Los Angeles, CA – Older and younger generations will gather for open floor discussions around Hare Krishna youth and family issues from September 19 to 21 at the New Dvaraka temple prasadam hall here.

This progressive conference will begin with a free Friday evening session "Demigods and Demons: Hare Krishna Kids and Unmet Expectations," which will feature a West Coast showing of the youth production "Burnt Laddu." After the film everyone can join a candid discussion with writer/producer Madi Brinkman and director Gaura Buchwald about the making of the film, addressing its emotional impact and the unmet expectations of growing up as Hare Krishna kids.

Focusing on youth issues, lively discussions will continue Saturday with Norma McCaig, interculturalist, conducting the workshop "Between Worlds: The Krishna Culture Kid Experience," about the reality of growing up in multiple cultures (ISKCON culture and mainstream American culture).

Thoughts and insights will be offered by a youth panel "If I Were Running ISKCON...Making Krsna Hip," enlightening the first generation with ideas that will help make devotee life attractive to the 35 and under.

An integral part of the conference will be family-life issues. "Fire and Ice: The Challenges and Rewards of Interfaith and Bicultural Marriages," will discuss the specific roadblocks and positive experiences that accompany these multi-faceted relationships and how to work through them to emerge into a happy marriage.

Hiding our heads in the sand isn’t going to help when it comes to correcting abusive relationships. Panelists of the "Domestic Abuse: Breaking the Silence on the Road to Recovery," session will address recovery and help options for both the abused and the abusers.

On the positive side, we’ll hear about "Taking the Grhastra Ashram to the Next Level," and "Cultivating Emotional, Mental, & Spiritual Resiliency in ISKCON Communities" to uplift our devotional future.

To register for this Third Annual Family and Youth Conference, contact Varsana at 310-202-0903 or email NewDvarakaTimes@hotmail.com.

Chitra Gunderson
Office Administrator
ISKCON Communications International, Inc.
Ph (301) 299-9707
Fax (301 299-5025

© dipika.org September 20, 2003