Schedule — Life & Death in New York City

Schedule of the Day

See section below drop down for descriptions of each session.

Doors open and check-in begins at 9:30a. Coffee and tea will be provided.
Threshold Choir
Introduction & Welcome
“Holding Communal Space for Grief” Panel Discussion
- Ellie Ledin (Inheritance of Hope)
- Dr. Venus Mahmoodi (Columbia University Medical Center)
- Rebecca Missel (Grief & Bereavement Specialist)
- moderated by Rev. Marisa Sifontes (St. James’ Church)
“How to Talk About End-of-Life Planning”
- Katie Benn (Oncology Nurse)
“The Spirit of Hosting”
- Rachel Snyder (Rachel Snyder Hospitality)
“End-of-Life Care at the Margins”
- Amy Shea (Too Poor to Die Author)
- Elsie Soto (Friends of Hart Island)
- moderated by Emma Acker (All’s Well Initiative)
“Here & Hereafter: End-of-Life Ministry in the Church” Panel Discussion
- Mary Malhotra (St. James)
- Andrea Steinkamp (St. Paul & St. Andrew)
- Ronalda Nicholas (Hope Church)
- moderated by Eva Ting (Here to Honor)
Boxed lunches and beverages are included in your registration. We invite participants to eat together at communal tables and on the rooftop, weather permitting.
(If you have dietary restrictions, please note this during registration and we will do our best to accommodate.)
The breakout session following lunch is intentionally reflective, inviting participants to engage in a contemplative pause through visual art, song, guided conversation, or meditative prayer. If you would like to continue lunchtime conversations or take a moment for yourself in the Reflection Room, you're welcome to do that as well.
Tea & Mortality
- Daphne McWilliams (End-of-Life Doula)
“Carried by Song”: Experiencing Threshold Choir
“Tree of Life” Mural Tour & Artist Talk
- Dana Tanamachi (Artist)
- This 30-minute session will be held twice, at 2pm and 2:30pm.
Guided Prayer & Meditation: Making Space to Carry and Be Carried
- led by Rev. Dr. David Kim (Goldenwood)
“After the Last Breath: Care of the Body in Death” Panel Discussion
- Amy Cunningham (Funeral Director & Celebrant)
- Gabrielle Gatto (Green-Wood Cemetery)
- Scott Wohl (LiveOnNY)
- moderated by Erica Hill (Sparrow Funeral Home)
“The Coordination of Care” Panel Discussion
- Marni Blank (Begin with the End)
- Natalia Rodriguez (PSS Circle of Care)
- Kim Hong (Palliative Care Social Worker)
- Tatiana Lloyd-Dotta (Geriatric Social Worker)
- moderated by Eva Ting (Here to Honor)
“Care at the Thresholds”: Meet the Threshold Choir
“Faith & Readiness in a Medical Crisis”
- John Alsdorf (Teacher, Christian Adult Education)
- Kate Sokol (Nurse Practitioner)
Threshold Choir
Keynote Speaker: Michael Balboni
“Walking Lois Home: The Church's Call to Love the Sick and Dying”
Closing Thoughts
At any point throughout the day, you are warmly invited to step away from the gathering and spend time in the Reflection Room, creating space for quiet, processing, or simply being still.

Session Descriptions

"Holding Communal Space for Grief" Panel Discussion

Grief can feel deeply personal, but we were never meant to carry it alone. This panel explores how families, cultural traditions, and communities of care can help us walk alongside one another through loss. Panelists will consider how ritual, varying religious and cultural practices, and simply showing up can create meaningful spaces where grief is witnessed, honored, and shared. Panel moderator Rev. Marisa Sifontes (St. James’ Church) will be in conversation with Ellie Ledin (Inheritance of Hope), Dr. Venus Mahmoodi (Columbia University Medical Center), and Rebecca Missel (Grief & Bereavement Specialist).

Breakout Session 1

"The Spirit of Hosting"

"End-of-Life Care at the Margins" Panel Discussion

Death may be seen as a great equalizer, but our experiences of dying and what happens afterward are not all the same: access to resources and financial means can shape these experiences. What happens to those who don’t have the resources, support, or choices many of us take for granted when it comes to end-of-life planning and after-death care? This breakout session explores the realities faced by people who die while experiencing homelessness, poverty, or social isolation. The conversation is moderated by end-of-life doula Emma Acker (All’s Well Initiative), with Amy Shea (author of Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins) and Elsie Soto (Director of Friends of Hart Island and public health advocate). Together they consider how we can address end-of-life inequities and help make death care more accessible and compassionate for all.

“Here and the Hereafter: End-of-Life Ministry in the Church” Panel Discussion

In the Christian faith tradition, there are rituals, readings, and liturgies that remind Christians again and again that death has been overcome by the resurrection of Christ. But the world is also one marred by disease and debilitation, and all of us will face loss, grief, and difficult questions and decisions in confronting our mortality. How can the Church help congregants prepare for end-of-life well, practically and spiritually? Three church leaders will share their experience and insight in starting up various ministries around end-of-life education, preparation, and care: Rev. Andrea Steinkamp (formerly of St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church), Mary Malhotra (St. James’ Church), and Ronalda Nicholas (Hope Church). Moderated by Eva Ting (Here to Honor).

Breakout Session 3

"The Coordination of Care" Panel Discussion

Caring for someone who’s elderly and/or seriously ill can mean juggling medical appointments, medications, finances, family dynamics, work, and countless day-to-day decisions, often while trying to care for yourself, too. This panel explores the realities and complexities of caregiving, with practical guidance and an overview of resources available to caregivers in New York City. Moderated by Eva Ting (Here to Honor), panelists Marni Blank (Begin with the End), Kimberly Hong (Palliative Care Social Worker), Tatiana Lloyd-Dotta (Geriatric Social Worker), and Natalia Rodriguez (PSS Circle of Care) will share strategies for coordinating care, navigating needs, building a support network, and asking for help.

"Care at the Thresholds": Meet the Threshold Choir

"After the Last Breath: Care of the Body in Death" Panel Discussion

How we care for our bodies after death is both a practical decision and an expression of what we value. This panel explores the many ways we can arrange for the care and disposition of our remains: from traditional burial and cremation to home funerals and green burial, organ and tissue donation, and even emerging options such as natural organic reduction. Panel moderator Erica Hill (Sparrow Funeral Home) will be in conversation with Amy Cunningham (Fitting Tributes Funeral), Gabrielle Gatto (Green-Wood Cemetery), and Scott Wohl (LiveOnNY) to consider how cultural, spiritual, environmental, and personal values can shape and inform these choices.

"Faith & Readiness in a Medical Crisis"

When a serious health crisis comes, having a plan can be one of the most meaningful ways we care for ourselves and for those who may need to speak on our behalf. This session offers practical guidance on living wills, health care proxies, and other tools that can help us prepare for medical decisions while we are able to make them. Grounded in a Christian faith perspective, workshop facilitators John Alsdorf (Teacher, Christian Adult Education) and Kate Sokol (Nurse Practitioner) will explore how thoughtful preparation can align with religious beliefs, reflect our values, and allow us to experience both peace and readiness amidst uncertainty.