King In Conversation: The Spiritualities of Non-Violence - An Interfaith Dinner & Discussion - Events Calendar

King In Conversation: The Spiritualities of Non-Violence - An Interfaith Dinner & Discussion

Thursday, January 22, 2026
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Health Campus
Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students

Picture of MLK with Mahatma Gandhi, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

This interfaith table-talk-style event is a part of GVSU's Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week.

Together, we will explore the spiritual frameworks for nonviolent resistance that influenced or were influenced by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout the event, we will see the threads shared among figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

We call this a "Table Talk" style event, as it favors interpersonal connection and storytelling alongside the wisdom provided by our panelists. The evening will toggle between a moderated panel discussion, Q&A, and small-group table discussions over a shared meal here at our downtown Grand Rapids Health Campus.

Dinner will be provided. This event is free, but registration is required.

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Panel Moderator

Joe Jones, Founder, Hekima Group

Panelists

Carolyn White, Founding Facilitator, Lansing Area Mindfulness Community

Elliot Ratzman, Raoul Wallenberg Institute, University of Michigan

Gail Presbey, Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department, University of Detroit Mercy

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Location Information

Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences

Download parking map for the Health Campus

Contact Information

Kaufman Interfaith Institute

[email protected]

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This event was added to the calendar by Kyle Kooyers (kooyersk@gvsu.edu) on Thursday, December 11, 2025 and was last updated on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 9:52 a.m.

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