Keynote Panel: Faith and Service

Yellow and Blue Poster with details about the Panel on Feb. 15 at 4pm

Wednesday, February 15 | 4pm-5:30pm | Emerson Suites

Our 2023 highlighted event will be a panel comprised of local leaders to discuss about how faith and service are aligned in the message and lessons taught by Dr. King. How does faith make meaning and bring a solid purpose to the work that we do?

Serving on the panel for this event are:

Sister Laila Muhammad - Community Advocate, Author, Artist & Human Excellence Coach

Dr. Christopher A. House - Assoc. Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies (IC)

Jerry Dietz - Owner of CSP Management

Dr. Michael Trotti - Professor of History (IC)

Meet the Panel

Image of Sister Laila Muhammad

Sister Laila, is a community advocate, human excellence coach, author and artist. She continues in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents as she works to help build healthy vibrant community life. It is her objective to collaborate in diverse spaces, to encourage living and succeeding collectively, in a "shared freedom space".

Image of Dr. Christopher A. House

Dr. Christopher A. House is associate professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Ithaca College. His research interests are in Black Pentecostalism & social justice, rhetoric, race & religion, Black Church Studies, and African American rhetoric. Beyond the classroom, he is also a man of faith and is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Christian Community Church Ithaca.

Image of Jerry Dietz

Jerry Dietz is the owner of CSP Management, which manages and develops local real estate. Although not originally from Ithaca he has been a long-time resident having spent his entire adult life here. Jerry has served on several local boards over the years including the board at Temple Beth El where he has been a member since 1990.

Image of Dr. Michael Trotti

Dr. Michael Trotti, professor of history at Ithaca College, is the author of a study of sensationalism in the press in murder cases in the South called The Body in the Reservoir. Just out is his second book on race, religion, and the history of capital punishment in the South called The End of Public Execution.