Indigenous Leadership and Ecological Responsibility听
Drawing on the Center for Earth Ethics鈥櫶�, this session built a foundation for understanding Indigenous identity, spirituality, and relationships to land.听Roberto M煤karo Borrero听补苍诲听Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay听explored where religious communities have shown up鈥攁nd where they have not鈥攁nd invite participants to consider how faith communities can engage Indigenous communities with greater responsibility, solidarity, and advocacy.
About the Speakers
搁辞产别谤迟辞&苍产蝉辫;惭煤办补谤辞&苍产蝉辫;叠辞谤谤别谤辞 (he/him) has a distinguished and diverse background in policy & program development, the arts, and鈥痟uman rights advocacy, including a specialization鈥痮n the rights of Indigenous Peoples. He retains鈥痮ver 25鈥痽ears of experience actively engaging the United Nations system in thematic areas such as Sustainable Development鈥痑nd Climate Change,鈥痑mong others. He has served on the staff of the International Indian Treaty Council and the American Museum of Natural History, as well鈥痑s an independent contracting consultant for UNESCO, UNDP, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, PBS, and other notable institutions. A published writer, an accomplished artist, and musician,鈥疊orrero is a citizen of the Guain铆a Ta铆no Tribe of Borik茅n and the Virgin Islands. In 2012, he was traditionally sanctioned a kasike (chief) of the Guain铆a Ta铆no Tribe.
Rabbi Stephanie听Ruskay鈥赌痠蝉听associate dean of The Rabbinical School and executive director of The JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice. She has made her career in the Jewish social justice sector, having served in leadership positions at American Jewish World Service, Auburn Theological Seminary, AVODAH:听The Jewish Service Corps, and JOIN for Justice. Rabbi Ruskay is听an alumna听of JTS鈥檚 Joint Program, The Davidson听School听and The Rabbinical School. She directs field education and entrepreneurial endeavors and is focused on raising the scope and profile of social justice work and community organizing skills in the role of the contemporary rabbi. Rabbi Ruskay is a member of the social justice commission of the Rabbinical Assembly and of its Joint Placement Commission.听
About the Series
Across Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Hindu traditions, spring is a season of reflection, renewal, and ethical commitment. Grounded in holidays from Tu Bishvat and Lent to Ramadan, Holi, and Passover, this interreligious series explores responsibility, repair, and leadership in the face of urgent ecological challenges. Together, participants consider how religious wisdom can inspire ethical action and collective hope.
