Speakers and Book Talk Videos
Trinity Speaker Series with Hugh Ryan
June 16, 2022
Today, approximately 40 percent of the people in women’s prisons identify as queer. Hear from bestselling author and historian Hugh Ryan as he shares insights from his new book, The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison.
This singular history of a prison, and the queer women and trans people held there, is a window into the policing of queerness and radical politics in the twentieth century. From the lesbian communities forged through the Women’s House of Detention to the turbulent prison riots that preceded Stonewall, this is this story of one building and much more: the people it caged, the neighborhood it changed, and the resistance it inspired.
Join Hugh Ryan for a book talk and conversation with the Very Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Trinity’s Theologian-in-residence, and take part in audience Q&A and a book signing. Books may be purchased here.
Trinity Commons Speaker Series with Yusef Salaam
January 27, 2022
At the Speaker Series on Jan 20, the keynote speaker Dr. Yusef Salaam talked about his lived experience with the US Justice System as it relates to his work as a prison reform activist.
Trinity Talks: Violence as a Public Health Issue
January 18, 2022
A discussion about violence as an endemic public health issue, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, greatly impacting...
Exploring the Spiritual Leadership and Life of Desmond Tutu
December 10, 2021
Registration is now closed.
The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Battle welcomes Thandeka Tutu to Trinity Church Wall Street for an exploration of the spiritual leadership and life of her father, Archbishop-Emeritus Desmond Tutu. This event will include, but will not be limited to, a discussion of Dr. Battle’s latest book Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Autobiography of South Africa’s Confessor.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of the most recognizable figures of the late 20th century. The world knows him as the most visible leader in the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. What many people do not know about the man known as “the Arch” is the theological foundation that supports all he has accomplished in his life and the deep and consistent rhythm of prayer that undergirds him on a daily basis.
The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Battle has spent the past 27 years writing a book that describes these little-known qualities of Archbishop Tutu. That book, Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor will be discussed at Trinity Church on December 10 when Michael Battle welcomes Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe for a conversation about her father and the spiritual legacy he has offered through his leadership as a gift to the world.
Trinity will present this event to both an in-person audience and online. It will include a question-and-answer session, and Dr. Battle will also be available for a book signing.
Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe
Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, MPH is the CEO of the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign Centre (DTTCC), a charitable educational organization which addresses the 95 million desk shortage in sub-Saharan Africa. DTTCC aims to provide 20 million environmentally friendly, portable desks to schools in Africa by 2025. DTTCC the lives of African children, their communities, countries and makes Africa a more globally competitive continent through improved literacy and education.
Thandeka has been educated and worked in the UK, Swaziland, Botswana and the USA. She is passionate about education and public health, especially the fight against HIV/AIDS, and improving the health and education experiences of young people, thus promoting global peace and justice. While completing her Masters of Public Health at Emory University, Thandeka received several fellowships including from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Cancer Society, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, the South East AIDS Training Center & the Dekalb County Board of Health.
Michael Battle
Currently appointed as Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary in New York, the Very Rev. Michael Battle, Ph.D. has an undergraduate degree from Duke University, a master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a master’s of Sacred Theology from Yale University, and a PhD in theology and ethics, also from Duke University. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1993.
Battle has published eleven books, including his latest, Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor. You can learn more about his academic, parish, and peace work at his website, michaelbattle.com.
Mind-Body Health and Meditation
May 21, 2021
This information session will explore the interaction between the mind and body, and how it can impact both our mental and physical health. It will explore how chronic disease, if not adequately controlled, can lead to pain, emotional distress, and physical hardship. Lastly, this talk will integrate how mindfulness exercises, like meditation, can assist individuals in achieving mind-body balance, enabling individuals to develop a positive attitude for maintaining their overall health. Speaker: Akruti Patel, B.A., PhD Student of Clinical Health Psychology, Pace University.
Trinity Common Speaker Series with Hannah & Charlie Lucas
Speaker Series with Hannah & Charlie Lucas
May 18, 2021
After an experience with depression, Hannah Lucas and her brother Charlie developed the notOK app to help take the guesswork out of asking for help in times of crisis. Join this conversation with Hannah and Charlie to learn more about youth mental health, their app, and ways for youth to create resources in their own communities.
Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
May 14, 2021
Exercise is not only beneficial for the body and physiological health. It has an enormous impact on the mental, cognitive, and psychological wellbeing. This presentation will review the benefits and improvements that physical exercise has on our overall well-being and the brain processes that are associated. Speaker: Martin Angielovski, MA, PhD Student of Clinical Health Psychology, Pace University
Trinity Commons Speaker Series with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
author of The Body Keeps the Score
May 13, 2021
The New York Times bestseller The Body Keeps the Score transformed our understanding of traumatic stress. In conversation moderated by Lineage Project’s Jessica Mingus, the author Dr. Bessel van der Kolk will focus on how his research and treatments free trauma survivors from the tyranny of the past. Join us on Thursday, May 13, at 6pm EDT for this discussion.
Racism, Mental Health and Advancing Social Justice
May 7, 2021
For American people of color, racism is a major source of stress that takes a toll on both physical and mental health. This includes not only the stress of racist interpersonal encounters, but also the impact of structural and institutional racism on everyday life, which often occurs in ways that are invisible. Join us as we examine some of the effects of racism on well-being among Black and Indigenous People of Color, as well as some of the work being done to combat the harm of racism in our communities.
Health and Life Satisfaction
April 30, 2021
This information session covers a range of topics including defining what health means to individuals, how one can attempt to maintain a balanced lifestyle, and how by creating personal goals and attributes life satisfaction can be achieved. We explore resources within the community that can support individuals in achieving their personal goals.