Faith and Advocacy Network (FAN)
SPRING 2021 CLASSES offer by FAN
Co-sponsors of this class are the Faith and Advocacy Network, Interfaith Children’s Movement, Absalom Jones Center and Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center. Call Panke Miller (404-636-7172 for additional information)
Classes meet Sundays at 5 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is required so that we can send participants the Zoom link. The registration form is below the class descriptions.
May 2: The Fierce Urgency of Now: Countering the Impact of Income Inequality
The gap between wealthy Americans and all other economic groups is wider than at any other time in the nation’s history. For Black citizens and other communities of color, the unequal impact of the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis has reinforced historic inequities in housing, education, and healthcare, among other systems essential to the well-being of all communities.
There is a growing conviction among civic, religious, and political leaders that attempts to address pandemic-driven increases in income inequality must therefore give special consideration to communities of color.
This class will focus on our neighboring community – the Old Fourth Ward – where long-time residents are being displaced by gentrification. An Economic Security Task Force, led by Councilmember Amir Farouki, is sponsoring a pilot project to test the effectiveness of direct income supports to counter this unhappy exodus. Alternative policies and legislative remedies at both federal and state levels will also be cited, as well as other community partners.
Click here on May 2 for the Zoom class
May 9: Addressing Child Trauma Caused by COVID-related Crises
Suffer the little children to come unto me…….
During a legislative session dominated by gnashing of teeth and deepening divide between political parties, a major ray of light broke through. Children, who have been largely invisible and voiceless participants in the crisis enveloping their families, were lifted up by legislators as a group deserving of special attention and support. Parental job loss, housing and income instability, academic and social disruptions, and increased isolation were cited as major causes of stress and emotional disturbance. This class describes how citizen advocates and legislators came together to forge a bi-partisan coalition of concern that resulted in major new investments in behavioral health programs, school-based counseling, and expanded Medicaid coverage for children in greatest need.
Click here on May 9 for the Zoom class
May 16: Eviction Prevention: Countering Homelessness
The Trump and Biden administrations shared one largely un-heralded concern: that massive waves of evictions caused by pandemic-driven unemployment threatened a tsunami of newly homeless citizens. To counter this frightening threat, both presidents committed major funds to programs and strategies designed to protect both tenants and landlords.
But widespread concern about whether massive emergency funding would actually reach the intended recipients, mobilized talented leaders in the public and non-profit sectors to design effective state and local entities to implement this important national priority.
Tony Johns will describe the pivotal role Crossroads and other non-profits have played in tackling this urgent task of eviction prevention. This class will also describe how state government, United Way and other key collaborators exerted heroic efforts to quickly create the agency infrastructure necessary to make good on this massive federal investment in preserving affordable housing and avoiding displacement.
Click here on May 16 for the Zoom class
Thank you for signing up for a FAN class. You will receive an email with the links for each session. (If you do not receive an email shortly, please contact Hala Hess White at St. Luke's. Look forward to seeing you in class!
FAN Spring 2021 Classes
The Faith and Advocacy Network (FAN) is the newest of our community ministries and represents parishioners’ desire to be a voice and an advocate. Initiated in 2018, FAN is dedicated to carrying out the Baptismal Covenant call to "strive for justice and peace" through the active ministry of public policy advocacy. It is designed to make St. Luke’s a safe place to have political dialogue and become engaged in civic life, regardless of political persuasion. FAN seeks to give voice to people struggling with poverty and injustice by promoting laws and policies that address their needs.
Advocacy efforts this year focused on Affordable Housing and ending Gun Violence. For two years, St. Luke’s has sponsored a public Gun Violence Vigil at the Georgia State Capitol. The purpose is to join with other faith and community organizations to prayerfully remember victims of gun violence and show support for the Georgia Background Check Expansion Act. This community ministry is comprised of nine areas that will address social justice concerns related to children’s safety and education, sex trafficking, gun violence, environment, race, class, gender, immigration, and sexual identity. Led by parishioners, the chairs of each area meet on a regular basis to design programs and events that will facilitate St. Luke’s witness of faith in the public square.
