Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mark Your Calendars

Offering of Letters Workshops


In 2009, Bread for the World will urge Congress to rework U.S. foreign assistance to make it more effective in reducing poverty. While the world has changed dramatically, the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act still drives how we deliver foreign aid.

U.S. foreign aid programs are scattered across 12 departments, 25 agencies, and nearly 60 government offices. A more efficient system will ensure poor people get help faster and more effectively. In 2009, a new U.S. president and Congress present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make U.S. foreign assistance more effective in reducing hunger and poverty.

Come learn how your church, congregation or group can participate in the campaign.

ALBUQUERQUE
Saturday, February 28
9:30 a.m.-Noon

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
5301 Ponderosa NE
(east of San Mateo, north of Comanche)
Map

Speakers:
Mark Peceny, chair, Political Science Dept., UNM
Mark is a long-time member of Bread for the World. His research and teaching interests at the University of New Mexico lie in the areas of international relations, U.S.foreign policy and inter-American relations. He will give us a brief history and background on U.S. foreign-aid policies, and how those policies have affected countries around the world.

Robin Stephenson, Bread for the World field organizer
Robin works out of the Bread for the World western regional office in Portland, Oregon. She will provide background about this year’s Offering of Letters, including strategies for letter-writing and relevant legislation.

Maria Franco-Tapia, Heifer International staff
Maria is on of two community relations coordinators for Heifer in the Central Region, which includes New Mexico. She will tell us about the work of her organization in poor countries around the world and how people in New Mexico can become involved in the work of Heifer. Heifer International works with communities around the world to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.

Click here to RSVP for this workshop

SANTA FE
Sunday, March 1
1:30-4:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church
208 Grant Ave. (across from the former Sweeney Center)

Map

Speakers:
Tom McDermott, former UN regional director
Tom, who spent 39 years working in international development through UNICEF and the Peace Corps, will give us a bit of background on U.S. foreign aid policies and how those policies have affected other countries. He is currently special events coordinator and community liaison for the Santa Fe Council for International Relations, a >non-partisan organization dedicated to the belief that individual citizens can shape foreign relations “one handshake at a time.”

Robin Stephenson, Bread for the World field organizer
Robin will provide background about this year’s Offering of Letters, including strategies for letter-writing and relevant legislation.

Keith West-Harrison, New Mexico state chair, CARE Action Network (CAN)
Keith, who is based in Santa Fe, will tell us how people in New Mexico can become involved with CAN, which is comprised of volunteers around the country who support the work of CARE. Their main goal is to educate our nation's leaders about issues of global poverty. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.

Click here to RSVP for this workshop

For more information, contact breadnm@gmail.com

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