The Rev. Imani Olear

Mark Stradley

Mark Stradley, a school counselor in the Buffalo Public Schools—and a blacksmith who uses his craft to do something remarkable: to transform guns into garden tools. He is a part of the Raw Tools Network.  A group inspired by the work of Shane Claiborne and Michael Martin, co-authors of Beating Guns, their work reshapes not only metal, but the imagination of what peace can look like in our communities .

The Rev. Imani Olear

The Rev. Imani Olear is an American Lutheran pastor and yogi currently serving as the Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop for Justice Ministry for the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Before this call, she served at Reformation Lutheran Church in Rochester, NY, beginning in 2012, where she cared for the congregation and helped integrate their ministry with the broader community through interfaith, civic, educational, and outreach partnerships. Pastor Olear is known for creating and facilitating community engagement initiatives, workshops, and Bible studies centered on social justice and healing. She is also the founder of Yoga 4 A Good Hood, a “pay-what-you-can” yoga studio in Rochester that emphasizes community access, social justice principles, and mutual support. She developed a 200-hour yoga teacher training curriculum grounded in those principles. Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Theology from Ohio Dominican University and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH. -- This podcast is made possible through funding from the Riefler Ministry Enablement Fund, an annual grant program administered by the Network of Religious Communities in Western New York.

Rabbi Alex Lazarus Klein

Rabbi Alex Lazarus Klein of Congregation Shir Shalom in Williamsville, NY, joins Partners in Peace to share his story. A warm, compassionate, and enthusiastic leader, he has guided his synagogue and the Western New York community through challenges, conflict, and healing. Listen as he reflects on his faith story, the community he serves, and the meaning of shalom in today’s world. Partners in Peace, a ministry of Zion Lutheran Church in Clarence Center, NY, gathers leaders and neighbors from diverse traditions for thoughtful conversations that build trust across differences. Hosted by Pastor Roger Griffiths, the podcast is grounded in a simple belief: peace begins with listening, and understanding is a public good. This podcast is made possible through funding from the Riefler Ministry Enablement Fund, an annual grant program administered by the Network of Religious Communities in Western New York.