AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Affordable Housing Crisis in Oahu
By Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE)
In this report, FACE identifies a number of problems/issues emerging from the rapid loss of affordable housing. Recognizing that the issues follow a continuum of housing needs—from sheltering the homeless to ensuring affordable home ownership—this report addresses a number of needs. To access the report, visit: www.facehawaii.org/issues.html.
HURRICANES KATRINA & RITA
Through the Eye of the Storm: A Book Dedicated to Rebuilding What Katrina Washed Away
By Cholene Espinoza (2006)
While in Mississippi, Espinoza meets Rev. Rosemary Williams, pastor of Mt. Zion Methodist Church. Williams is at the center of local relief efforts. Espinoza details the seemingly insurmountable red tape, systemic barriers, and inequities in disaster assistance for people who have no means to complain or demand better. Common stereotypes about race, religion, poverty, government assistance, single parenthood—even our notions of charity—are challenged. This is a story of loss and recovery, of the ravages of disaster, and the healing power of community.
God in the Raging Waters: Stories of Love and Service Following Hurricanes Katrina & Rita
By Paul Bloom (2006)
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused enormous damage and loss of life in the Gulf Coast region in late summer and fall 2005. Lutherans living in the region and church buildings near the destruction were hit with great losses. The crisis called forth an outpouring of aid and service that continues even today. The book tells the story of how the Lutheran church and its people have responded to the suffering of those most affected by the storms. Following Jesus’ admonition to love and serve those in need, the church has worked in partnership with synods and congregations to bring hope and healing to many in the region. Included are powerful firsthand accounts, insightful theological reflections, and questions for group use.
Rebuilding New Orleans: Creating Hope in a City Left By Government to Rot
By Gordon Whitman, PICO National Network
This article, written just six months after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast, discusses the dire housing situation in New Orleans and the faith community’s role in assisting families return home. This timeless piece presents a vivid description of the church’s role in post-Katrina relief that still holds true today, as the faith community continues to respond to injustices suffered by displaced residents.
http://www.piconetwork.org/page.jsp?itemID=28247203
IMMIGRANTS & IMMIGRATION
A More Perfect Union: A National Citizenship Plan
CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network), January 2007
By Jeff Chenoweth and Laura Burdick
In June 2007, CLINIC convened the advisory group to provide input on the most important recommendations for a national citizenship program. The faith community is one of several sectors of society CLINIC names as supporters of a national citizenship program, and specific recommendations are given to the community in order to assist the citizenship program movement.
http://www.cliniclegal.org/DNP/citzplan07/final-complete.pdf
Interfaith Statement on Immigration Concerns
Available through Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
This joint statement calls upon the president and Congress to enact safe and humane comprehensive immigration reform. To read the entire statement and to see the list of faith communities joining, click here.
Religion and Social Justice for Immigrants
By Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, Editor, Rutgers (2007)
This book examines how religious immigrants and religious activists are working for equitable treatment for immigrants in the United States. The essays in this book analyze the different ways in which organized religion provides immigrants with an arena for mobilization, civic participation, and solidarity. Contributors explore topics including how non-Western religious groups such as the Vietnamese Caodai are striving for community recognition and addressing problems such as racism, economic issues, and the politics of diaspora; how interfaith groups organize religious people into immigrant civil rights activists at the U.S.-Mexican border; and how Catholic groups advocate governmental legislation and policies on behalf of refugees.
The Immigration Toolkit
By the American Jewish Committee, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and Tucson Jewish Community Relations Council
This toolkit offers links to a number of resources providing information and guidance to anyone interested in immigration reform. Resources are listed by name, source, and date. To access this toolkit, visit:
http://tools.isovera.com/organizations.php3?
action=printContentTypeHome&orgid=54&
typeID=1289&User_
Session=4715caec4e938eaead3b3bec42953ca0.
The New Sanctuary Movement
By The New Sanctuary Movement
The Sanctuary Movement is born of an effort by churches to provide services to thousands of Central American refugees in the 1980s. At that time, churches vowed to provide social services and advocacy support, and engage in efforts to change federal immigration policy while vowing not to reveal the identities of those they helped even in the face of arrest and incarceration. Today the New Sanctuary Movement is taking a similar approach as religious leaders across a broad spectrum of denominations in as many as 14 states have come together to accompany and protect immigrant families. To read more, visit:
http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/
graphics/documnents/
New_Sanctuary_Movement_Legal_Handout.pdf.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Creating a Justice-Seeking Congregation
By Kate Lore, Social Justice Director, First Unitarian Church of Portland, OR
Recognizing the potential for social justice work to divide a church or strengthen a congregation, this article provides a map for helping congregations avoid the pitfalls that can lead to political battles within the church and tips for developing justice-seeking campaigns. To read more, visit: http://www25.uua.org/uuawo/new/article.php?id=97.
Holy Ground Toolkit
By Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) (2006)
This toolkit calls on congregations to identify issues of concern in their neighborhood and to come together in collective action to speak up and act to resolve those issues. Holy Ground is an approach for resolving issues that recognizes congregations can breathe life into the church and neighborhood by acting with tactical focus to create community. To access the toolkit visit: http://www.micahempowers.org/pdf/
MICAH%20HOLY%20GROUND
%20CAMPAIGN%20brochure.pdf.
Inspired Faith, Effective Action: A Social Justice Workbook for Unitarian Universalist Congregations
By UUA Justice Ministries (June 2006)
This workbook introduces congregations to the benefits of spiritually grounded, congregation-based work, including providing tips on how to engage in religiously grounded social justice work. It also includes guidance on leadership development, successful social action, understanding goals and risks, choosing an issue, creating a strategic plan, as well as discussion on the skills and tactics necessary for this work. To access the report, visit: http://www25.uua.org/uuawo/pdf/sjworkbook.pdf.
Online Interfaith Resource Guide
By The Pluralism Project at Harvard University (January 2007)
Recognizing the integral role of interfaith organizations in promoting understanding, dialogue, and cooperation among religious traditions, this resource guide provides links to numerous training manuals, “how-to” documents, and other resources created by interfaith groups. To access this resource:
http://www.pluralism.org/research/profiles/
display.php?profile=74171.
The Power of New Voices (video)
By PICO
PICO is a national network of faith-based community organizations working to create innovative solutions to problems facing urban, suburban, and rural communities. PICO has successfully worked to increase access to health care, improve public schools, make neighborhoods safer, build affordable housing, redevelop communities, and revitalize democracy. To learn more about how PICO is helping congregations from a number of denominations, faith traditions, cultures, and races find and effective way to translate their faith values into action visit: www.piconetwork.org/faithinaction.html.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Report of the Commission of Inquiry
By the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly (December 2006)
This report examines allegations of unsafe working conditions and worker mistreatment at AgriProcessors, Inc., the largest kosher meat-packing plant in the country. After several conversations with AgriProcessors representatives and visits to the plant, the Commission determined there were several issues of concern at the plant including issues of health and safety, inadequate worker safety training, unclean and unsafe conditions, and inadequate access to safety equipment. To read the entire report, visit: http://www.uscj.org/Report_of_the_Commis7199.html.
Workers Rights Victories
By the Mid South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice
This webpage provides a number of short descriptions with links to more detailed information on a number of recent workers’ rights victories secured through the Mid South Interfaith Network. The network is made up of a number of clergy and laity from a number of faith traditions and denominations who have come together to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for the workers—especially low income—of the Mid South. To access their victories, visit: http://www.midsouthinterfaith.org/index/victories.htm.
YOUTH
Building the Interfaith Youth Movement: Beyond Dialogue to Action
Edited by Eboo Patel and Patrice Brodeur (January 2006)
This book includes descriptions of various interfaith youth projects across the country, from a South Bronx arts project to the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago as it discusses the movement among religious youth of all faith backgrounds to commit to interfaith understanding and cooperation in the face of pervasive media attention and stories reflecting acts of violence committed in the name of religion.
http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com/Catalog/
SingleBook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/
CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0742550672
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