Elemental Climate Conversations
Earth: An Interfaith Exchange
Event Summary: Earth: An Interfaith Exchange
Held on June 5, 2025 | Pacifica Institute, Lake Forest, CA
The fourth and final gathering in the Four Elements Interfaith Series—centered on Earth—brought together a vibrant community for an evening of collective reflection, learning, and action around environmental justice and soil stewardship. Hosted at the Pacifica Institute, the event exemplified the Institute’s commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue through the lens of ecological responsibility.
The evening began with a warm welcome by Julia and Atilla Kahveci, followed by a contemplative reading from the Qur’an. A symbolic fig tree planting ceremony, led by Pastor Sadie Cullumber and Atilla Kahveci, served as the spiritual and symbolic heart of the evening. Guests including Janak, Marcia, and Reverend Stephen Yorba contributed brief reflections before the tree—donated by Sadie—was ceremonially prepared to be planted during an upcoming Climate Festival.
The educational portion of the program featured three engaging presentations. Dr. Steve Allison, professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UC Irvine, offered insights into the critical importance of soil health. Reverend Stephen Yorba followed with an impassioned discussion on food justice and the potential of urban farming to empower marginalized communities. Maya Cheav from the Orange County Environmental Justice organization concluded the speaker lineup with a powerful presentation on soil sampling and its role in fighting environmental injustice in vulnerable neighborhoods.
The evening concluded with a deeply moving musical performance by Murat Bahar, offering Islamic devotional music that bridged spiritual reflection and environmental consciousness. Participants were then invited to stay for optional evening prayer.
From scientific insight to spiritual ritual, Earth: An Interfaith Exchange successfully brought together diverse voices to explore the sacred relationship between humanity and the ground beneath our feet, encouraging all in attendance to care, connect, and act.
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Thursday, June 5, 2025
6:30-7:45 pm
Pacifica Institute
25351 Commercentre Dr
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Free and open to the public. .
Please RSVP to attend
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScz-hPziI83nUhlzDOU_vDb7tOBzjTTXurxolLrLIzyH8cNGw/viewform
https://www.humanities.uci.edu/events/elemental-climate-conversations-earth-interfaith-exchange
Event:
Responding to the climate crisis requires new forms of imagination. In this fourth event in a series featuring the four elements (Water, Air, Fire, and Earth), please join us for an interfaith exploration of earth with a focus on soil stewardship and environmental justice. Learn about native plants and urban farming. Participate in a tree-planting ceremony at the Pacifica Institute, which promotes interfaith dialogue from a Turkish Muslim perspective. Join together in collective learning and healing, and find out what you can do to make a difference.
Program will include:
Interfaith Fig Tree Planting Ceremony
Atilla Kahveci, Pacifica Institute
Pastor Sadie Cullumber, Harbor Christian Church
Program
6:15 – Food set up, provided by Pacifica Institute
6:30 Program Begins
Welcome by Julia and Atilla
6:34 – Reading from the Qu’ran (Pacifica Institute)
6:38 – Fig tree planting ceremony
Atilla and Sadie lead
Janak, Marcia, and Stephen Yorba contribute (2 min each)
Sadie provides tree, pot, soil; tree will be planted in the ground at the Climate Festival.
6:53 – Julia introduces Steve Allison
6:55 – Steve Allison: The Science of Soil, and Why You Should Care
7:10 – Julia introduces Reverend Farmer Stephen Yorba
7:12 – Stephen Yorba: Food Justice and Urban Farming
7:27 – Julia introduces Maya Cheav (OCEJ)
7:29 – Maya Cheav presentation on Soil Sampling and Environmental Justice
7:44 – Atilla introduces the musical performance by Murat Bahar
7:46 – Islamic Musical Performance
8:05 – Adjourn for optional evening prayer
The Science of Soil – and Why You Should Care
Steve Allison, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UC Irvine