Dr. K. Srikar Reddy, Consul General of India in San Francisco
has been a distinguished member of the Indian Foreign Service since 2001. Before his current appointment, he served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, managing India's commercial relations with Africa and the Middle East. He was the Chief Negotiator for the India-Mauritius CECPA and the India-UAE CEPA, which became effective in April 2021 and May 2022, respectively. Dr. Reddy's diplomatic assignments include postings in Germany, Switzerland, and as Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the WTO (2014–2017). He also served as Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2017–2020). At the Ministry of External Affairs, he managed relations with Pakistan and East and Southern Africa. As Regional Passport Officer in Hyderabad (2011–2014), he transformed passport services in Andhra Pradesh, earning the "Passport Seva Puraskar" in 2013. Born in Warangal, Telangana, Dr. Reddy holds an MBBS from Kakatiya Medical College and is proficient in Telugu, Hindi, English, and German.
Marianne Farina, CSC, Ph.D
Dr. Farina is a religious sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Notre Dame, Indiana. She serves as a professor of philosophy and theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. Sister Marianne is a member of the Core Doctoral Faculty at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and is also on the faculty of the GTU's Center for Islamic Studies. She teaches courses in moral theology, comparative theology and philosophy, and topics related to human rights, peacebuilding, and interreligious dialogue. In addition to her academic work, she leads workshops and training sessions on cross-cultural communication and dialogue, which have been held in Africa, Asia, and the United States.
Swami Chetanananda
Swami Chetanananda is a revered monk of the Ramakrishna Order, serving as the Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, USA. He joined the Order in 1960 after being initiated by Swami Shankarananda, a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Before moving to the U.S. in 1971, Swami Chetanananda worked in the Publication and Editorial Departments of Advaita Ashrama in the Himalayas and Calcutta. He was the Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California from 1971-78 and served as vice-president of the Inter-Religious Council of Southern California in 1977-78. He was transferred to St. Louis in 1978, where he became the Minister in 1980 following the passing of Swami Satprakashananda. Swami Chetanananda has authored over 24 books in English and 26 in Bengali, contributing significantly to spiritual literature.
Swami Sarvadevananda
Swami Sarvadevananda, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order, is the minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. Initiated by Swami Shankarananda in 1961, he joined the Belur Math monastery in 1965. For two decades, he served at Saradapitha, overseeing spiritual education at various institutes and contributing to relief work during the 1971 Bangladesh war. In 1988, he became the head of the Ramakrishna Mission at Sikra, focusing on literacy and health programs for villagers. Swami Sarvadevananda joined the Vedanta Society of Southern California in 1993 as assistant minister and became its head in 2012. He lectures nationwide, represents the Society in interreligious dialogues and as a director for the Hindu Students’ Organization at University of Southern California. He also sits on the Advisory Council of the Guibord Center, an educational, nonprofit interfaith organization in Los Angeles.
Dr. P.S. Mitwichian
Dr. P.S. Mitchian is a respected educator, Buddhist scholar, and spiritual leader. His teaching career began in 1979 at the Buddhist Sunday School at Anongkraram and continued through various schools, including Watsai Primary School, Siriton High School, Suksanari High School, and Doisaket High School in Chiang Mai. In 1993, he became the Abbot of Wat Buddhapradeep in San Francisco, where he continues to guide the community and preserve Buddhist traditions. Mr. Mitchian has also contributed to Buddhist scholarship through academic books, travel documentaries, conference reports, and articles, making a lasting impact on both local and global communities tourism.
Reverend Laurel Liefert
Reverend Laurel Liefert is the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. She served as Minister at Namaqua Unitarian Universalist Congregation since July 2011. Reverend Liefert earned a J.D. from King Hall School of Law, University of California-Davis. She subsequently earned a Masters in Divinity from Starr King School for Ministry. The mission of Starr King School for the Ministry is to educate people for Unitarian Universalist ministry and for progressive religious leadership in society. Starr King School’s distinctive educational approach is rooted in the Unitarian Universalist values of countering oppressions, cultivating multi-religious life and learning, and creating just and sustainable communities.
Dr. Ebrahim Shabudin
Dr. Ebrahim Shabudin is an executive coach with a diverse background in financial services, merger integrations, management consulting, and leadership development. His global experience spans countries such as England, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan. Dr. Shabudin has held leadership positions, including credit examiner, business group head, and COO. He also served as the academic chair at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and as a board member for both the GTU and JFK University. With a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from the Pacific School of Religion, he is active in interfaith initiatives. Dr. Shabudin’s work focuses on virtue, business ethics, principled leadership, and values- based goal-setting. His upcoming book examines exemplary leadership from an Islamic perspective, and as a coach, he supports individuals and groups in achieving their personal and professional goals.
Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin
Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin is Senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA. As the first Chinese-American Rabbi, she has lectured broadly on the changing nature of the American Jewish community and how established Jewish institutions can become more inclusive. She is actively engaged in interfaith and other organizational work. For six years, Rabbi Mates-Muchin served as a Central Conference of America Rabbis (CCAR) representative to the Board of the Union for Reform Judaism. Prior to her service at Temple Sinai, Rabbi Mates-Muchin served as the Assistant Rabbi in Buffalo, New York for three years. She was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 2002 and has received numerous awards for her academics and service.
Date: February 22, 2025 on Saturday
Venue: First Unitarian Church of Oakland
685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612
Swami Vivekananda, a monk of India in 19th century and spiritual teacher, was introduced to the East Bay through the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. Known to Unitarians since his acclaimed speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, 1893, Swami Vivekananda was invited to participate in a local Congress of Religions by Reverend Benjamin Fay Mills, the Minister of First Unitarian Church of Oakland in 1900. Reverend Mills had attended the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago and been moved by Swami Vivekananda’s stirring words. Swami Vivekananda delivered his initial talk at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland on the evening of February 25, 1900 from the pulpit of Hamilton Hall. Two thousand people listened in rapt attention as the swami spoke on, “The Claims of Vedanta On the Modern World.” Some days later he gave another public lecture on “Vedanta and Christianity,” from the same pulpit. In March again he gave two series of three lectures in each series at the adjoining Wendte Hall. The first series was on the principles and philosophy of Vedanta and the second on India’s customs and culture. As many as 500 people had to turn away for lack of space. All his talks drew large crowds, who sat or stood on the edges of the foyer, enthralled, listening to his words of ancient wisdom.
