YJA Convention 2010 07 New Brunswick NJ Ninth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 61

Jain Networking Forum (INF) Sessions
Jainism for Global Good
How can we live our lives with purpose? How can organizations and communities be transformed through Jain values? During this workshop, we will explore how to fully welcome the Jain way of life and spiritual presence in all that we do.
Speaker Biographies Session Descriptions &
Hema Pokharna - Hema Pokharna, Ph.D. is a researcher at the University of Chicago and a director of Journeys of Life, a program to promote health, wholeness and disease prevention. "Journeys of Life" evolved from Dr. Pokharna's quest for inner peace and harmony in the western environment, for which she emigrated from India for advanced Biochemistry studies in 1985. She believes that the body, mind, and soul are integral elements of the human condition, and that spiritual health and wholeness should be an integral part in health promotion programming. The consequences of disconnectedness on physical and spiritual health can be devastating. However, people can learn skills in life that lead to connectedness at three levels, connecting with self, connecting with others, and connecting with a larger meaning or purpose. Dr. Hema Pokharna's program includes different ways to live, learn, and share the principles of reverence and respect for life.
Jainism: Going Green vs. Sustainability
Did you know that Jainism is incredibly friendly to the environment? In this session, participants will explore what core elements of Jainism promote environmentalism, and discuss the differences between 'going green' and true sustainability.
Amit Jain - Amit Jain, 28, Los Angeles, has followed a different path his entire life. He started his first business when he was 15 and completed his MBA at 24. As an individual, Amit has a unique perspective growing up in an interfaith family which follows both Hindu-Brahmin rituals and maintains Jain traditions. He has always been curious, questioning what his own true beliefs are and testing his faith to constantly find a stronger connection to his spirituality. He shares his insight from his many unique experiences through his candid approach to storytelling.
Jains Got Talent
This fun and engaging participant-focused workshop will teach you skills and exercises designed to build positive group communication, strong team dynamics, and critical self-development techniques. Participants will be separated into several groups and asked to present the premise of recent pop culture items as they relate to certain Jain principles.
JNF Committee - Please refer to "Can You Meet Your Match in 3 Minutes?" on page 49 for a full biography.
Inspire. Connect. Do The Jain Thing.