Alan Edelman is a native of Kansas City. After receiving a B.A. in Child Development, Alan attended the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education. Since 1977, he has served in a number of professional capacities including congregational educator, regional director for the Conservative Movement and executive director of the

Zulfiqar (Zulfi) Malik is a founding member taking a leading role in the establishment of the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City and its institutions such as the Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City, Mid-America Muslim Cemetery and the Islamic School. He is the editor of the Muslim community newsletter.

Usha Saha, Ph.D., was born in Vijayawada, India in a Hindu family and practiced “Hinduism’, which is more than a religion. It is a culture, a way of life, and a code of behavior. She comes from a family of professionals. Her father was in the Air Force and her mother was a school principal.

Rev. Michael Stephens grew up in Kansas City and has experience in the Christian Church (DOC), United Methodist, Episcopal and Southern Baptist circles. Since 2002, he has been the pastor at Southwood United Church of Christ in Raytown which is very progressive theologically and works toward social justice in many areas symbolized by the full

Dr. Nakao was raised in the Methodist faith, and began her search for unification with the heart/mind of God at a young age, encouraging her parents to attend church as a child, even when on vacation in other states. After finishing her Ph.D. in Art Education at the University of Missouri, she was led to the

Linda Prugh is a member of the Vedanta Society of Kansas City, where she has served as secretary since 1980. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in English and Masters of Arts in Reading Education from the University of Missouri. She taught English in a public high school for five years and managed a private

Karta Purkh has been a member of the Sikh path, or Panth, for 50+ years. He came to the teachings of Guru Nanak as the result of his practice of Kundalini Yoga and meditation. The logic and precision of his yogic practices, discovered after a number years of searching for a "spiritual path" blended perfectly

Lama Matthew has been practicing Buddhism since his 20's and as says, "The only accomplishments I can claim about my mediation practice is that it is slow and steady and stuck in first gear. Studying mainly the Tibetan system for Buddhism I have developed an appreciation for the Rime approach towards the different schools with a particular

Barb McAtee has been a member of the Baha’i Faith since 1966. She has served on the local Spiritual Assemblies of Kansas City, MO, Evanston, IL, Manhattan, KS, and Overland Park, KS. She also served at the office of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States in Evanston, IL for two years. She has traveled extensively,

Rev. Kelly Isola, MDiv., is passionate about supporting people and organizations to live and love more authentically – to move toward a better version of themselves so they can make their mark on the world. She is masterful at relating concepts across her various life experiences, which allows her to connect with and support audiences