You're Invited...

SPECIAL: Faith-Rooted Organizing Training March 4, 2011

Faith-Rooted Organizing Training NY Faith & Justice Invites you to... Faith-Rooted Organizing Training Friday, March 4, 2011 9:00am to 5:30pm (with break from 11:30-1pm) Hosted by Judson Memorial Church 55 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012 Come experience this one-day introductory training on how to address injustice in our city and our world in a way that draws power from the roots of our faith. Faith-rooted organizing is bringing people together to create change in a way that is shaped and guided in every way by the deepest beliefs of our faith. It is not "faith-based" organizing which focuses simply on organizing people of faith. Instead, faith-rooted organizing draws from the real power of our faith to enable people of faith, all faiths, to contribute their unique gifts to the broader movement for social and economic justice. The Trainers: Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is the executive director of C.L.U.E. (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), an organization of religious leaders in four cities in California (San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego). C.L.U.E. supports low-wage workers in their struggle for a living wage, health insurance, fair working conditions and a voice in the decisions that affect them. Lisa Sharon Harper is the executive director of NY Faith & Justice, a growing movement of congregations, advocates, government representatives, and individuals committed to ending poverty in New York through spiritual formation, education, and direct advocacy. How to Register: To register click this link or paste into your browser: http://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=3154 Or contact Saralyn Jones at sjones@nyfaithjustice.org or call (212) 870-1254. Co-sponsored by: Judson Memorial Church, Bread for the World, Brooklyn Congregations United, Bronx Health REACH, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Habitat for Humanity, Metro Hope Church, Micah Institute, New York Faith and Justice, Trinity Grace Church, We ACT for Environmental Justice

Stand for Freedom!

On Friday, September 10th, NY Faith & Justice along with other New Yorker's from all faith's, cultures, and backgrounds will gather together to stand for equality, diversity and religious freedom and the rights for Muslim American's to build a Community Center at 51 Park Place. Please join us!

What: Candelight Vigil

Time: 7:15pm (sundown)

Where: Meet at the corner of Church Street & Park Place

What to Bring: Bring a candle and American Flag but NO signs. Please wear white in peace and solidarity.

Betraying the Age...

Join the Story! (w/ special appeal)

Dear NY Faith & Justice Friends and Family, For the past two months, we have shared the stories of people who make up New York Faith & Justice. They are members, board members, partners, and friends. They are pastors, organizers, and ordinary people committed to an extra-ordinary vision... Thank you to all who shared their stories. You have enriched our lives and challenged us with your faith. Thank you to all who read the stories. More than any other NY Faith & Justice web-based campaign, this one struck a nerve. We hope you were inspired. We hope it moved you to look for ways to engage in your neighborhood, in your community, in your city. More than that, we hope you caught a glimpse of the vision. Think of the most vulnerable among us--the ones Jesus calls "the least of these." The single mother, the child without resources, the immigrant within our borders... What have you learned about the core lies our age tells us about the least of these? Remember the lies? The ideology of individualism. What I do only matters to me. I gotta get mine? Money = God. It demands that we sacrifice certain people on its altar. Here's another core lie our Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice team discerned during a recent meeting: 3. I buy therefore I am. And here's another core lie of our age discerned by a national gathering of Christian faith-rooted organizers during a recent gathering in Los Angeles: 4. "The other" is a threat to our well-being. What is the truth? What could it look like to betray the age's lies with truth in your life, in your neighborhood, in your city. What truth would God tell--what structures would God change to help "make things right" for children living under the threat of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and asthma because of environmental injustice in their neighborhoods... for children like my niece, Luna? What systems would God change to help "make things right" so that communities could thrive and children in the South Bronx, Harlem, Central Brooklyn and South Queens could play freely in the streets with no fear of criminals or cops? So, that Conversations for Change are no longer necessary! What policies would God craft to help "make things right" for immigrants within our boarders. How would God handle the balance between law and grace? And what about "the mosque" and religious freedom? How would God lead us to treat our neighbors? By the way, if you missed yesterday's press conference call in support of the Park51 community center and mosque, you can click here to listen to the audio taped press call with national security experts and faith leaders. Many of you wrote to me over the past two months saying: "Please don't stop sending the stories! They're so inspiring." We won't. We will continue to live and tell our stories of everyday people exercising seeds of faith to move mountains in the city. And we want you to join the story! Join the Story! There are lots of ways you can join the story! Intern with us! We are now accepting applications for Fall 2010 - Spring 2011! Volunteer your expertise or resources! Check out the Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice or theConversations for Change Host an Immigration Reform House Party Become a Financial Partner with the movement! Our goal was to raise $25,000 in new and renewed members and financial partnerships to help make our work possible. We're still tallying the pledges and gifts. So far, you have given about $13,700 in memberships, pledges, and donation of services. It's not too late for you to join the story. Please consider digging deep to help us reach our goal. Your generous gift would help us secure an office space and would lay the foundation for all of our work throughout the next year. Betray the age! Contribute just $25, $50, $100, $300, $500, $1000 or more to the work of NY Faith & Justice. ***All who give just $10/mth or more through automatic electronic payments will receive a complimentary NY Faith & Justice T-Shirt!Don't forget to use the "Designation" box on the online giving page to indicate your size and let us know if you want a male or female cut. NOTE: T-Shirts will be mailed out throughout the month of September. NOTE: If you prefer not to give online you can send checks made payable to "FCNY/NY Faith & Justice" to: NY Faith & Justice c/o Partnership 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 500 New York, NY 10115 Thank you for your continued prayers and partnership and don't forget to follow us on , , the nyfj blog or the nyfj calendar for up to the minute action alerts, program changes, and details. Living the Story, Lisa Sharon Harper Co-founder and Executive Director New York Faith & Justice

Betray the Age...Week 3

Betraying the Age Derrick...in his own words (w/ special appeal)

Dear NY Faith & Justice Friends and Family, Meet Derrick...In His Own Words Minister Derrick L. Boykin is a member of the board of New York Faith and Justice, Pastor of Memorial Community Church of West Harrison, New York, Associate Minister of Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the South Bronx, and the Northeast Regional Organizer for Bread for the World. With a beautiful wife and three kids ranging in age from 10 months to 9 years old, Derrick took a moment out of his full life to grant me a phone interview as he walked down a siren-filled Harlem street. Any of the positions mentioned above hold a world of wonder and drama in themselves, but those positions are not what led me to Derrick today.Derrick is a co-founder of the Conversations for Change initiative between the police and the community in the Bronx. Lisa: Derrick, your life is focused on food and hunger and you're a pastor. Why do you give extra time for the issue of police/community relations? Derrick: It's a vital necessity. There are so many young men and women, particularly in low income urban neighborhoods, who really struggle with so many odds against them. Being a young pastor and a black male, I have lived in similar conditions. I know the pain associated with being in a neighborhood where there's tremendous distrust of the authorities. The issue for me is not at all about "spending extra time". I've never even thought about it in those terms. i see it as a calling on my life. Lisa: Remember the lies of our age that we identified? What do you think of them? The ideology of individualism (i.e. "I am an island unto myself." "What I do only matters to me." "I gotta get mine.") Money = God. It demands the sacrifice of certain human beings on its altar. Derrick: They ARE lies! But in our society, they've become cultural norms. As it relates to capitalism: the notion that self-interest reigns and some people are "sacrificed" on behalf of the interests of one or a group of people--that notion is a complete contradiction to the message of scripture. One of the central themes of the Gospel is denial of self; picking up your cross and following Christ. Christ said for a man or woman to gain their life, they have to lose it. [chuckles] I interpret that as sacrificing oneself for a greater cause. Lisa: How did your understanding of spiritual lies inform the creation of Conversations for Change? Derrick: One lie that's perpetrated is the lie that there is a dichotomy between the police and the community. That's not real. It creates the dynamic of "otherness" and objectifies the "other" group. People lose their humanity. When we take away the others' humanity, we can treat them as less than human. When you question that lie and begin to realize we are all created in the image of God and each of us has something special to bring to the table, then you stop seeing the other as an object. Instead, you see them as brother--as sister. For example, during one session of Conversations for Change, a young Latino man shared that he got off work and got into his car, which has tinted windows. If you didn't know the man, you wouldn't know he was a police officer. The officer explained that while driving home he was pulled over. He was just as frightened about what the police might do as anyone else in our dialogue circle would be. That really touched me. And all of us realized how much work is needed to be done to transform the interactions between the police and the community. I want to encourage people who see what's going on in our communities; some have become angry, others have become desensitized, still others sit back and complain about what they see and know. I want to encourage us all to engage in the process of transformation. One small act by a lot of people turns into a big movement. Join us. There are lots of ways you can do one small act today: Do you have experience leading small group discussions? We are currently recruiting facilitators for the next round of Bronx Conversations for Change (Sat, Nov 13). Contact Saralyn atsjones@nyfaithjustice.org and sign up for the Sat, Nov 6 Facilitator Training today! To learn more about the relationship between the police and low-income urban communities, check out this EXCELLENT NY Times video! Finally, there's one more important way you can do one small act to build a movement. Become a member, renew your membership, or a become a financial partner with NY Faith & Justice. Right now NY Faith & Justice is working to raise $25,000 in new and renewed individual financial partnerships to help fund the November '10 Conversations for Change and other programs like it. Contributions from people like you make our work possible. Anyone who gives $50 or more in the course of a year is a member. If you haven't renewed your membership, now is the time. If you've been waiting to give, today is the day! Betray the age and contribute just $5/mth, $10/mth, $25/mth, $50/mth, $100/mth or more to the work of NY Faith & Justice. ***All who give $10/mth or more through automatic electronic payments will receive a complimentary NY Faith & Justice T-Shirt! Don't forget to use the "Designation" box on the online giving page to indicate your size and let us know if you want a male or female cut. NOTE: If you prefer not to give online you can send checks made payable to "FCNY/NY Faith & Justice" to: NY Faith & Justice c/o Partnership 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 500 New York, NY 10115 Thank you for your continued prayers and partnership and don't forget to follow us on , , the nyfj blog or the nyfj calendar for up to the minute action alerts, program changes, and details. Engage, Lisa Sharon Harper Co-founder and Executive Director New York Faith & Justice