WHAT: CAIR Oklahoma 1st Annual Solidarity and Peace Rally
WHEN: Saturday September 7th, 2013 from 10:00 AM to Noon
SPEAKERS: Nathaniel Batchelder, Oklahoma Peace House | Adam Soltani, CAIR Oklahoma | Dr. Mark Davies, Oklahoma City University, and more…
LOCATION: 620 North Harvey, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
QUESTIONS: Contact Thomaira Babbit at 405-415-6851 or tbabbit@cair.com

This rally is a reminder, we, as Oklahomans and residents of this great country, will not denigrate our principles of freedom and justice, but will show compassion and respect towards all. We will not be filled with bitterness or hate for those who disagree with us, but will reach out for peace with open arms and knowing hearts. We will not let the actions of so few, represent the many.

SPEAKERS

Nathaniel Batchelder: Director of Oklahoma Peace House

Nathaniel Batchelder was born to English teacher parents who provided a stimulating household where reading and thoughtful pursuits were encouraged.

Batch spent his high school year as an AFS exchange student, living with a family in Germany, going to a German high school. After two years at Williams College, he enlisted in the US Army to be trained as a surgical technician. He served three years in Army hospitals, including 14 months in Vietnam (’68/’69). He says, “As a surgical technician, I never fired a weapon in Vietnam, and nobody ever shot at me, but we did surgery every day on wounded American, South Vietnamese, North Vietnamese, soldiers and civilians. That’s where I became a peace activist.”

Batch held jobs in Public Education and Publicity for the Omniplex Science Museum and Oklahoma City Zoo, before becoming, in 1985, a volunteer with the Sisters of Benedict at the Benedictine Peace House.

There, Batch found his calling, working full-time for justice and peace. In 1990, the Sisters of Benedict elected to devote full time to building their Benedictine Monastery and Retreat Center in Piedmont, OK, so Batch became the full-time Director at the Peace House, a position he still holds today.

Mark Davies: Dean of the Petree College of Arts & Sciences, Oklahoma City University

Dr. Davies is dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences and Wimberly Professor of Social Ethics at Oklahoma City University. Previously, Dr. Davies was dean of the Wimberly School of Religion at Oklahoma City University and Founding Director of the Vivian Wimberly Center for Ethics and Servant Leadership. Prior to becoming dean of the Wimberly School of Religion in 2002, Dr. Davies was associate dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma City University and chair of the department of philosophy. Dr. Davies has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics, and he is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters, Rae and Sophia.

Sache Primeaux-Shaw: Vice-President of the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater OKC

Sache Primeaux-Shaw is currently the Vice President of the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater OKC, Executive Vice Chair of the Minority Caucus for the Young Democrats of America and mentor recruiter for STAAR Foundation, a faith-based organization geared towards empowering the community. She is a former president of the Oklahoma State Conference Youth and College Division and the President of the University of Central Oklahoma chapter. She is the former Vice President of the College Democrats of Oklahoma where she hosted many voter education forums and registration drives. She was an avid volunteer for the YWCA Reading to End Racism program and a former volunteer for the Ralph Ellison Library. An enrolled member of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma, she is also of African American and Seminole descent. She received her Masters in Public Administration at the University of Central Oklahoma and holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and History from Oklahoma City University. She has a deep passion for community, civic engagement, civil rights and social justice.

Scott Hamilton: Executive Director of the Cimarron Alliance

Scott J. Hamilton is a native Oklahoman who spent most of his career in New York City. Prior to becoming the first executive director of Cimarron Alliance in December of 2009, Scott carved a wide path in social justice work in the nonprofit sector. He has lectured widely on the unique challenges facing LGBT elders and has advocated on behalf of persons living with HIV and AIDS in New York, Haiti, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa, inner-city children, persons in recovery, and the broad lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. His depth of experience coupled with a strong passion for social justice has helped propel Cimarron Alliance into an exciting new era for the organization.

Adam Soltani: Executive Director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations

Adam Soltani is a graduate from the University of Central Oklahoma, where his studies focused on sociology and the development of an American Muslim identity. He has served the Muslim community in various capacities as a professional including promoting and managing American Muslim artists, serving as an assistant director for outreach at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, coordinating youth development programs at the Islamic Society of Edmond, and being one of the founding members of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Prior to joining CAIR-Oklahoma as the Executive Director, Adam worked as a social services specialist with the state of Oklahoma providing aide to underprivileged families. Adam relocated to Oklahoma from Kansas fifteen years ago, and he currently resides in Oklahoma City with his wife and son, Zane.

Soltani is currently serving as the chair of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches’ Religions United Committee.