"Christ's example is being
demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy,
which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here.
If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest
of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't,
it will be irrelevant."
- Bono
"I love this work I do. It's a privilege to serve the poor.." Bono
Although there are many details to still plan and address, the conference is coming togther. People in Skowhegan are excited that Jan Schrock will be coming to their small community to see their Farmer's Market.
More sponsors are joining every day and several others are contacting their boards for involvement.
The idea - and ideal - of a free conference is surprising. However, I wonder how else a poverty conference could be?
In the attempt to keep the conference Green, below is the Agenda. Remember, the Skowhegan Farmer's Market piece is separate, although a chance to speak with Jan Schrock if you are unable to go to Colby:
Remember - the conference is free - bring a non-perishable food item for a food pantry or pet food for the Humane Society. Donations can also be made to the organizations represented.
Agenda
11:00am Skowhegan Framer’s Market - Jan West Schrock, Heifer International
Colby College - Active Communities: Weaving a Sustainable Future
1:15pm – 1:30pm Register for conference – Diamond Building
2:45pm – 3:30pm Discussion Panels 1& 2or view Movies as an alternative
1 - Women & Children in Developing Countries 2 - Faith in Action
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm Discussion Panels 3 & 4or view Movies as an alternative
3 – Poverty in Maine 4 – Farming Communities – local & global
4:30pm – 5:30pm Free time to visit booths, participate in discussions, view movies
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Free Poverty dinner for conference attendees – soups provided by the local farmers & prepared by the faith community - potluck provided by attendees
7:00 pm Jan West Schrock – Heifer International - “Together We Can End Hunger and Poverty”
Sponsors to date: Heifer International, Skowhegan Farmer’s Market, Somerset Coffee & Tea Company, Colby Chapter of Amnesty International, Maine Council of Churches, NEIDEEP, The Town Line, Loving Caring Hands Food Pantry, MOFGA, The Morning Sentinel, the North End Boys & Girls Club, The New England Conference of the United Methodist Church (Nothing But Nets), The UN Foundation, the UN Millennium Campaign
Be sure to contact me for infomation or reservations.
173,045,325 People Stood Up & Took Action Against Poverty Worldwide
between Oct. 16 - 18, 2009!
They gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries.
116,993,629 People Stood Up & Took Action Against Poverty Worldwide
between Oct. 17 - 19, 2008!
That is almost 2% of the
total world population!
43,716,440 People Stood Up Against Poverty
Worldwide between Oct. 16 & 17, 2007! Were You One of Them?
23,542,614 People Stood Up Against Poverty
Worldwide on Oct. 15, 2006! Bless Them All!
"Be the Change You Want to See In the World." Gandhi
Upcoming Events
Send Me Your Events!!! October 17, 2009 NEIDEEP Interfaith Service & Conference
at Fairfield United Methodist Church, 10am to 2pm, including potluck lunch
Join people of all faiths
Discover the role of women in
ending local & global poverty
Location - FUMC, 33 Rt. 201, Fairfield, Maine
Just off I-95, Exit 133
This event is in conjunction with
Stand Up & is Free
The Rev. Dr. Paige Blair Episcopal Priest & Bonnie N. Davis
Buddhist
First NEIDEEP Conference
Our First Meeting took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA on 2/21/06.
The day began with an Interfaith Service.
Sister True Virtue, who at the time was the Abbess of the Green Mountain Dharma Center, teaching in the tradition of
Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing, led a meditation, centering & grounding
the more than 80 participants for the rest of the day.
Local Christians including The Rev. Dr. Paige of St. George's Episcopal Chuch (York Harbor), Pastor Sharon Miesel of
York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church (UMC)
& Pastor Sue Kingman of Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) also took part in the Interfaith Service.
Iman Ibrahim Sayer, Boston Dialogue Foundation, did a transforming reading from the Koran in Arabic.
Rabbi David Mark, Temple Israel in Portsmouth, blew the Shofar,
made from Ram's Horn, reminding us that it is made from the same material as our fingernails &
that the work before us must be done with our hands.
The Rt. Rev. Peter Weaver, presiding bishop of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church (NEUMC)was also
serving the Worldwide head the United Methodist's at the time of the conference. He spoke about trips to Africa, meeting with
religious leaders to speak with President Bush, & attending the Transatlantic Forum on Global Poverty in London prior to the 2005 G8 Summit.
Jan Schrock, Senior Advisor of Heifer International at the time, is the daughter of
Dan West, Heifer's founder, spoke about Heifer's interaction with communities, helping them plan their futures.
Lallie Lloyd, Episcopalian's for Global Reconciliation (E4GR), spoke about her book -
"Eradicating Global Poverty - A Christian Study Guide on the MDG."
Margaret Udahogora, of Rwanda, spoke about educating orphans from her country, also
reminding us of Africa's beauty. Suzanne Bowman,
talked about BeadforLife - Ugandan women (many HIV/AIDS positive) making beads and jewelry for two years and now
supporting 170 families.
NAACP, Salvation Army and United Way attended as guests with clergy and
other participants. Program stressed MDG, trade issues, & activisim.
Millennium Campaign Pledge & ONE Declaration were signed - "No Excuses" White Wristbands were handed out with
resource guides. By setting the example of working together across potitical, cultural, spiritual & religious boundaries,
we can make an amazing difference.
Interfaith Communities Can Heal the World!
A second round of NEIDEEP is planned for October 2008.
Activating New England will make a difference in ending extreme poverty. After all, we hosted a memorable
tea party that changed the course of history.
In a world where so many go hungry,
Let us make the fruits of creation available for all.
In a world where one billion of our brothers and sisters do not have safe drinking water,
Let us help the waters run clear.
In a world where so many die so young,
And so many mothers die in childbirth,
And so many families are ravaged by disease,
Let us bring health and healing.
In a world where women carry such heavy burdens,
Let us recognize and restore the rights of all.
Let us join together, with a new sense of global community,
A new awareness of our need for one another,
And for this fragile planet,
To meet the clear challenge of the Millennium Goals,
To bring hope as substantial as bread,
To make human dignity as visible as wheat in the fields.
Special thanks to The Rev. Mike Kinman for his assistance on how to set up a cool blog!
