Violence in Honduras |
Jill Van Beek
Associate Director of Operations
Association for a More Just Society - AJS |
You may have noticed the rash of dire headlines streaming out of the small Central American country of Honduras lately: “Murder capital of the world.” “Western hemisphere’s new drug-trafficking hub.” “Police infiltrated by organized crime.” “Peace Corps pulls out.” “Worst prison fire in history.”
But the Association for a More Just Society, a Christian advocacy group, has fought corruption—and succeeded—on numerous fronts, provided legal aid to thousands of Hondurans, achieved justice and healing for over 200 individuals affected by violent crime and child sexual abuse, and lowered crime in one urban neighborhood by 80%. Today AJS is spearheading an unprecedented alliance of Honduran churches, Christian nonprofits, politicians, and diplomats, all dedicated to reforming the nation's justice and law-enforcement system to return peace and justice to Honduras. |
Hope Equals Students Supporting Peacemakers in Israel/Palestine
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Mariano Avila IIICalvin College
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Wage Theft |
Jordan BruxvoortAssociate Director
Micah Center |
Wage theft is the illegal underpayment or nonpayment of wages. Omar Cuevas and Phil Boogaart, co-chairs of the Micah Center wage theft task force, will be sharing stories of wage theft from right here in Grand Rapids as well as concrete action steps everyone can take to help fight this pervasive injustice.
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Criminal Justice and Prison Reform |
Derek Perkins and Carol Rienstra |
There is much disturbing research related to who is being locked away in US prisons, for how long and for what reasons. With 5% of the world's population and 25% of the world's prison population, the United States of America is truly not the "land of the free." Derek Perkins and Carol Rienstra, co-chairs of the Micah Center criminal justice and prison reform task force, and a panel of experts will expose mass incarceration in an age of "colorblindness" - highlighting Michelle Alexander's book "The New Jim Crow."
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Prevention of Modern-Day Slavery
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Julie SlagterMichigan Abolitionist Project
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This presentation will provide an overview of global and local slavery/human trafficking, as well as look at how we can prevent it by addressing root causes. There are an estimated 27 million people enslaved in the world today. Modern-day slavery can be prevented. The rescue and aftercare of victims is important, but what if we prevented a women, man or child from the bondage in the first place? Digging out root causes is key. Poverty, sexual abuse, domestic violence, greed, addictions, and broken relationships are all root causes. We'll learn how to empower the community of Grand Rapids to prevent the buying and selling of human beings, by addressing root causes.
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Advocacy, prayer, and just living to end extreme poverty |
Jason FiletaDirector
Micah Challenge - USA |
Write BackHow to write advocacy letters
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Stan Roth and Mike Franz |
Public Policy is often determined by public opinion. There are a half million readers of the Grand Rapids Press and MLive here in West Michigan. Veteran advocates Stan Roth and Mike Franz will share with you how to write letters to your local press and elected officials in ways that get published and make an impact.
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Lemkin House: An Asylum Community
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Maia Storm
Lemkin House
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Who are asylum seekers? They are people from all over the world who are afraid of being persecuted, tortured, murdered, should they return to their home country, because of their politics, or their race, or their religion, or their sexual preference. They cannot be deported while they are seeking asylum, so they are not undocumented and often will be able to work. Many need our help: a place to live, legal assistance, emotional support. The mission of Lemkin House is to provide shelter and support – physical, legal, social and spiritual – for those people in the West Michigan area who are seeking asylum in the United States.
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Setting Abuse Victims Free
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Safe Haven MinistriesJulie DeBoer
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1 in 3 women in the United States will experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in her lifetime. In Michigan, 41% of women will be abused by a boyfriend or husband in her lifetime. Women feel trapped in such relationships for many reasons: they feel alone, they experience silent shame, they are afraid to get out because of threats made, or they feel misunderstood by family, friends, or their church in their decision to leave. Learn how to respond to women who feel trapped by gaining tools to recognize, respond, and refer in abusive situations.
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Healthcare for All: The ACA a Step in the Right Direction
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Dr. John Cavacece and
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Healthcare costs are rising out of control at a rate that is 13 times faster than earnings. In Michigan alone we have over 1.3 million people who are uninsured. The Affordable Care Act has been law for two years, but still people do not understand what health reform is. Come learn why the Affordable Care Act is a step in the right direction.
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Hunger & Poverty in West Michigan |
Nicole DeVries
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Oftentimes when we think of hunger and poverty issues, we envision the commercials we see on TV, images of children in far-away countries, something that could never happen here. But did you know that hunger and poverty exist here in the United States? In our community of West Michigan? Come learn about what’s happening in our community, as well as what we can do about it.
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World and U.S. Hunger |
Chuck Clemence
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There are almost 1 Billion people on the planet who live in extreme poverty and hunger . There is enough food produced in the world to feed everyone. Why is this tragedy happening year after year? There are many contributing factors, but this session, led by Chuck Clemence of the Micah Center Poverty/Hunger advocacy group and leader of the local chapter of Bread for the World, will focus on the primary reasons behind this problem, offer some signs of hope, and put forth some specific action steps that people can take to become part of the global movement to end hunger.
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A moral perspective on health care reform |
Stan Roth and Bob Ritsema |
Healthcare costs are rising out of control at a rate that is 13 times faster than earnings. In Michigan alone we have over 1.3 million people who are uninsured. The Affordable Care Act has been law for two years, but still people do not understand what health reform is. Come learn why we have a moral obligation to stand up for those who lack access to affordable healthcare.
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Don't Do Justice
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Pastor Peter TeWinkle
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All of us want to impact the world in a way that makes it a fairer and more equal place for all ages and races. We have a passionate desire to follow Micah’scommand to “do justice…with God.” Thisworkshop provide an introduction to the Biblical foundation for justice and use it to focus our efforts at the congregational level. We will explore why some Christian attempts to "do justice" fall short and suggest some ways for congregations to be more effective in their work to set captives free.
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Anti-Payday Lending
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Pastor Dallas Lenear and Dr. Buster Soaries
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Payday lenders feast off of the desperation of those who can least afford their usurious interest rates. Pastor Dallas Lenear - co-chair of the Micah Center Payday Lending Task Force - joins with Dr. Buster Soaries and others to herald a biblical call to action against this irresponsible industry. Come find out the facts and how you can help.
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Environment: Water
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Jim Muller
Micah Center Environment task force |
Surface water is becoming a big problem for our urban community. It is also a justice problem. To understand the problem, we will look at the Ken-O-Sha Nature Center which is located just south of 28th Street between Eastern and Kalamazoo Ave. We will first look at the current flash flooding problems that are going on at Ken-O-Sha and ask, what do we do? The answer begins with knowing the history and why we have these problems. Jim Muller of the Micah Center Environment task force will then suggest a solution and a possible master plan. Jim will use as his model the way Minneapolis Minnesota solves these kinds of problems.
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Preventing Homelessness through Housing
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Lauren Baker and Lori Fedewa
Salvation Army Booth Family Services |
In 2010, over 3,700 people were literally homeless in the greater Grand Rapids area, and many more were on the verge of becoming homeless due to a lack of affordable housing. In the past, some households may have been given few options besides temporary shelter. Today, our community is focused on preventing homelessness as much as possible and there is a way the faith community can help!
The Congregational Partnership Program (CPP) encourages congregations to look beyond the crisis response (charity) and provide a housing response that supports long-term stability (justice) for vulnerable individuals and families in our community. Congregational partners provide rent assistance as well as relational support that reinforces the participant's strengths and encourages changes necessary to achieve their housing goals. Learn more about the housing issues in our community and the opportunity for people of various faith traditions and backgrounds to get involved. |
Loving Your Downstream Neighbor: Environmental Justice and Plaster Creek
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Gail Heffner and Dave Warners |
This presentation will connect justice issues to the local community. What does an urban creek have to do with social justice? Plaster Creek is a highly polluted urban stream that drains 58 square miles of Kent County. It flows through agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential areas in and around Grand Rapids, and collects water from all of these landscapes on its way to the Grand River near the center of the city. It is heavily impacted by pollution from E. coli bacteria, sediment, fertilizers, and industrial pollutants. As these impacts accumulate downstream, inner-city neighborhoods face disproportionately high environmental degradation and public health risks. This presentation will include details on the work of the Plaster Creek Stewards, including ways for individuals, churches, schools, and neighborhoods to get involved in improving water quality in Plaster Creek.
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Restorative Justice |
David LaGrand |
21st Century Americans are captive to fears and isolation on many fronts, but perhaps most dramatically in our societal response to criminal offenders. Since 1970 the number of Americans behind bars has multiplied fivefold, with the brunt of this expansion taking place amongst the poor, the mentally ill and addicted, and in communities of color. Our current policy of identify and isolate is an abject failure by any measure, and is only propped up by fear and dogmatic assertions that fly in the face of experience. The good news is that Christians have formulated a different response to criminal offences, one which offers hope for liberation for victims and offenders together. Restorative Justice, a vision developed on Biblical principles attempts to work towards healing and reconciliation, and has shown remarkable success in creating safer communities. Come and discususs Restorative Justice with David LaGrand. LaGrand is an attorney working in the field of criminal law who initiated a Restorative Justice pilot program in Grand Rapids in 2009 while a City Commisioner. He has lectured on Restorative Justice in Churches, colleges, and Statewide conferences.
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