HTI Open Plaza

HTI Open Plaza
  • 5.0 (10)
  • RELIGION
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
HTI Open Plaza

HTI Open Plaza is an online platform within the Hispanic Theological Initiative that amplifies the voices of diverse thinkers and scholars in the public square.

  1. DEC 11

    Inclusivity and Institutional Change in Education

    In this episode of OPTalks, Dr. Ish Ruiz and Dr. Colleen Mary Mallon, a Dominican Sister, discuss her latest book, Inclusivity and Institutional Change in Education: A Theologian's Journey (Eerdmans, 2024). The book examines the intersection of theology, education, and social justice, with a specific focus on race and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Sister Mallon shares insights from her book which offers a critical examination of how Catholic institutions can better engage with diversity, equity, and inclusion. She discusses her process of unlearning whiteness and the need for greater awareness of positionality. As a Puerto Rican scholar, Dr. Ruiz reflects on the complexities of addressing race and privilege from his perspective as a person of color. The talk emphasizes the importance of personal transformation, intentional dialogue, and structural accountability in reconciliation and healing within the Catholic tradition. In this regard, Drs. Ruiz and Mallon explore Pope Francis’ model of synodality, where the Church discerns the guidance of the Holy Spirit; Sister Mallon’s adaptation of Ken Wilber’s framework for mapping right relationships; and examples of advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, such as the work of Sister Janine Gramick. Sister Mallon stresses the Church’s need to embrace difficult conversations with love and humility, to disagree in love. This conversation and the book are part of the Theological Education between the Times (TEBT) series, an initiative out of HTI member school Emory University Candler School of Theology that “gathers diverse groups of people for critical, theological conversations about the meanings and purposes of theological education. The project begins with a recognition that theological education is between the times, on the way. And it works in the confidence that we do not walk this road alone.”

    46 min

  2. NOV 21

    La Iglesia Que Migra

    In this episode of OPTalks Father Brian Strassburger and Father Flavio Bravo talk with artist and anthropologist Cinthya Santos Briones about the Jesuits’ efforts on behalf of migrants in the Rio Grande Valley, what it means to acompañar migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border, and why they see themselves as an itinerant group as they work with migrants on both sides of the frontera. In 2021, a small mobile team of Jesuit priests arrived in Brownsville, Texas, where they started Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries to work with migrants on both sides of the Rio Grande, including migrant shelters in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. In describing their purpose, Fr. Strassburger explains, “We feel this call to go to the margins of society where people are most excluded or ignored or underappreciated or underserved and we certainly see that that is a truth and reality here on the U.S. Mexico border, especially when you see the conditions of migrants camps and shelters on the Mexican side of the border.” This episode is part of the Faith and Flight: Latinx Migration in the Art of Belief project, based at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Educational Center and made possible through a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

    47 min

  3. NOV 13

    What Does it Mean to Be Pub Church

    In this episode of OPTalks, Rev. Dr. Joanne Rodriguez interviews Dr. Xochitl Alviso, an associate professor at California State University, Northridge, who emphasizes the importance of grounding theological reflection in the lived experiences of Christian practice. The conversation delves into the dynamics of faith, community, and belonging, and reimagines how the church can more authentically embody the transformative message of “good news” Christianity in inclusive ways. Dr. Alviso advocates for an active ecclesiology—one that studies the church and practices its mission in ways that reflect the diverse and evolving needs of today’s world. She shares her experience founding a The Pub Church in Boston, an inclusive space designed for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with painful histories with traditional church. The Pub Church experience offers a welcoming, less judgmental environment as a place for honest reflection, diverse expressions of identity, and communal support. Dr. Alviso also illustrates the power of communal faith and collective healing through the concept of parenting by committee—a process of trauma recovery. She explains, “Sometimes, that’s how we heal our trauma… we need to be reparented by a committee of people who help us experience a different way of being affirmed.”

    37 min

  4. OCT 30

    A Blaxican Theology

    In this episode of OPTalks, Isabel Gonzalez and Christian Silva—recent MDiv graduate and current master’s candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary—converse with Dr. Matthew Vega, an HTI Scholar and now assistant professor at the University of San Diego. The discussion centers on Dr. Vega’s dissertation on Blaxican theology, which uncovers intersections of Black and Latinx identities. It highlights the complexities of categorizing identities within American public discourse, particularly the tendency to oversimplify racial identities into binaries like ‘Black’ and ‘Mexican,’ along with their historical contexts. Dr. Vega situates Blaxican theology as a shared struggle for liberation and an internationalist theology, emphasizing that “Black people can't be free unless other people in other parts of the world are free, and Mexican and Mexican American people can't be free unless other people in other parts of the world are free.” His dissertation defense received the highest praise from his committee, and he shares valuable advice for future scholars preparing for their defenses. Drawing from his journey as a first-generation college student, Dr. Vega discusses the systemic challenges he faced and how they have shaped his theological perspective. The conversation also addresses disrespecting borders, liberation theology, and the dynamics of counterpublics in theological discourse.

    36 min

  5. OCT 23

    Embodying the Fruits of the Mind

    This OPTalks episode features a conversation between Rev. Dr. Joanne Rodríguez and Dr. Teresa Delgado, who reflects on her experiences as a doctoral student, discussing the unique challenges she faced, particularly as a Latina balancing family responsibilities and academic demands. Dr. Delgado emphasizes the importance of community support, particularly the acompañamiento that HTI offers, which she credits for her perseverance and success. She illustrates the impact of mentorship and the broader implications for women and mothers navigating the academic landscape, and its systemic challenges. Dr. Delgado also describes the dissonance between her embodied understanding of theology and the cerebral expectations of the academy. The conversation highlights the importance of listening to students' experiences and rethinking traditional pedagogical silos within theological institutions. Reflecting on Dr. Daisy Machado’s work, Dr. Delgado heightens the potential of community by stating, “I'm thinking about the ways that…contemporary problems like the environmental crisis is requiring us to delve into church history and ethics and biblical studies and systematic theology across all of those, and social scientists and climate scientists draw from all of that kind of expertise to offer some kind of prophetic word into this moment.”

    43 min

  6. OCT 16

    Academic Publishing

    In this episode of OP Talks, historian Dr. Felipe Hinojosa engages with Alejandra Mejía, an Assistant Editor and Editorial Operations Coordinator at Duke University Press, focusing on Latinx history. Mejía delves into the press's identity and shares insights on what she seeks in book proposals. Drawing from her experiences as both a writer and editor, she discusses the challenges authors face and offers valuable advice on manuscript development, highlighting the collaborative relationship between editors and writers in shaping scholarship. She also shares  her work with Migrant Roots Media, where the power of lived experiences serves as a foundation for building knowledge around migration analysis. The contributions from immigrants, organizers, students, and scholars often blend personal narratives with sociopolitical analysis and historical context. Mejia emphasizes the platform's focus: “...what we understand to be the root causes of migration. By root causes, we mean the effects of U.S. foreign policy or, for example, global capitalism; the effects of those larger systems of power in creating displacement to begin with, because we feel like this is often left out of narratives about migration in the U.S.”

    45 min

  7. OCT 9

    The Power of Contemplative Practice in the Spirit of Convivencia

    This OPTalks episode features a conversation between Dr. Yohana Junker and Rev. Dr. Aizaiah Yong exploring the intersections of art, spirituality, and decolonial studies within theological education. Reflecting on their co-teaching experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, Drs. Yong and Junker highlight the necessity of cultivating inclusive and compassionate classroom environments. The dialogue highlights how spiritual practices and artistic expression are vital tools for healing and social justice, which enable students to bring their full selves into the learning process while deepening connections. They discuss the transformative power of relationships within the context of higher education while critiquing Eurocentric individualist frameworks from their chapter, "Contemplative Practices and Acts of Resistance in Higher Education: Narratives Towards Wholeness." They also argue for a holistic approach that honors the interconnectedness of students' emotional, psychological, and vocational lives. Their collaboration as co-educators emphasizes how mutual support, compassionate listening, and convivencia foster resilience and hope in academic spaces often marked by structural violence and disconnection. Additionally, the ongoing challenges of navigating personal and collective grief while striving for justice and liberation can be met in these spaces. Dr. Junker says she, "…didn't want to just write out of like, oh, here's a spiritual practice, this is going to…help you in these ways, without sitting with the actual grief of working in institutions of higher education, working within power structures that are very asymmetrical, that have perpetrated, you know, historically so much violence against people like you and me,” to which Rev. Dr. Yong responds, “We're also confronting intergenerational trauma, historical trauma, against people, groups done in the name of religion and white supremacy.”

    46 min

  8. OCT 2

    Doors Open to an Ecumenical Vision

    This podcast episode features a dialogue between Stephen Di Trolio Coakley, a PhD student at Princeton Theological Seminary, and Dr. Edwin Hernández, President of Antillean Adventist University. The conversation chronicles Dr. Hernández' journey from his roots as a preacher’s child in Puerto Rico to his role in sociology, theology, and fundraising, particularly during his tenure at Louisville Institute. Dr. Hernández reflects on his early experiences in ministry, his academic pursuits, and the transformative mentorship of figures like Dr. Caleb Rosado, Dr. Julian Zamora, and Olga Villaparra. Notably, Hernández recounts his involvement in establishing the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) by taking the lead on writing a significant proposal that he co-authored, which addressed funding gaps in Latinx theological education. The discussion underscores Dr. Hernández' commitment to fostering inclusive theological spaces as opportunities for scholars and communities while adapting to the changing educational environment. He asserts, “It’s important for us to reinvent who we are, to connect to, to challenge institutions, to be more faithful and responsive to the needs of our community.”

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

HTI Open Plaza is an online platform within the Hispanic Theological Initiative that amplifies the voices of diverse thinkers and scholars in the public square.

Information

  • Creator
    HTI Open Plaza
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    All rights reserved ©2024 HTI Open Plaza
  • Show Website
    HTI Open Plaza

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