Brian Allain

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About Brian Allain
Brian Allain founded Writing for Your Life, a resource center and conferences for spiritual writers, and the Publishing in Color conference series, intended to increase the number of books published by spiritual writers of color. Brian also founded Compassionate Christianity and How to Heal Our Divides. Previously Brian served as Founding Director of the Frederick Buechner Center where he led the launch of Mr. Buechner’s online presence and established several new programs and strategic partnerships. Brian developed and led spiritual writers conferences at Princeton Theological Seminary, Drew Theological Seminary, Western Theological Seminary, the University of Southern California, Belmont University, New Brunswick Seminary, and several churches. He led the publishing effort for the book Buechner 101: An Introduction to Frederick Buechner in collaboration with Anne Lamott, and also the books in the How to Heal Our Divides series. All of this is a second career, coming after business and technology leadership in high-tech. Brian has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was designated a Palmer Scholar, their highest academic award. howtohealourdivides.com writingforyourlife.com compassionatechristianity.org publishingincolor.com whoareyoutryingtoserve.com
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Books By Brian Allain
Recent times have put a spotlight on the deep divisions in our society. Much has been written that acknowledges and describes racial, political, religious, and other divides, but there is little practical information on what can be done about them. How to Heal Our Divides highlights organizations that are taking real action to address these issues and heal divides in effective and practical ways. See how you can help make the world a better place.
Reviews
"There is much love expressed in this book, made all the more potent by the presence of real, brave, and beautiful struggle alongside it. May the stories and reflections gathered in this volume aid us all on our rocky path towards peace."
- Frederick Buechner
“Jesus' final prayer with his disciples (John 17) asked for one thing: that we his followers demonstrate a profound unity that will both convict and attract the watching world. In this time of deep division, this book shows how to do exactly that.”- Philip Yancey, author of “What's So Amazing About Grace”
“Creed and community remind me that changing habits is hard, and practicing solidarity involves wrestling with my own failures. But, with the help of others, each one of us can mend the fault lines in our own lives and lend our hands to repair the world. Read these essays and discover you are not alone. You have friends, co-workers, mentors, and guides for the way.” - Diana Butler Bass, author of “Freeing Jesus” “Grateful” and “Grounded”
“A brilliant and loving collection of real stories, "How to Heal Our Divides" shows what brave, humble people are doing all over the world to heal hurt and build bridges to restoration and peace. With inspiration on every page--written by some of the world's most renowned authors--here's a source of hope and healing that arrives just when we need it most.” - Patricia Raybon, award-winning author of "My First White Friend" and "Undivided"
“This volume brings together a diverse team of creative practitioners of un-division. All of these practitioners are translating peace-making theory into practice on the street, in the neighborhood, and in the human heart. Not only that, but they are developing and revising theory through their practice. That’s what makes each contribution so powerful.”- Brian McLaren, author of “Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It”
"For twenty-five years, the Center for Courage & Renewal has helped people reclaim the wholeness that is everyone’s birthright gift, so they can bring their identity and integrity more fully into their personal, vocational, and public lives. I am happy to participate in 'How to Heal Our Divides’ to come alongside other organizations working with similar goals."- Parker J. Palmer, Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal
“A vast book of diverse and accessible ideas the world needs right now!”- Mark Schaefer, author of "Cumulative Advantage"
“Filled with strong and hopeful voices, How to Heal Our Divides is a book that recognizes it will take more than a Kumbaya moment to bring wholeness to our society. It does the hard work of bringing civil discourse to the page in a way that shows us it is possible to talk even when we don’t agree.
“Action matters because the image of God matters. In these pages, you will be introduced to people whose faith has led them to creative action. Take note. These organizations and institutions are forging a path that makes faith-full living more possible for the whole of the church in our times.”
--Lisa Sharon Harper, president and founder of Freedom Road, LLC, and author of several books
"Whatever your burden for justice and whatever your station in life, there is something in at least one chapter of this book (probably more) that will stir you. You’ll feel an adrenaline rush in your gut, your heart will start to beat faster, you’ll pause your reading to keep pace with your racing mind, or you’ll excitedly tell a friend the new idea that occurred to you. Wait for this moment. Expect it. Then comes the critical part…do something."
--Jemar Tisby, author, national speaker, and public historian
“My favorite part of this collection are the prescriptions and practices for healing. St. John Vianney once was asked by pious folks, how did you get to be so holy? He replied, it’s not holiness; I simply take the trouble. No mere rant, this book is a path forward for people who, for God’s sake, give a damn.”
--Jon M. Sweeney, author of Feed the Wolf; editor of Thomas Merton’s A Course in Christian Mysticism
“I love collaborative projects, because we are all stronger and wiser together than any of us are on our own. This book is filled with incredible stories of incredible people doing incredible work healing the wounds of division and hostility. Dive in and let this holy, hope-full book inspire you to continue building a better world.”
—Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and contributor to How to Heal Our Divides
"If you need encouragement, you'll find it here. Amazing people with good hearts are doing good work in our divided world. If you're one of them, or want to be, read this book!"
-- Brian D. McLaren, author, speaker, activist
“The major work before every generation is to engage in searching for common ground and the common threads that knit us together as the human family and that can help make it possible for us to build sustainable, striving communities. This volume of essays highlights many of those threads and inspires us to walk in the light that they bring.”
--Catherine Meeks, Ph.D.Founding Executive Director- Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing
“These essays are reports on listening and love in action. By introducing us to some of the people engaged in what one writer terms ‘the work of political depolarization,’ it inspires hope. We learn how we can begin to help heal ourselves and our communities.”
--Kathleen Norris, author of “Amazing Grace” “The Cloister Walk” “Dakota” “Acedia & me” and many other books