Episode 26

Creating Sacred Spaces w/ Pardeep Singh Kaleka

Published on: 18th May, 2021

Our guest this week is Pardeep Singh Kaleka. Kaleka is executive director of Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, founder of Serve2Unite, a published author of “The Gifts of Our Wounds” and a clinician specializing in utilizing a trauma-informed approach to treat survivors and perpetrators of assault, abuse and acts of violence. A native of Punjab, India, Pardeep Singh Kaleka grew up in Milwaukee, WI. As a former police officer and educator in the city of Milwaukee, Pardeep understands the difficulty facing our communities locally and abroad. Both in his practice and out, Pardeep’s passion remains one of healing and transformation. 

In the intro, David’s back with another dogecoin update. Then, we talk about the possibility for the arts and culture sector as the City and County begins to make decisions around American Rescue Plan Act money.  

At 13:25, Pardeep joins. We start off talking about seeing the value in each of our neighbors, and appreciating the artistry in each person (14:55); how do we get people to lean into who they are (18:40); what helped him to have the courage to forge his own career path (24:45); how to show and respond to callings from the universe? (29:35); how to we stay connected to each other in this new future? (36:47); how do we hold on to green shoots of humanity? (42:00); forgiveness and freedom (44:50); creating vulnerable sacred spaces (50:48); love for self and love for others, and navigating political divides with friends and family (57:00); Pardeep’s turn as Czar of Arts and Culture (1:01:55). 

Follow Pardeep Kaleka @PardeepKaleka on Twitter and @PardeepSinghKaleka on Facebook  

Web: www.TheGiftofOurWounds.com 

Music Transitions: “Milwaukee Strong,” by Shonn Hinton featuring the Milwaukee All-Stars 

E2 Ephemera 

Write the Mayor and Common Council about ARPA 

2021 Unity Awards: Pardeep Singh Kaleka – Milwaukee Magazine  

Pardeep Kaleka’s Carroll University Commencement Address 

Passing Down Trauma through Epigenetics 

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About the Podcast

Creative MKE
Milwaukee is an arts hub. The city's creatives, entrepreneuers, arts and culture organizations, and businesses are part of an interconnected creative economy that is fueling growth and community wellbeing in powerful ways.
Join Elisabeth Gasparka for this conversation show from Imagine MKE, where we hear from creative leaders in Milwaukee and beyond, to highlight all the incredible transformative power of their work in our region. We hope that after listening to the pod you’ll be able to imagine Milwaukee's arts and culture ecosystem—and all the awesome artists, organizations and creative assets within it, in a new way.
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