Heart to Heart - Innovative approaches to Teaching - Zabine Van Ness

Join us for "Heart to Heart – Innovative approaches to sharing the Faith", is a series of presentations by Zabine Van Ness, Baha’i social entrepreneur, who has made her mark on many Baha’i communities.  She will discuss creating the “Hawaii Bahá’í History Calendar” in 1977, and the creation of Bahá’í Community Services” in 1987, both in Hawaii; the Florida Bahá’í Historical Society in 1998; and the Heart to Heart teaching program and Unity Museum, both founded in 2012, in Bellevue, Washington.  

Zabine created a systematic approach to teaching the Baha’i Faith, called Heart to Heart https://hearttoheart.co/, which has been approved by the National Baha’i Review Committee, and praised by the Universal House of Justice.  It has been put into practice in many locations, with systematic success.  She will also describe local initiatives including one which promotes social justice activism by college students, and another that encourages Baha’i historians to share their knowledge with each other.

Of particular interest is the Unity Museum which moved to Seattle, WA in 1914 to a neighborhood adjacent to the University of Washington, and is putting down roots now in Buffalo NY, Portland, OR, Lansing, MI, as well as locations in Rwanda and Cameroon. This is a neighborhood-based “Baha’i-inspired” initiative that has developed close relationships with youth enrolled in local colleges and universities, with “for credit” projects, and memberships in changemaking institutions, such as the University District City Council in Seattle. In Cameroon collaborations are taking place with Mayor Sani, who is visiting Seattle as of this writing, in August 2024, meeting with the Mayor, the head of the African Chamber of Commerce and the University of Washington African Studies Department. 

A little about Zabine Van Ness, our featured speaker.  Her early childhood in war-ravaged Germany during WWII was spent in cellars during bombing raids, facing starvation and rebuilding amongst ruins. At three years old, she remembers walking beside her mother who was pushing a baby carriage when a plane descended and started shooting at her and her baby brother in a baby carriage. Her mother pushed her and the baby into a ditch and protectively covered her with her own body, leaving them terrified. Zabine also remembers her grandmother's story of  Russian soldiers commandeering her family home in Dresden, imprisoning her great-grandmother in the attic, where she eventually starved. She recalls going to school with bombed-out windows, with little heat and few books, and little to eat. She empathizes with the innocent civilians in war ravaged countries.

Zabine’s life experiences have inspired her to dedicate her life to promote social justice causes. She has traveled to more than 65 countries working to establish humanitarian entities. She embraced the Bahá’í Faith in 1969 in Kealakekua, Hawaii. During her travels she was inspired by the visionary principles she found in the Baha’i Faith, which emboldens her activism.  

Friday, May 16

- 6:00-7:00 PM - Dinner, orientation

- 7:00-9:00 PM - First Session – “An introduction and overview of agenda” the history of our Nightingale Campus, and the Unity Museum – Direct and Indirect teaching.

Saturday, May 17

- 6:30 - 7:00 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

- 9:00 - 1:00 PM - Second Session with 15 minute break @ 11:00 AM – “Where do I begin? – A workshop with hands-on practice in setting up of your personal Teaching Campaign”

- 1:00 - 2:30 PM - Lunch and relaxation

- 2:30 - 5:30 PM - Third Session with with 15 minute break @ 4:00 PM – 

“Learning about diverse seeker types, conversations and enrollment”

- 6:00-7:00 PM - Dinner

- 7:00 - 9:00 PM - Fourth Session – “Introducing our Unity Museum concept”

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

- 9:00 - 1:00 PM - Fifth Session with 15 minute break @ 11:00 AM –  “The future of Bahá’í Inspired initiatives”

- 1:00 - 2:30 PM - Lunch and relaxation

- 2:30 - 5:30 PM - Sixth Session with 15 minute break @ 4:00 PM

“The collaboration between Direct Teaching and a Bahá’í Inspired project”

- 6:00 - 7:00 PM - Dinner

- 7:00 - 9:00 PM - Fellowship 

* Early Departure can be arranged after lunch or after dinner

- 6:30 - 7:00 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

- 9:00 - 11:30 AM - Departure

Our winter and spring retreats at Desert Rose focus on the in-depth study of core spiritual literature and historical texts. Set in the serene desert environment of Arizona, we enjoy a perfect winter retreat environment. These programs provide a perfect opportunity for reflection, learning, and community engagement.

Attendees are required to register in advance, with fees covering all sessions, meals, and materials. Specific prerequisites for participation and a list of materials to be studied will be provided upon registration.

Registration includes accommodations in our dormitory. If you would prefer an apartment, these can be booked separately using the link . Apartments fill up quickly and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so book quickly.

If apartments are full and you prefer not to stay in the dormitory, here is a list of nearby hotels.

Alternatively, we have boondocking-style RV parking for guests and volunteers at $12/day. These have no power or hookups, just a water and dump station.

Transportation:

DRBI does not yet own a shuttle van but numerous shuttle and Uber options exist from the Phoenix airport only 45 minutes away.

Donations:

Support for our programs is greatly appreciated, and additional donations can be made to help us continue offering these enriching experiences.

Host or Publisher Desert Rose Baha'i Institute & Firm-Foundation Academy