Blank Slate Vision Team

 

Blank Slate’s Vision Team is a dedicated group of volunteers who all are passionate about growing and developing Blank Slate. The Vision Team is a broad sampling of people representing the diversity we hope to encounter and engage in Blank Slate. The team is dynamic and listening to how the community is developing. The team seeks to marshal the talent within the community to practice the values we share.

Feel free to write to us below and let us know if there is someone in particular that you would like to talk with about Blank Slate.

 

Patrick Morgan

I joined the Blank Slate vision team because of my passion to work with people searching for fellowship and community that they are not finding in everyday life or through the traditional church. I am a local native, and also lived in Buffalo, NY, Eastern NC and most recently Alaska before returning to the Lehigh Valley. I work as a Physical Therapist specializing in working with people to restore function and improve performance for people with chronic debilitating pain as well as recurrent pain, especially low back and neck pain, chronic headaches as well as shoulder and lower extremity dysfunctions. I am passionate about coaching volleyball and after coaching at the college level I currently work with teams at the junior club and high school levels. I also adore caring for my grandkids and two new puppies.

 

Ron Smith

I am proud to be a part of the Blank Slate Vision Team because of the important work we are doing. We are creating diverse community where individuals can come together and express themselves in ways that are important to them without fear of judgment or disapproval. Blank Slate allows us to discover each other’s commonalities, as well as our differences, with kindness and compassion. I believe this type of community allows us to see each other, and respect each other, just as we are! In my work as a financial consultant, I get to work with people to help them realize and accomplish their financial goals and dreams. Two of the most satisfying things in my life are being able to help people and having the passion to experience new adventures. Through my work life, as a financial consultant, and my spiritual life, in volunteering my dedication to Blank Slate, I feel extremely fortunate that every day I get to experience the two most satisfying things in my life.

 

Kayla Jackson

I am a 30 year old female from New Jersey. I am a middle school math teacher, with a love for hosting and having meaningful conversations. I am also a musician and singer as you can see in the pic 🙂 As a life mission, I have been known to give people the space they need to truly be themselves. I love to share and connect with others through music; as an artist I believe in the power of finding your voice. I am part of the Blank Slate vision team because I have found such grounding in communities in the church, and I want to be able to explore and offer the incredible gift of community with those who don’t find such a place in the church.

 

Alisha Tatem

I would describe myself as a person that is passionate about life and fulfilling my life’s purpose. I love art, dancing, traveling, reading, and spending time in nature and with my family. I consider myself a life long learner, which is one of the many reasons I have chosen to be a part of Blank Slate. This Community has afforded me the opportunity to learn from and share with people from diverse walks of life. Blank Slate has been a spiritual and meaning making space for me.

 

Ashlee James Fadjoh

Hi. My name is Ashlee, wife and mother to an
adventurous 4 year old girl. Turned off by the hypocrisy of the traditional church, I was content with removing myself from that and any community. Becoming a mother made me realize the importance of community and having others to share in my journey. But where could I find a place that was a good fit for me and my family? Through joining the Young Parent’s Group, I learned of the larger community called Blank Slate. Blank Slate provides a safe place to be yourself, to express your spirituality, find support in others and have challenging discussions that promote positive change. That is why I joined Blank Slate’s Vision Team. How could I pass up an opportunity to have an active role in creating the community I had hoped for. My desire is to continue to help grow this community so that my daughter can live in a world that is more loving, understanding and open to positive change.

Tesia Nicoli Campbell

Aren’t we all searching for something? There seems
to be an underlying mystery to life that lingers in everything we do. That mystery is what keeps me curious, motivated, and engaged. Growing up, I never felt like I clicked with organized religion. I struggled with many of the rituals and practices in most churches. Blank Slate gives us all an opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with our community in a safe environment – free of judgement. When I’m immersed in an activity or meeting with Blank Slate, I feel like I’m on the path of discovery to something meaningful and worthwhile. My perspective can shift and my thoughts are challenged in a supportive space. When I’m not expanding my spiritual horizons, you can often find me hanging out with my family and my pets. I also enjoy studying the French language, playing board games, watching movies (and streaming series), exploring meditation, writing, and acting.

 

Cathy Fattah! Layland

Blank Slate answers my prayers to connect
with like-minded hearts and minds in our region. I am called to be in community with souls of various declared faiths and no declared faith, who share the wonder of seeing the face of God in every face we see. Born in Allentown, and back again after twenty plus years in Center City Philadelphia, I’m so appreciative of the kindness and easy-goingness of people here, compared to life in the ‘big city!’ Helping people live their best life through practices and private sessions for body, heart, mind and spirit, I have one foot in retirement and the other still working. Energy Medicine/ Kinesiology is a broad field of modalities clients experience in private appointments, where we work together to improve health and WellBeing. And, to help clients create better habits of self care, I teach a mindful, gentle form of yoga; tai chi; chi kung; and meditation. I am passionate about gardening, advocate for creating natural native environment (even in the city!); deep connection with people; and, as a Representative of the Inayatiyya Sufi Order, offer workshops/presentations of understanding of this spiritual path; personal spiritual guidance; individual and group retreats; classes and sharing groups for spiritual exploration and growth; healing experiences; and worship services and sacred rites.

 

Jeff Carlton

Hello! For as long as I can remember, I have
been both a questioner and a helper. I ask questions and strive to learn as I grow.  I also try to help my fellow travelers as we journey through life together.

Therefore, it seems natural that I would be drawn to Seekers, one of many small groups within Blank Slate. Here, my wife and I have discovered a safe home where we can ask hard questions, seek and offer comfort, and grow as we continue on our faith journey.

My wife and I are in an interesting situation – our church home is closing after many years, and we are unsure of what we will do in the future. We are tired of discussions about keeping the boiler working, repairing the roof, and what to do about dwindling participation. We are ready for a place where we and others can ask questions, express doubts and wonders, and know that there may not be a single “right” answer. We are looking for a new place that challenges us, supports us and accepts us.  

In Seekers and in Blank Slate, we have found such a place. That is why I am happy to serve on the Vision Team. Blank Slate offers a unique environment for a wide range of people to gather and grow in a safe and caring community.  

Oh, and in our spare time, we volunteer at a number of organizations, visit our two grandchildren in Virginia often, and enjoy the local music and food scene! You might also find me on my bike on a road or canal path, hiking on a trail, or gliding down the slopes at Blue Mountain!  

 

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLANK SLATE

LEARN ABOUT OUR BLANK SLATE FACILITATOR: SUE PIZOR YODER