Ben Kohler - Center for Victims of Torture
In its twenty-six years, The Center for Victims of Torture had developed into a world leader for the healing of torture victims and for bringing the voices of survivors into initiatives to end the practice of torture. This session will focus on the treatment and stories of healing, its New Tactics in Human Rights project and its role in the on-going National Campaign to Ban Torture
Ben Kohler, originally from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, obtained a B.A. and M.A. degrees in Education. He also obtained an M.A. degree in Counseling from the University of North Dakota, licensure in Psychology and continued with additional graduate studies at the University of Minnesota. His career life at White Bear Lake Public schools spanned 29 years, as a teacher, counselor and clinical psychologist; he also served with the Christian Brothers.
Following retirement he began volunteering with the Center for Victims of Torture and has been active in the various roles. He continues to volunteer with organizations to end homelessness. Ben enjoys reading and outdoor recreation. He has self-published a chapbook, “Seeds Float” and contributed to the writing group’s recent chapbook “Peace Begins.” He lives in Roseville with his wife Lorrie, and they occasionally visit their daughter in Washington, D. C.
Chante Wolf – Vets for Peace; Sexual violence in the military.
Chante Wolf spent 12 years in the U.S. Air Force from 1980 to 1992. Her deployments were to Turkey for war exercises in 1987 and to the Persian Gulf War in 1991. She had training as an Air Traffic Controller and then Top Secret Tele Communications. She was stationed for one year at McChord, Washington; 7 years at Zaragoza, Spain; three years at Williams AFB, AZ and other time spent in Basic Training, specialty training and NCO training sessions.
Since leaving the military, Chante received an A.A. Degree in Communications, B.S. Degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science: Anthropology and Women's Studies. She has spoken in 3 states, TV, radio, high schools, colleges, universities, churches and panel discussions about her story, militarism, war and women in the military.
She has been the basis for 3 plays, has her story published in Japan and 2 other local books including her own through the Veterans Book Project. She now advocates for women veterans and safe healing space through FreedomFarm Therapeutic Horse program, Veterans in the Arts, Combat Paper Project and is hoping to continue writing and healing her own journey home.
Kay Anderson – Sharing Secrets of Faith and Hope in Haiti
Kay Anderson has been a Registered Nurse for 22 years, working in critical care units for children and adults, including 10 years on Mayo’s Pediatric air medical transport team. Her initial visit to Haiti was in 2001 as part of a cardiac surgical team in the north, outside of Cap Haitian. She has since made 5 subsequent medical missions to the country to help with surgeries, organize hospital staff education, and with the last 2 visits, prioritize post-earthquake assistance near Port au Prince.
Kay does staff development for Mayo in her field of congenital cardiac defects and has spoken publicly on these trips to Haiti, where, in her words, her personal priorities have shifted, thanks to this opportunity. Kay states, “what inspires me most is their spirituality and level of faith – and in what they gain collectively as a people of Haiti by celebrating God’s love for them. And honestly it’s what continues to draw me there most.” This breakout session will include pictures, stories and lessons WE can learn by celebrating God’s love together in Haiti.
Kay has lived in Rochester since 1994. She and her partner of 11 years are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
Steve Clemens – Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Steve was a conscientious objector in 1968 and began his political activism against the Vietnam War in 1969. He burned his Draft Card in 1971. During a year of weekly Bible study and reflection with Phil Berrigan and Liz Macalister, he embraced nonviolent direct action. From 1975 to 1990, Steve was Resident Partner at Koinonia Partners, an intentional Christian community in Georgia. A member of the Pantex 6 (1981), The White Train 5 (1985), the SOAW 37 (2005), and several dozen other nonviolent actions for peace and justice, Steve remains active on a weekly basis with AlliantACTION. He was a member of the Iraq Peace Team in Baghdad in Dec. 2002 and spoke at more than 60 events before the war began.
Married 33 years, he and Christine have two grown sons; they are members of the Community of St. Martin, an ecumenical faith community in Minneapolis committed to nonviolence, social justice, and inclusiveness. Steve also serves on the boards of Pax Christi Twin Cities and The Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project.
He traveled to Afghanistan in March to plant trees with Afghan youth as a symbolic act of peacemaking. He will show pictures and report about his journey.
Jim Hubley – 50th Anniversary of Freedom Riders
This past March Jim attended the 6th Annual Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement Conference in Jackson, MS. Much of this year’s conference was devoted to 50th anniversary for the Freedom Riders. He met many of them, heard their stories, and after gaining personally from them, would like to show excerpts from the new (5/11) DVD by Stanley Nelson.
James A. Hubley is a native of Fairmont, Minnesota. He is a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, a Vietnam Veteran, and a published poet. Hubley earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato, a Masters Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. He has been trained as a nonviolence educator by Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service in Oakland, California, and in Earth Spirituality at the Sofia Center, also in Oakland. Hubley is the Social Concerns representative on the Diocesan Pastoral Council for the New Ulm Diocese. He currently teaches English as an adjunct at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall. He married to Barb and has three grown children, Dan, Adam, and Jessie.
Eve and Adam Judy – Mission 21: A Minnesota perspective of Human Trafficking
Adam and Eve Judy have worked with survivors of sexual abuse for the past 5 years. Mission 21 is an anti-trafficking organization based in SE MN, in its 2nd year of advocacy work. They provide resource restoration services to child victims of human trafficking. Their main goal is to assist victims of sexual exploitation so that they will not only be restored mentally and spiritually but also re-enter society as survivors. In March, Adam and Eve attended a "Train the Trainer" workshop hosted by the Rochester Franciscan Sisters at Assisi Heights. Since then they have led workshops and seminars, raising awareness of sex trafficking. Mission 21 believes the success of the human trafficking industry rests heavily on the shoulders of ignorance and apathy. They believe that this form of modern day slavery can be eradicated through education, faith and action. This workshop will center on sex trafficking facts, including Minnesota connections; those affected; and what WE can do to stop it.
Adam and Eve were married 10 years ago in the Garden of Eden at Galesville, WI. They enjoy music, art, fellowship, and their two boxer/lab dogs. They have lived in Rochester for the past 8 years.