‘Our goal is to adapt and make modern our founders’ vision of a more democratic and just union.’

We are a non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to calling our nation to greatness, to achieving the goals of democracy for all through economic and political reforms and individual spiritual growth. We believe that the founders of the United States were inspired by a vision of society that is just, but that has not yet been fully realized. We believe that the vision can be realized, and we are looking for the means within the scope of our current technology. We are dedicated to the Biblical concept of the Jubilee -- a time characterized by freedom for all, forgiveness, equality, and peace -- as a cornerstone of the democracy we seek and our founders cherished.

We are driven by an overriding concern for social and economic justice. Several of us have a strong spiritual connection to God. We have no master plan for making a better world. But with the right tools, operated within a true democracy and guided by the principles of our founders -- such as, "we are all created equal"—we could collectively create a better world. We have faith that our fellow Americans will not let us down or harm us. We are willing to take the risk and make ourselves vulnerable so that all people may be empowered.

The idea for the Jubilee Initiative began with the Jubilee amendment which first came to me in the summer of 1999, toward the end of a major spiritual reawakening for me. Initially, I had some reservations and wrestled with God over it. The amendment seeks to balance the nations’ wealth – taking from the rich and sharing it with the poor. I thought about the wealthy benefactors who have helped me in my life; they have good hearts, and I felt the amendment would be threatening to them. But, over the course of meditations, I was made to realize that the concept of the Jubilee was a much larger issue than the consequences to a few families. Its basis is, after all, the Biblical concept that sets forth a year of jubilee as a matter of course. I have focused all of my attention on the amendment ever since. The fruits of my efforts are contained within this web page.

Over the years, I have learned that greatest truths often come from the realization that our once-cherished beliefs are not always valid, when we take the time to re-examine our actions and our values. I grew up believing that the former Soviet Union really was the evil empire. I am the child of Estonian immigrants who escaped from behind the iron curtain, with dreams of America, where anyone could make money and become rich. As a family, we worked hard, and still always struggled, but we believed in the American dream. We believed in the capitalist system. We believed in and cherished the ideals of the United States of America. I still do. What has changed is not my belief in this nation, but the belief that the road we are on – one in which making and accumulating money is the paramount concern of the country – is the way to go. It has taken me a long time to come to this conclusion; my experiences have brought me there.

I went to college in the 70‘s, on the tail-end of that dizzying period in our nation’s history when students began challenging the assumptions of the American dream so seemingly fulfilled in the 50’s. Did hard work equal success for everyone? Was the American way always the best way? College, for me, was a struggle on several levels, and the struggle extended over five rather than the traditional four years. After college, my idealism drew me to teaching in rural Florida, in a school largely populated by the children of migrant workers. I made more than they did, but it was even hard for me. That is when I, like many of you, realized the difficulties attached to not making enough money. I put my idealism on the backburner and decided to go back to school and get my MBA. I made a promise to try and work with the poor and disadvantaged on a volunteer basis, a promise that I kept fairly well. But, basically, my full attention had turned to the business of making money.

Within a few years I was working on Wall Street, initially with USA equities and then with Japanese derivative securities. I was fortunate enough to land a job as a global bond manager and for the next few years had a spectacular run. I got married and had a great life, with all the usual trappings of the young and successful. I believed that the system worked and all the money I earned and all the time I was being wined and dined was fair—I deserved it. I had earned it.

Success feeds your ego. I decided to strike out on my own, and I did….strike out. It was three years of hardship and followed by trying to get back into the right ‘saddle’ as they say, finding the job that lets you perform. I couldn’t find it and if I did, I didn’t realize it--something had changed. After ten years of marriage, my wife and I divorced. It was about then that my transformation began and my old truths began to unravel.

I began to lose my faith in the market system espoused on Wall Street that I had held to be the truth. I got more involved with Father Robert Castle and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Harlem. Although I was a Lutheran, I had met Bob back in the mid eighties while I was doing volunteer work at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where I lived. My eyes began to open up as I distanced myself from the Wall Street crowd. I began to have a sense that I was supposed to be doing something else, but I did not know what it was. Just as I knew as a money manager when to buy or sell -- regardless of what others thought or what seemed rational – I knew that there was something else I was meant to be doing with my life. I had that very strong, persistent gut feeling that is often referred to as "a calling."

The scales began to fall from my eyes and I began to see the world in another way. Certainly God helped open my eyes to see that the social and economic injustices I had so believed in were false but I had other insights as well. I had always thought that society, particularly the United States, was progressing -- not perfect, granted, but progressing. We had ended slavery, given rights to women and other minorities and reduced poverty. But I am realizing more each day that we are regressing, letting democracy slip from our hands, letting our lives be controlled by corporations, spin-doctors and others. On a literal, materialistic level, we certainly have more things, but on other levels we are seriously wanting. And this saddens me.

I was fortunate to have the time to reflect upon my life and reacquaint myself with myself. I hope that you all have the same. God has blessed me. I will try to show you a different perspective on the indoctrination we receive each day, that narrows our perspectives. There are several things you can do to regain your perspective, to see the world for what it is. Sample distant or new/different environments and perspectives, perhaps by getting to know a neighbor from a different ethnic background than yours. Quiet time and meditation are great. Several of my friends don’t have televisions. Or consider going to a different house of worship. Attend a church, mosque or temple and discover another reality.

Since returning to Syracuse in the fall of 2000 I have taken the opportunity to learn and explore other religions. I have spent some time worshipping in a nearby mosque here in Syracuse, and have come away with a greater respect for the dignity and depth of faith that Islam commands. I have also become closer to the Sikh community in central New York. One of the more touching moments I have experienced recently was to watch how they dealt with tragedy as a victim of a post 9-11 hate crime. Their Gobind Sadan Temple was set afire and much it damaged but god willing their ancient sacred scriptures were miraculously saved. Through it all they showed forgiveness and love and because of it have brought about a transformation for many. I continue to visit various places of worship locally--to learn, build community and appreciate God's bounty. I have also planted some roots with Grace Episcopal Church in the University section, the Art of Living (pranayama) and the Wood Hath Hope Community.

In the summer of 2002 God revealed that I should begin learning about and praying at Onondaga Lake. It was a bit of a surprise because growing up as a child in Syracuse I had never paid much attention to it. Besides it was very polluted--the most polluted lake in the USA they say--and there seemed to have been no progress in cleaning it up since I left. Focusing on a place as a new spiritual practice also challenged me. When I first began to pray and meditate around the lake its power and spirit struck me. I called Mother Angela to come visit and spend time around the lake. She concurred that Onondaga Lake was a very special place. As I did more research I learned about the Tree of Peace and the Great Law of Peace and all the other peace and justice initiatives that have born in upstate/central NY. In 2002 I organized my first event around Onondaga Lake, a Prayer vigil, and continue to do so. A community of like minded people, Native and non-Native has come together, "Where People Gather". We share faith traditions and believe in the "Big Answer", that all peoples must cast their differences aside and come together.

On February 26, 2003 federal authorities in conjunction with the arrest of Dr. Dhafir attacked our local Muslim community. The following day at the meeting of the Inter-Religious council I learned that up to 150 predominately Muslim families have been interrogated and asked in appropriate questions about their faith. If it had not been for the IRC and local religious leaders this assault of justice would never have been reported. The following Saturday during my morning meditation I was called to assist Dr. Dhafir--A project I have been working on ever since. Those first few months were very difficult because the Muslim community was gripped in fear of further interogations and everyone was caught up with the Iraqi war. See Free Dhafir

I am a strong believer in spiritual exercises and spend several hours a day in prayer, meditation and prana yama/vidya.

God has provided us all with the opportunity for greatness. We can help make this nation a more democratic union, a better world for our children and our children’s children. It is our choice.

Choose wisely, my friend.

Jubilee Initiative Organization

The Jubilee Initiative is a 501-(c) (3) New York registered not-for –profit corporation.

The board of directors are as follows:

Angela Boatright is an Episcopal priest and Reki Master/Teacher currently serving as a priest at St. Pauls in Spring Valley New York. Prior to that she was associate priest at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem (New York City). She holds a B.A. from Cornell University, a M.S. J. from Columbia University and a M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary. Angela was a chaplain for persons with HIV-illness for several years and pastored two congregations in the Atlanta area.

Lorraine Mavins is branch manager of the Paine branch library of the Onondaga County Library system. For seven years she was the supervisor of the regional grants collection at Central Library. She taught grants and proposal writing to not for profits. She was the chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee for the city of Syracuse. She is a life-long activist.

Bill Coop Recently retired Presbyterian minister. Bill has had a life-long committment to God and serving the needs of the poor and the oppressed. He has been an active participant with Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and other groups dedicated to peace and justice. Bill moved to Syracuse in 1990 to takeover an inner city ministry. Since moving to Syracuse he has been actively involved with several groups and organizations dealing with urgent needs in our city--Most notably with stopping the spread of violence.

Madis Senner, the creator of the Jubilee Webpage and author of the Jubilee Initiative, is a CPA and former money manager who currently focuses his attention exclusively to the Jubilee Initiative (JI). He has an MBA(Finance/Accounting) and BS in English Education from Syracuse University. He worked for almost 20 years on Wall Street, the bulk of it as a global bond manager, for several firms: Van Eck, Chase Manhattan Private Bank, SunRay Securities, Clemente Capital, Jardine Flemings and Dillon Read. His most notable accomplishment was managing the Freedom Global Income Fund Plus, which was the number one mutual fund while he was the portfolio manager between 1986 to 1989. Madis began his career as an English teacher in Belle Glade, Florida. He has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, England and Japan. Madis' expertise of financial markets, particularly macro analysis and portfolio strategies, has been demonstrated in several articles published in the business section of the Sunday New York Times, as well as in Barrons, Euromoney, and International Financing Review. He is the author of Japanese Euroderivatives, published in 1989 by Euromoney

The Advisory Board. In April 2004 three of the board members moved to an advisory position. We made this change to better reflect my move to Syracuse. We will at some point add more members.

Robert W. Castle, an Episcopal priest, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He graduated from St. Lawrence University and the Berkeley Divinity School. Bob served parishes in New Jersey, New York, and Vermont before retiring as the Priest-in-Charge of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem in 2000. He has a long history of involvement in the civil rights and anti-war movements, and continues to work in New York City and Vermont. He is the author of "Prayers for a Burnt Out City," published in the 1960's.

Marcy J. Gordon is an attorney specializing in technology and intellectual property law. Marcy is currently employed by Bear Stearns. She is a lifelong activist and social critic. Her monthly column Psychicbabble is published at http://www.psyplan.com. In addition, Marcy is a songwriter and performer in New York City.

Earl Kooperkamp is an Episcopal priest serving as the pastor of St. Mary's church in West Harlem. He has a strong commitment to social justice, particularly through work in community organizing. He is currently writing about the theology of church based community organizing projects throughout the United States. He has served parishes in Harlem, the South Bronx and Washington Heights in New York City, as well as working with and organization oof over 40 congregations in East Brooklyn. He is also an active participant in the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition, working to bring the religious and labor communities to a common agenda. One of his current projects in this area is to fight for Living Wage legislation for workers in New York.

Special thanks to Matthew Lederman for all his help and effort in putting together this web site.

Back to the Table of Contents