WINTER CHAUTAUQUA COMES TO WEST BLOOMFIELD
In “the spirit of Chautauqua” the our Congregational UCC church will honor its longstanding heritage of intellectual discernment and public entertainment by offering a “Day of Curiosity,” say event coordinators. On Saturday, February 7, the church will host a series of expert presentations on an eclectic range of subjects including Cryptocurrency 101, Nutrition, Improvisational Leadership, Self Awareness Through Movement, Trauma-Informed Care, The Future of Church, Tree Grafting, Sound Bath, Having Difficult Conversations more information about the presenters and workshops.
The Day of Curiosity event is secular, non-denominational and open to everyone. The day isn’t about religion, it’s about experiencing new ideas, cracking open your mind, having fun, and maybe making a new friend or two.
Day of Curiosity will feature: Our fully accessible campus. Vegetarian lunch included. Snacks and coffee available all day. CHILDCARE OFFERED! Suggested donation $20 AND a non-perishable donation to our HOPE Food Pantry.
Please use the link below to register. Online registration closes Sunday February 1st. You can register the day of the event, but some workshops may be full.
SESSION ONE (choose one)
Introduction to Improvisation – laugh, create, collaborate: Improvisation is an artform where everything is made up on the spot. We have no script and create something together from nothing! Please join us for a beginner-friendly introduction to improv, where we’ll play in collaboration to tap into the creative silly side that exists within all of us. Whether you starred in every play in high school or have never stepped on stage, there will be support, a chance to explore and plenty of fun waiting for you!
Leader Description: Caitlin Drago, Professional Certified Coach and President of Inspire Improv and Coaching Inc. Caitlin Drago’s mission is to create cultures of empathy, creativity, and trust, beginning with how people communicate and connect. She is an LA-based actor turned upstate NY-based certified leadership coach, trainer, facilitator, and author of Approaching Improv – Communication and Connection in Business and Beyond. Acting taught her to be present, self-aware, empathetic and to prioritize connection with others. Improv taught her to listen, trust her gut and deal with the unexpected in a positive and creative way. She currently works with leaders and teams to help them to listen to one another, communicate and connect, using improvisation as a platform for interactive learning.
Nutrition for A Healthy Gut Microbiome: This presentation explores the role of nutrition in shaping the gut microbiome and its impact on digestion, immune function, and overall health. Attendees will learn how dietary patterns support microbial diversity and gut health, and without restrictive diets or wellness trends.
Leader Description: Jessica Knight, MS, RD, CDN is a certified dietitian-nutritionist at Pearls of Nutrition in Brighton, NY. She specializes in gastrointestinal disorders and eating disorders, helping her patients to improve their relationship with food and optimize their digestive health.
Tree Grafting Basics: We will discuss what grafting is, why grafting is useful and how to graft. We will cover bench grafting, field grafting, dormant and active growth grafting, grafting tools and safe practices. I will do some demonstrations of several grafts.
Leader Description: Keith Holbein, Owner of Humble Roots Tree Farm. Keith lives in West Bloomfield with his wife and three girls. Together they operate Humble Roots Tree Farm, a small tree nursery focused on fruit trees, nut trees and berry shrubs. His love of trees began in the Pacific Northwest, where he worked as a climbing arborist. Eventually, life brought Keith and his family back to upstate New York, where he is originally from. He decided to combine his interest in trees with his longtime love of gardening and began growing trees for a living. He is interested in perennial food sources, regenerative agriculture and homesteading.
SESSION 2 (choose one)
Not Just Bob Dylan Anymore: Curiosity, change, and the future of the church: This hour invites us to wonder—without fear or pressure—what faith might look like next. Our leader will guide participants through a thoughtful, lightly playful exploration of how change has reshaped our world… and how the church is responding in real time. The hour begins with a brief visual journey contrasting the cultural world many of us grew up in with the realities of today, highlighting how shifts in communication, education, culture, and community life have transformed the way we live and connect. From there, the focus turns to faith: how some communities are moving beyond building-centered models, re-centering mission in everyday life, and experimenting with new forms of worship and spiritual gathering.
Participants will encounter short video stories from innovative faith communities, with optional handouts for further exploration, and will also be introduced to one of the newest frontiers shaping spiritual life—how tools like artificial intelligence are being used to support prayer, liturgy, reflection, and creativity, both personally and communally. The final portion of the hour is reserved for open questions and conversation. This gathering is not about persuading or prescribing a future for the church, but about widening imagination, honoring lived experience, and creating space to wonder together about what faithfulness might look like in the years ahead.
Leader Description: Rev. Deb Swift is the Executive Director and co-founder of Firebird Spirit, a spiritual movement creating a global Community of Hope through digital worship and sacred media. An ordained minister for more than 35 years, Deb served congregations in the Presbyterian Church (USA) before retiring from parish ministry in 2024 to become the spiritual catalyst of Firebird Spirit, an independent nonprofit she co-founded in 2018. A visionary leader, Deb works at the intersection of faith, media, and cultural change—helping people and congregations reimagine what church and the Beloved Community can be in a digital and global age. Her Masters degrees in Education and Divinity have prepared her for the work of transforming systems with creativity and compassion, weaving together pastoral wisdom, innovative storytelling, and Spirit-centered imagination to offer worship that is deeply rooted and freshly imagined.
She also draws on her lifelong work as an educator, musician, and coach, bringing these gifts into her ministry of spiritual formation and leadership development. For Deb, this is not simply work but a life’s calling. Her journey has been shaped by deep personal encounters with Spirit, and she remains devoted to cultivating spaces where people—whether grounded in a tradition or exploring beyond one—can experience belonging, justice, hope, and transformation.
She is proud to be the matriarch of a trans-racial, LGBTQIA+ family as she continues her career as an ASCAP member singer-songwriter and overseeing the work of the Prince Street Forge Collective – a grass-roots repository for composers, writers and artists . She is the author of The Church Has Left the Building: A Case Study of One Church’s Story of Transformation, Redefinition & New Life as well as over 200 songs.
Self-Awareness Through Movement: The Feldenkrais Method has helped lots of people use awareness of their movement to discover easier, more comfortable ways to do what they want to do in life. In this session, you’ll learn a bit about Moshe Feldenkrais and the Method he created, then be guided through a slow, gentle “Awareness Through Movement®” lesson. At the end, you’ll be invited (but not required) to comment on your experience.
Leader Description: Lisa Hochgraf, GCFP is a Guild-Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® who benefited greatly from studying the Feldenkrais Method for more than 20 years before undertaking the four-year training to become a teacher. The Method leverages small, gentle movements and awareness in both class and 1:1 settings to create big benefits for many. Lisa delights in helping people do what they want to do in life with more ease and comfort.
SESSION 3 (choose one)
Cryptocurrency 101–What is Bitcoin and how does it work? Have you wondered what Bitcoin is and how it can be a legally tendered currency? An expert on this subject will help answer our questions and better understand this growing area of our economy.
Leader Description: Jeff Burkey is Senior Vice President at Grayscale, the largest investment manager dedicated to digital assets. Previously, he served as Vice President of Business Development at Foundry, a DCG company, helping build the equipment financing business and growing the Foundry USA Pool into a top #5 mining pool. Prior to pivoting into the crypto currency industry, Jeff began his career in traditional finance at Morgan Stanley working in their Private Client Group in Washington, DC. He later advised both institutions and high net worth families on investment strategy at Federated Investors, overseeing client relationships totaling $400 million. Jeff graduated cum laude from University of Maryland with a degree in Finance and Marketing. He currently lives in Pittsford with his wife, two children and French bulldog.
Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding, Applying, and Supporting Resilience: Trauma shapes the way we think, feel, and interact, often in ways that are unseen. In this interactive session, George Cassidy Payne will introduce the principles of trauma-informed care and explain the science behind Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—significant events in childhood such as abuse, neglect, household instability, or exposure to community violence. With nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults reporting at least one ACE, understanding these experiences is key to fostering empathy and building stronger, more supportive communities. Participants will explore how trauma affects behavior and well-being, engage in hands-on exercises, and learn practical strategies for applying trauma-informed approaches in everyday life. Drawing from his work as a full-time 988 Suicide Prevention Counselor, George will illustrate how resilience, supportive relationships, and nurturing environments can help individuals thrive despite adversity. This session is ideal for anyone looking to cultivate empathy, build trust, and make a meaningful impact in personal and professional relationships.
Leader Description: George Cassidy Payne is a full-time 988 Suicide Prevention Counselor with Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, a nonprofit creative strategist, and community organizer with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families through crisis and educational enrichment. He integrates trauma-informed principles into his work, helping people recognize resilience and foster well-being. George holds a BA in Philosophy from St. John Fisher College, an MA in Religious Studies from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, and a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is also an adjunct philosophy professor, bringing a thoughtful, reflective approach to workshops and learning experiences.
SESSION 4 (choose one)
Sound Bath Deep Relaxation Experience: Bring a blanket, pillow, yoga mat and eye pillow, or stretch out on the church pews with these items; you’ll experience deep physical and mental relaxation as waves of beautiful tones from a wide variety of instruments soothe and restore your energy. Afterward, feel free to come try out some of the instruments for yourself, and ask all the questions you wish!
Leader Description: Dr. Sandra Sluberski is an E-RYT500, YACEP, a KRI-certified Level 1 Kundalini instructor, and member of Yoga Alliance, teaching at the Online Yoga School /Yoga & Ayurveda Center and YogaLove of Honeoye Falls, in addition to her own business, SBS Yogaworx (www.sbsyogaworx.com). She’s creator/lead trainer of Taking Myths to the Mat: Integrating Yoga Mythology into Your Asana Training, available through OYS, and author of the companion book of the same title, available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. She presents monthly Kirtan sessions at Mythic Treasures in Rochester, and Sound Baths at varying regional venues, and is Charter Faculty for The Ohm Store Sound School, guiding students to effectively use their voices in sound healing practices. Sandra holds D.M. and M.M. degrees in Voice Performance from Florida State University’s College of Music. She taught voice at Nazareth University, Monroe Community, Emporia State University, and the Hochstein School. She also provides voiceover talent for commercial/media venues and audio book narration through SBS Worx, LLC and West Rush Media, LLC. She’s married to Dave Sluberski, professor of audio at the RIT’s School of Film & Animation/MAGIC Spell Studios, and broadcast audio recording engineer for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She also presents many programs annually at libraries throughout 5 counties, on backyard chicken keeping and chicken story time for children, featuring her beloved Silkie chickens.
Engaging In Difficult Conversations: Many of us were raised to believe that conflict is bad and ought to be avoided. As a result, our ways of engaging with conflicts may often swing between the extremes of avoidance and explosion. In this workshop, we explore the benefits of engaging productively with conflict. We also discuss strategies for having the tough conversations that lead to understanding and positive transformation in groups and in our personal lives.
Leader Description: Facilitated by the staff at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence.
West Bloomfield Congregational Church UCC 