justice. He has championed DEI initiatives for local school districts, organized international health camps, and actively advocates for LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse inclusion within local faith communities.