Advocacy Training Weekend 2015
APRIL 17–20, 2015 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
“Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation”
Compassion, Peace, and Justice Day Workshops
Prolonged Occupation and Palestinian Children
How are Palestinian children affected by Israel’s prolonged military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza? This workshop will focus on the widespread and systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, as well as violence against Palestinian children by Israeli settlers and soldiers. Based on Defense of Children International-Palestine’s experience documenting abuses and providing legal aid to children charged in the Israeli military court system, the presentation will highlight the dual legal systems operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the disparity between legal protections provided to Palestinian children and Israeli children.
Workshop leaders: Brad Parker, International Advocacy Officer and Staff Attorney, Defense for Children International Palestine
The Church Addresses Human Trafficking
Human trafficking—modern-day slavery—is a multidimensional threat, one that deprives men, women and children of the most basic of their human rights. From sex trafficking to debt bondage, from the tomato fields to the mining industry, it is a complex phenomenon—lucrative, widespread and growing. Explore how the PC(USA) is partnering with others to address human trafficking through human rights, a victim-centered approach that puts the rights of trafficked persons at the center of all advocacy and assistance efforts. Find out what works, what doesn’t, and how you can be part of a movement for justice for trafficked persons.
Workshop leader: Ryan Smith, Presbyterian Representative to the United Nations, Compassion, Peace, and Justice
Building the Beloved Community: Resources for Addressing Racism
Addressing mass incarceration and systems of exploitation will require us to dismantle racism. What resources does the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have to help us analyze and organize to address racism and build the Beloved Community? Through experiences and conversation, this workshop will introduce PC(USA) resources and consider ways they might be used.
Workshop leaders: Sera Chung, associate for gender and racial justice, Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries/ Presbyterian Women; Mark Koenig, director, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Compassion, Peace, and Justice
Ending Detention of Immigrant Families: Modern Day Internment
The U.S. Government reinstituted its use of family detention centers in response to the arrival of thousands of women and children seeking asylum from Central America last year. Now, in addition, to the thousands of beds that hold migrants who are caught up in immigration proceedings, our country has 4,000 new detention beds being used to keep women and children asylum seekers behind bars while their claims of relief are heard. The same companies that benefit from the detention of persons across the U.S. stand to benefit from this appalling practice; Geo and the Corrections Corporation of America.
Learn about this latest expansion of the private prison industry in immigration detention, what local congregations and the national church are doing together to address the immediate humanitarian needs of these Central American families and strategies to advocate for the end of family detention.
Workshop Leaders: Kelly Allen, University Presbyterian Church, Teresa Waggener, Office of Immigration Issues and Susan Krehbiel, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
The Sanctuary Movement
The Sanctuary Movement of 2014 is a grassroots response by people of faith to get in the way of the system of mass detention and deportation that separates immigrant families and divides communities. By sheltering them in their houses of worship, Sanctuary shields family members under immediate threat of deportation from separation. Immigrant families and faith communities work together to close these orders of deportation and reunite families. Join us for a workshop on how this movement has grown and learn firsthand from Presbyterian pastors that have provided Sanctuary to their immigrant neighbors.
Workshop Leader: Amy Beth Willis, Office of Public Witness
Reforming Drug Policy— From war and prison to regulation and rehab
The “war on drugs” has filled our jails, fed drug gangs, corrupted police overseas, militarized police at home, and put communities of color under constant surveillance. Better state and local responses to a culture of consumption and addiction are needed; medicinal uses need to be distinguished from serious dangers; removing profits can reduce the profiteers. Hear from the study team on drug policy reform authorized by the 2014 General Assembly.
Workshop Leader: Chris Iosso, Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy
Grassroots Responses to the Mass Incarceration Crisis
A strong grassroots movement is essential to effectively challenging and ending the mass incarceration crisis currently faced by the United States. Without this foundation, there can be no lasting political solutions. In addition to learning the basics of community organizing, workshop participants will be introduced to existing successful grassroots initiatives against mass incarceration; links between the “war on drugs” and mass incarceration; the school to prison pipeline; and prison privatization and the role it has played in the expansion of the prison industrial complex. “Grassroots responses . . .” will be led by Gail Tyree, a Soros Justice Fellow and experienced community organizer (She most recently organized on behalf of Planned Parenthood against Tennessee’s Amendment One), and Robert Brashear, community activist and pastor of West Park Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which is itself, deeply engaged in the issues of its local community.
Workshop Leaders: Gail Tyree and Robert Brashear, Presbyterian Criminal Justice Network (PCJN) a network of PHEWA
Choosing Education Over Incarceration: Offering A Choice - Providing A Chance
This workshop will introduce the new education initiative approved by the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) The PCUSA Office of Public Witness is charged with the responsibility of implementing this initiative. The workshop will challenge the current trend of incarceration in the US with the alternative of education which is fundamental to the heritage of Presbyterianism.
Workshop Leader: J. Herbert Nelson, Office of Public Witness
The School to Prison Pipeline
The inability to obtain decent housing and/or employment once released from prison are just two of the systemic issues of mass incarceration. This workshop will focus on initiatives from grassroots communities responding to mass incarceration, how it is impacting them and how they are addressing the issues.
Workshop Leader: Cynthia White, Self-Development of People
Earth Care and the Exploitation of the Environment
How we care for the earth and its species influences how we care for other human beings. The way we interact with the world around us can be a model of exploitation (environmental racism, increasing poverty by lack of natural resources, climate change disasters affecting the most vulnerable). Or, our relationships and interactions can be healing and just, faithful to God's call to "serve and preserve" the earth (Genesis 2:15). Hear from a local Presbyterian Church on how being an Earth Care Congregation has transformed their congregation. Learn about current environmental legislation, the COP-21, and ways you can influence significant commitments on carbon reduction and climate change that will take place this year and have impact for years to come.
Workshop Leader: Presbyterian Hunger Program
Brand H2O: Water Privatization and Clean Water Access
There is plenty of safe, drinkable water for every person on the planet, yet one in four people worldwide don't have enough safe drinking water. Many private companies, enabled by governments, have successfully exploited the need for safe drinking water and turned a human right into a commodity. Absolving themselves from their duty to provide water access for everyone, local governments have allowed corporations to provide bottled water at a cost and freed themselves from any effort to clean up contaminated local water sources. While corporations profit, people in poverty must choose polluted water at the expense of their health, or divert already sparse resources to purchase wasteful, bottled water. In this interactive workshop we will explore what our faith teaches us about caring for our water sources; ensuring that they remain clean and safe, and available through public water systems. We will connect to water activists and share stories and practices that have been successful in promoting public access to safe drinking water.
Workshop Leader:Bryce Wiebe. Presbyterian Hunger Program
Equipping Prophets not Extracting Profits
While it may seem that countries rich in natural resources may be rich. That isn’t true. The “resource curse” shows us that countries with great oil, gas and other extractive industries are often the poorest, with less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with far fewer resources. In fact, countries with rich natural deposits are often plagued by corruption, civil war, human rights abuses, authoritarian governments, land grabs and environmental degradation – because powerful sectors want to control the profits.
This workshop will explore the use and corporate exploitation of natural resources across the globe, and how partnership between those in the developing world and those in industrialized countries can secure release from corporate captivity for all. By amending purchasing practices, engaging bad corporate citizens, and supporting activists in the developing world, we seek a world where the benefits of vast resources are not held by so few.
Workshop Leader: Bryce Wiebe, Presbyterian Hunger Program
How to Become a Welcoming Church to Returning Citizens
What is a welcoming church? What is the role for churches in the lives of returning citizens and their families? When does this process start? How do you know if your church is being successful? These are just a few questions to open us up in dialog to continue into a discussion. We will build a tool box together.
Workshop Leaders: George Kerr, Executive Director START at Westminster, a harm reduction program in Washington DC, Westminster Presbyterian Church DC and Katitia Pitts, Executive Director, Calvary Healthcare, and Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church.
church engagement in active prison ministry - practical examples from the hudson river presbytery in new york
In this workshop the Hudson River Presbytery’s Prisoner Partnership Program (PPP) will share its many years of practical engagement in various prison related activities in several of the 62 state prisons New York State. These programs range from bible studies, prisoner correspondence and art based self-development programs to higher education academic training as well as reentry programs for prisoner returning to society, and advocacy engagement. The presentation will include voices from the inside through video material recorded in recently released documentary material from rehabilitation programs at Sing Sing as well as Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (max. for women), clearly demonstrating the humanity of people behind bars and their potential for redemption.
Workshop Leader: Hans Hallundbaek, Prison Ministry Coordinator, Hudson River Presbytery
Lockdown Indoctrinated
This workshop idea will examine the struggle of inmate acclimation to society after release. Enculturation of violence and “institutionalization” will also be explored. This workshop would also examine the difficulties in released offenders maintaining homes and employment based on current laws. Such issues as “Ban the Box,” sexual offenders registry, voting, welfare and employment difficulties will also be explored. Need for faith and civic community involvement in helping released inmates readjust in society. Some attention will be given to the phenomenon of the Prison Industrial Complex and how it contributes to the acceptance of institutionalization and marketing of prison culture.
Workshop Leader: Alonzo T. Johnson, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
What Every Presbyterian Should Know About Drones
Amazon wants to deliver packages with them. They’ve landed on the White House lawn. And they are the U.S. government’s weapon of choice in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. Join us as we consider how to talk about drones in our congregations. We’ll discuss the ethical, moral and legal issues related to their use and consider what a Christian response to drones looks like. We’ll review the 2014 General Assembly resolution “Drones, War and Surveilance” and look at the recent policy recommendations from the Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare calling on the U.S. to halt all lethal drone strikes.
Workshop Leader: Carl Horton, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change: Toward right relationship with america's native peoples
A powerful interactive exercise presented by Paula Palmer, a Quaker from Boulder, CO. Through a participatory process, we trace the historic and ongoing impacts of the Doctrine of Discovery, the 15th-century justification for European subjugation of non-Christian peoples. Our goal is to raise our level of knowledge and concern about these impacts, recognize them in ourselves and our institutions, and explore how we can begin to take actions toward “right relationship.” In the Doctrine of Discovery, we find the roots of injustice. In the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we find the seeds of change. How can we nurture these seeds to bring forth the fruits of right relationship among all peoples? A Resource Kit gives suggestions for continued study, reflection, and action. See www.boulderfriendsmeeting.org/ipc-right-relationship
Workshop Leader: Paula Palmer, a travelling Friend who has deep experience on issues affecting indigenous peoples.
