The connection between a woman's social activism and spirituality will be explored at a two-day conference to take place at DePaul University March 30 and 31.

     Entitled "The Roots of Resistance: Women's Spirituality and Activism," the conference is designed to bring together women activists, clergy, academicians, theologians and students to explore and reinforce the relationship of spiritual beliefs and social activism that are rooted in resistance.

     Registration for the conference may be done on site March 30 at 8 a.m. in Cortelyou Commons, 2324 N. Fremont St. Conference attendees may also register by telephone at 773/325-7558 or by e-mail: rryan2@wppost.depaul.edu. The registration fee for the two days is $20 and may be paid at the door.

     "Often social activism is rooted in our core spirit," said Elsa Saeta, director of DePaul's Women's Center, sponsor of the conference. "We hope to uncover what it is that motivates women to do the kind of social work that they do."

     The conference keynote address will be delivered by Sr. Dianna Ortiz, O.S.U., at 7:30 p.m. March 30 in Cortelyou Commons. Ortiz is an internationally renowned human rights activist and a member of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission. She went to Guatemala in 1987 as a teacher and was subjected to horrifying torture after being abducted in November 1989. A reception for Ortiz will be held at 6 p.m.

     Conference plenary speakers and topics are as follows:

·   March 30, 9:30 a.m., Rosemary Radford Ruether, feminist theologian and professor at Garrett Theological Seminary, "Spiritual Justice: The Feminist Soul Journey;"

·   March 30, 10:45 a.m., Patricia Katherine Novick, soon to be an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, "Esther the Brave;"

·   March 30, 1:30 p.m., Cynthia Milsap, coordinator of Faith-based Community and Economic Development Research and Training at DePaul's Egan Urban Center, "Merging Our Spiritual, Intellectual and Political Selves;"

·   March 31, 9:30 a.m., Rabbi Eleanor Smith, of the Beth Emet the Free Synagogue in Evanston, "What If We Can't All be Mother Theresa?"

·   March 31, 1:30 p.m., Diane Martin, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and head of the Udumbara Zen Center, "The Heroism of Relationships: Engagement and Empathy as a Way of Life;"

·   March 31, 4 p.m. Maude Elmore-DeVictor, a former Veteran's Administration counselor who was one of the first "insiders" to make public the link between Agent Orange and cancer, "The Critical Role of Religion in Determining (and Surviving) Social Activism."

     The conference also includes roundtable discussions, workshops, a book fair, a poetry reading and a play.

     For more information about "The Roots of Resistance: Women's Spirituality and Social Activism" conference and other programs of the DePaul Women's Center, call 773/325-7558.