Catholic Charities to Hold Crafty Garage Sale in #ABQ on Saturday

Over the past few months, Catholic Charities of  Central New Mexico has received boxes and boxes of new crafting materials and holiday decorations. The agency is putting the surplus items to good use by offering the public a  one-time-only opportunity to obtain bargain crafting supplies and support our families that continue to struggle with poverty.  The items will be available for purchase at its In-Kind Donation Center, located at the Osuna Business Center, 3600 Osuna Blvd. NE #622 (map), on Saturday, February 3, 8:30 a.m. until Noon.

This flyer has more information.

#ABQ Baha'i Community to Host Interfaith Harmony Week Gathering

The Albuquerque Baha'i Community cordially invites members of all faith communities in the Albuquerque area to help commemorate World Interfaith Harmony Week. The Baha'i community will be hosting "Prayers for Peace and Conversations of Friendships, which bring us all to Unity." Here are details:

Wednesday, February 7, 2018
7:00—9:00 pm
Bahá’í Faith Center
5700 Ouray Road, NW (map)

A United Nations Resolution, adopted in 2010, encourages all member countries, on a voluntary basis, to spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during the first week of February. The document urges all faith communities to promote the concept of  Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions.  See list of 2018 events worldwide

An Inspiring Story of Survival and Success

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe and Catholic Relief Services cordially invite the public to a series of conversations with Thomas Awiapo.

Come listen to Awiapo's inspiring story of survival and success. Orphaned before the age of ten, Awiapo endured bleak poverty and hunger in his small African village until The Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program saved his life through a food program at a school started by CRS.

He eventually won scholarships to attend college and later earned a Master’s degree from California State University. Today, Awiapo works for CRS training community leaders throughout Ghana, where he lives with his wife and four children.

His story of initiative and his joyful presence has brought inspiration to thousands of people in the U.S. Awaiapo is visiting the U.S. to speak at schools and parishes during Lent and to thank U.S. Catholics for participating in CRS Rice Bowl.

There are five opportunities to meet Awaipo on Jan 29-31, 2018.

Monday, January 29

• 9:30-11:00 am, St. Michael’s High School, 100 Siringo Rd, Santa Fe (map). Please check in at school office. 
• 1:45-2:45 pm, St. Therese School, 311 Shropshire Pl. NW Albuquerque (map). Please check in at school office. 

Tuesday, January 30

• 1:00-2:00 pm, St. Pius X, St. Cecilia Fine Arts Center, 5301 St. Joseph’s Pl NW, Albuquerque (map).
• 6:00-8:00 pm, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Parish Hall, 9502 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque (map).

Wednesday, January 31

• 12-1:00 pm, Catholic Center Sandia Room, 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl NW, Albuquerque (map).

For more info, contact the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Social Justice and Respect Life 505-831-8167 or justice@archdiosf.org

Roadrunner Food Bank Seeks Volunteers for SNAP Outreach

The SNAP Outreach team at Roadrunner Food Bank is seeking volunteers to help educate and inform clients about the benefits of enrolling in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamps program). 

SNAP is an effective way to address hunger by providing families and individuals access to fresh, nutritious food. According to Feeding America’s May 2017 Map the Meal Gap report, 25% or 124,980 of New Mexico children are at risk of hunger. The report also shows the overall hunger rate in New Mexico is 16% where 332,610 people in our state are at-risk for hunger.

Volunteer opportunities are available at various locations around the Albuquerque area. The team will provide training and staff members will join you at the outreach location. Days and times are flexible.
 
To participate, send an e-mail message to Marissa Johnson (Marissa.Johnson@rrfb.org) or call 505-314-0599
 
The mission of Roadrunner Food Bank is to permanently end hunger in New Mexico, and the food bank needs your help to get us there.

An Enthusiastic Pitch for Three Sisters Kitchen

Three Sisters Kitchen is an ambitious project to create a space for people to come together to cook, eat, test new recipes, develop new food businesses, teach and learn from each other. It is one part café, one part test kitchen, one part dining room and one part classroom. And, though many have come through with support, input and funding for Three Sisters, Bennett is now largely running the whole operation herself...Just about everyone who hears about the kitchen wants to get involved somehow. from Article in Weekly Alibi

Sarah Haynes, Anzia Bennett

Corn, squash and beans...Three agricultural products that support each other's growth when you plant them together. That concept reflects the mission of Three Sisters Kitchen in Albuquerque.

 
Anzia Bennett, director of the emerging project, was the featured presenter at The Interfaith Hunger Coalition's bimonthly meeting in January. 

Rather than post a recap of her  comments to our group of about 20 people gathered at First Presbyterian Church on January 23, I will include a couple of excerpts and a link to her terrific interview with Robin Babb of the Weekly Alibi.

"As she walks me through the soon-to-be under-construction space at 109 Gold Avenue SW, Bennett’s enthusiasm for the possibilities of Three Sisters is obvious—despite the dozens of times, I suspect, she’s given this same pitch to others. Her unflagging energy, no doubt, has come in handy during the long process of planning and executing the project."

She hopes to have a soft opening for the space sometime in the spring or early summer of this year, but acknowledges that progress has been a lot slower than she wanted. “I wanted to open last year,” she says, “but between planning, permitting and finding funds for all the kitchen equipment and staff …” she winces. It’s not an uncommon predicament for many business owners in Albuquerque, nonprofit or otherwise.

Bennett welcomes financial donations from individuals and foundations to the project, particularly to acquire the expensive kitchen equipment needed for the test kitchen. However,  one thing she really wants is cookbooks (as well as lightly used aprons, dishes, and cooking tools).  If you would like to donate one of these items or host a fundraiser, send an e-mail message to Anzia Bennett (anzia@threesisterskitchen.org).

Roberta Montoya and Joy Dinaro

Bread and Blessings Project
Bennett's presentation was a perfect complement to an earlier mini presentation from Roberta Montoya, who manages the Bread and Blessings project at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in downtown Albuquerque. '

The Interfaith Hunger Coalition has begun a new feature at our monthly meetings, which is to showcase the work of one of our endorsing congregations.

Montoya gave a great history of how the community came together to help create the project, including donations of services and expensive equipment needed to set up a special kitchen for Bread and Blessings. Through the project, the parish and volunteers from various faith communities around Albuquerque offer a restaurant-style meal every Sunday afternoon. While most of the clients are members of the homeless community, low-income working families and individuals are often among those who are served. The main entre is often pasta, but desserts appear to be a favorite. "The clients like sugar," noted Montoya. 

Celebrating Bread's 2017 Legislative Victories

Bread for the World's newsletter for January 2018 reflects on legislative accomplishments in 2017.

This summary was put together by Chris Ford, senior manager of media relations

Despite the challenges of a new administration and new Congress, with your help Bread was able to achieve several significant legislative victories in 2017.

Offering of Letters: Doing Our Part to End Hunger

Our 2017 Offering of Letters: Doing Our Part to End Hunger was successful in securing a short-term budget through early 2018.

As Congress continues to negotiate a budget deal “for the remainder of the fiscal year,” Bread for the World is urging congressional members to include funding for programs and priorities that will end hunger That put the total funding for famine relief in 2017 at approximately $5.4 billion, which is a 20 percent increase over what Congress passed in its December 2016 continuing resolution.

Although the situation in all four countries remains dire, the additional funds have provided much-needed relief to those in need during a time of extreme crises.

 “Vital to our success were Bread's grassroots and online activists visiting, calling, and emailing their members of Congress to create a groundswell of support as Bread staff and others lobbied on the Hill,” said Ryan Quinn, a senior international policy analyst at Bread for the World. “Without their hard work, we would not have gotten the additional funds for famine relief.”

Foreign Aid: Support for Maternal & Child Nutrition Programs

Photo: USDA

The 2017 budget also kept funding levels the same as the previous year for international maternal and child nutrition programs, including the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The budget also increased funding for global health programs and development assistance. U.S. foreign assistance comprises less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget, yet it has saved the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world and enabled countries to become more stable and self-sufficient.

Funding for WIC, Head Start, Child Care

Domestically, the 2017 budget funded anti-hunger programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and increased funding for Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and nutrition programs for senior citizens. Programs like these are vital to low-income families and have helped keep millions of Americans out of hunger and poverty. 

The Trump administration had proposed drastic cuts to both international and domestic anti-hunger and poverty programs in the 2017 budget. Fortunately, Congress rejected these cuts. We are grateful for our congressional champions and advocates who made ending hunger a priority. 

Saving the Affordable Care Act

Finally, because of your faithful advocacy, we were victorious in our efforts to save the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Legislation proposed by both the House and the Senate would have repealed the ACA, taking away health care coverage from as many as 15 million Americans through drastic cuts to Medicaid. The bill would have also ended the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, and enacted significant structural changes to the program that could have resulted in millions more Americans losing coverage. 

While the House passed its health care bill, senators rejected efforts to repeal the law, citing the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Currently, about 74 million of the most vulnerable Americans, including older Americans, the disabled, and children, receive health care coverage through Medicaid. In fact, more than one-third of all children in the U.S. rely on Medicaid for their health care, and almost half of Medicaid recipients are children.Bread entered the debate because people without affordable health coverage must often choose between putting food on the table for their families, and paying for medicine and the health care they need. If the cuts to Medicaid had passed, millions of Americans could have fallen into hunger and poverty.

Bread members and supporters made thousands of phone calls and sent thousands of emails, shared stories at town halls, and visited dozens of congressional offices urging members of Congress to protect Medicaid from these drastic cuts. Clearly, your outreach had an impact.  

Now, for the bad news: the tax bill

While we were able to achieve significant victories this year, we did suffer a set back with the tax bill. The tax cuts passed by both chambers, which largely benefit high-income individuals and large corporations, will almost certainly lead to deep cuts in Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs that help people experiencing hunger and living in poverty.

“This tax bill is part of a one-two punch,” said David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “President Trump and congressional leaders have already announced plans to follow this tax cut, mainly for high-income people, with a big push to cut more than $2 trillion from social programs for low-and middle-income people."

The bill raises taxes on the lowest earners starting in 2021. Tax cuts for all individuals and families expire at the end of 2027, and millions earning less than $75,000 would then see a significant net increase in their taxes. The corporate tax cuts in the bill are permanent.

The tax bill also repeals the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act. Without the mandate, 5 million of the most vulnerable Americans could lose their Medicaid coverage.

The important victories we were able to achieve would not have been possible without your help. We expect many more challenges in the coming year, as Congress and the Trump administration look to make cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs that help people living in hunger and poverty. Your faithful advocacy will be needed more than ever.

Together, our collective Christian voice can move mountains. Thanks be to God who guided us, and will continue to guide us, in these efforts.

Fifty Six Restaurants to Participate in Souper Bowls in #ABQ, #SantaFe

The weekend before Super Bowl is when dozens of restaurants in New Mexico join efforts to help raise funds for the two largest food banks in our state. This year, 56 eateries (30 in Albuquerque and 26 in Santa Fe) have agreed to prepare various types of soups to offer at the annual Souper Bowls to support Roadrunner Food Bank and The Food Depot. Both events will be held on Saturday, January 27. Participants will have the chance to vote for their favorite soups as well as enjoy local entertainment. Here are details.  

Roadrunner Food Bank
The fundraiser will be held at the food bank, 5840 Office Blvd NE
Albuquerque (map),
11 am to 2 pm

Tickets are $42 (adults) and $10 (each child)  Buy Online
$45 at the door

Participating Restaurants
99 Degrees Seafood Kitchen, Artichoke Cafe, Backstreet Grill, Bizzy B Cakes, Central Grill and Coffee House, Conchita’s Café, The Crown Room, The Daily Grind, Farina Pizzeria, Fresh, A Mobile Bistro, Fresh Bistro Garduños of Mexico, Jason’s Deli, Kelly’s Brew Pub, Mazaya Café, LLC, The Olive Garden, Pizza 9, Q’s Cakes and Sweets Boutique, Ranchers Club of New Mexico, Rojo Grill and Lounge, Route 66 Casino, SAGE Dining, Savory Fare, Shamrock Foods, Slate Street Billiards, Slow Roasted Bocadillos, TFK Smokehouse, Theobroma Chocolatier, Turtle Mountain Brewing Co.,Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila + Bourbon

The Food Depot
Santa Fe Convention Center,
201 W. Marcy (map)
Noon – 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for Adults & $10 for Children 6-12 (buy online before noon Friday, Jan. 26). $35 for adults at the door

Participating Restaurants
Cream: Café Bon Appétit at Institute of American Indian Arts, Café Mimosa, El Castillo Life Plan Community, Jambo Café, Paper Dosa, Rowley Farmhouse Ales, Turquoise Trail Bar & Grill at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Savory: Del Charro at The Inn of the Governors, Milad Persian Bistro, MiSanta Catering, Nath’s Inspired Khmer Cuisine, Rio Chama, San Francisco Street Bar & Grill,The Palace Restaurant & Saloon Seafood: Anasazi Restaurant, Dinner for Two, La Plazuela at La Fonda, Second Street Brewery, Vinaigrette Vegetarian: Café Pasqual’s, Kingston Residence of Santa Fe, Love Yourself Café, Santa Fe Bar & Grill, Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, Terra Restaurant at The Four Seasons Rancho Encantado, The Kitchen Window 

See lists of other businesses in our community supporting the events for Roadrunner Food Bank and The Food Depot (scroll to the bottom of each link).

Recycled Heart Exhibit Opens in #ABQ on Friday, February 2

Art and recycling goes hand-in-hand. Artists are, nowadays, transforming old, recycled and reused objects into amazing pieces of contemporary art.

Access to the arts is a social justice issue.

ArtStreet, a program of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, and Harwood Art Center cordially invite the public to an opening reception to this year's exhibit of Recycled Heart on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Harwood Art Center, 7th Street and Mountain Road in Albuquerque (map). Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

The exhibit, which features mixed media and recycled art by ArtStreet artists, will be displayed Feb. 2 to Feb. 23, 2018.

Bringing the injustice of poverty and homelessness together, Recycled Heart is uniquely poised to capture the diverse, distinct, and highly individual responses of ArtStreet artists’ interpretation of their community experiences in relation to poverty and homelessness.

"The show at Harwood is an open and quirky but artistic setting for emerging artists at ArtStreet. Harwood has always been supportive of AHCH and ArtStreet," said AHCH board member Evelyn Kuhn. "It has validated and helped me bring out the artist in me. There is an artist in everyone.”

Invocation for Opening Day, NM State House of Representatives

 (courtesy of Interfaith Worker Justice-New Mexico)

The Rev. Andrew Douglas Black
January 16, 2018
Creator God -- From the east and west to the north and south, you have gathered your servant leaders here so that this capitol may not simply be an arena of legislative work, but also that this roundhouse may truly be a symbol and beacon of hope, truth, justice, unity, and community not just for our state, but for the nation and the world.

As we open the 2018 Session, I pray that you watch over all of those who represent the people of New Mexico.

May these servants do your work with a spirit of energy, intelligence, and imagination.
May all who enter this capital be treated with dignity, respect and kindness.
May those with a voice help the voiceless speak, may those with power help the powerless, and may those who are fed with plenty help those who are hungry and in need.

As they tackle the various issues facing our state, inspire in these leaders great courage and vision to look beyond themselves to higher purposes and even greater horizons. May your spirit be upon them to speak truth in love, to tear down the dividing walls of hostility and seek reconciliation, and to move from the blindness of an eye for eye towards a justice that is restorative and brings about healing and wholeness.

O Great Spirit who gives us life--you have blessed New Mexico with a rich and diverse tapestry of history, culture, and sacred traditions that are rooted in the land and your creation.

Help us to remember that we are all keepers of this unique, rugged, beautiful and sacred place. A place that’s home to our families, our history and our collective spirituality.

We give you thanks for the mountains and the mesas, the acequias and aquifers, the water and wildlife, and the gift of good land that sustains us all.

Help us to be strong stewards of your creation, to work toward the common good and guide us all in developing responsible attitudes, behaviors and policies toward your land, water, and natural resources.

As we enter this new session, ...give each of these legislators the ability not only to develop practical answers to today’s problems but also bestow upon them the prophetic vision and faithful imagination needed to create long-term solutions that will benefit not only this generation, but the many generations of New Mexicans to come.

All these things we humbly pray, Amen.

(Rev. Black is director of Community Relations, Education and Veterans Outreach for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and a member of  First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe).

Snapshots from a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday

Today marks the start of the 30-day session of the New Mexico State Legislature. To prepare for the occasion, Sen. Cisco McSorley hosted a town hall meeting featuring  brief comments from four state legislators: Reps. Gail Chasey, Christine Trujillo, Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Debbie Sariñana on Sunday afternoon, January 14, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Nob Hill.

The gathering was one of two town hall meetings held that afternoon. The other was hosted by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and featured Reps. Javier Martinez, Andrés Romero and Miguel Garcia.

A handful of elected officials and candidates also showed up to Sen. McSorley's town hall to offer comments, including U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (who is running for governor of New Mexico), Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, Bernalillo County Treasurer Nancy Bearce, State Rep. Bill McCamley from Las Cruces (who is running for State Auditor), Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis (who is running for the seat in the First Congressional District). Former Democratic Party chairs Brian Colon (who is running for State Auditor) and Debra Haaland (a candidate for the seat in the First Congressional District) were also in attendance. Three other candidates for the seat in the First Congressional District also offered brief comments: Democrats Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Damian Lara and Libertarian Lloyd Princeton.

The audience also had the opportunity to ask a number of questions on a broad range of topics dealing with education, economic justice, the death penalty, lottery scholarships, environmental protection and other very important topics. With the room filled to capacity, and a very interested and engaged audience that asked lots of questions, the town hall went beyond its allotted time. Great to see democracy in action!

Here are other photos from the town hall.

State Reps. Williams Stapleton, Sariñana, Chasey

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins

Bread for the World Devotional Guide Honors Dr. Martin Luther King

Father of all, open the hearts of those who are positioned to bring daily bread to those in need of bread. Help all of your creation to understand your heart for all to be fed. May our actions reflect this as we seek to serve all children. Amen. -Prayer from the devotion for Week 1

2018 is an important year. It marks the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Poor People's Campaign. To mark both these historic occasions, Bread for the World is launching "In Times Like These ... A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement."

 This weekly devotional guide, which has the support of 23 national and global church leaders, includes reflections from 46 writers. Bread for the World invites people of faith to use this resource for

1. Bible study and worship when engaging the biblical texts, messages, and prayers to empower your advocacy to end hunger and poverty.

2. Personal and group reflection on the contributions of Pan-African people in American history.

3. Taking advocacy actions in your church or community on policies that seek to end hunger and poverty.

Download the guide

Ecumenical Events During Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Ecumenical & Interreligious Commission of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is hosting an Ecumenical Prayer Service, featuring with ValLimar Jansen at St John XXIII Catholic Community 4831 Tramway Ridge NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (map)  on Thursday, January 25, 2018 7:00pm  A reception with light refreshments to follow the service.

The service, which is one of several events during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, The theme for the week is Your Right Hand, O Lord, Glorious in Power (Exodus.15:1-20)

Blessed with an extraordinary voice, ValLimar Jansen is a highly regarded singer, cantor and recording artist. She is also a college professor, a leader of worship and prayer and a workshop presenter at conferences across the United States. Known especially for her work with gospel, contemporary Christian and gospel-jazz styles, she sings a wide range of music, including spirituals and traditional, organ-based choral music.

In 2005 she released her first solo collection, You Gotta Move. Other recent projects include her stirring, gospel-style rendition of Jaime Cortez’s classic “Rain Down” on the Live It! two-CD compilation; and lead and background vocals on Clothed in Love, Tom Kendzia’s collection of spirituals and gospel-style music for the liturgy. ValLimar composes all her music with the help of her husband, Frank. They live in California and have three children.

Schedule for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Friday, Jan 19 at 5:30 pm 
Prayer Service and Dinner at Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Community, 11 College Ave., Santa Fe (map), 505.473.4200

Friday, Jan 19 at 6:30 pm 
Dialogue on the family at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 2532 Vermont St. NE, Albuquerque (map), 505.298.7553

Sunday, Jan 21 at Noon 
Potluck meal, followed by presentation on Christian Unity at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Arroyo Seco, N.M. (map) 575.776.8450

Sunday, Jan 21 at 3 pm 
Prayer Service at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 100 Church St., Santa Cruz, N.M, (map) 505.753.3345

Tuesday, Jan 23 at 7 pm 
 Prayer Service at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Community, 5415 Fortuna Rd. NW (map), Albuquerque 505.831.5011

Wednesday, Jan 24 at 6 pm 
Taize Service at Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, N.M. (map) 505.351.4360

Thursday, Jan 25 at 7 pm 
Prayer Service and Presentation featuring ValLimar Jansen at St. John XXIII  Catholic Community, 4831 Tramway Ridge NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (map) Albuquerque, 505.293.0088

Thursday, Jan 25 at 6:30 pm 
Panel discussion featuring the pastors from Cathedral Basilica, First Presbyterian Church and Episcopal Church of the Holy Faithon current topics respective to their church. Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, 311 E. Palace, Santa Fe (map), 505.982.5619

For more information on all the events, contact Rose Garcia 505.831.8243 • rogarcia@archdiosf.org

Friday Tweets about #Hunger

“For some, the idea of a day off from school sounds like fun, particularly if there is snow involved. But for others it means going without the safety and food that school provides." #SnowDay #Hunger https://t.co/SyRZtKBeou

— Bread for the World (@bread4theworld) January 3, 2018

Think about it...#Sustainability, #ClimateChange , #biodiversity, #hunger are all linked & one of the answers is #smallfarmers . So why do so many #chefs not work with them? Think outside the four walls, be responsible. #foodforlife #ZeroHunger #culinary pic.twitter.com/2XwB9DGUiQ

— Conor Spacey (@Spaceychef) January 6, 2018

#Hydroponic vegetables are part of the solution to #hunger and #nutrition https://t.co/Oq3mnpYNK0 @organic @aquaponics @agriculture @food @nutrition pic.twitter.com/LLYuSyNcZR

— AgLantis (@CoCoOrganicFarm) January 9, 2018

We’re proud of supporting the Parliamentary Front against #hunger (PFH) in #LatinAmerica & Caribbean. A plural group of parliamentarians fostering effective #Legislation and building lasting alliances for #ZeroHunger
See how it works https://t.co/d0fZ1NfsB9 pic.twitter.com/aWoxdI8EqK

— Gustavo Gonzalez (@ggonzzalezz) January 11, 2018

Warmest congratulations to Max Finberg, who was honored for his wide efforts to address hunger. Max at one time served as executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger (an affiliate of Bread for the World) and also sat in some Bread board meetings (as a representative of former Rep. Tony Hall)

We're very honored to recognize Max Finberg as a Hero for #Hunger. His work at organizations such as @WFP, @AmeriCorpsVISTA & @HungerCenter has impacted thousands of lives. We salute Max, & his efforts to bring #food justice to the #world. https://t.co/PytO15N1tq pic.twitter.com/sMOQsCZqVC

— MAVF (@mav_foundation) January 5, 2018

State Legislators to Host Town Halls this Sunday

Two New Mexico State Senators, in partnership with a handful of members of the State House of Representatives, are hosting town halls on Sunday, January 14, in Albuquerque. The town halls provide an opportunity for constituents to bring up concerns to our State Legislators before this year's 30-day session, which runs from January 16 to February 15. While short sessions are mostly about passing a budget, other issues are addressed. And even if the issue does not come up to the legislative floor during the session, there is always the possibility that a relevant committee might take it up.

Here are details on the two town halls. (There are probably other public sessions for which I don't have information).

• At Hotel Blue, 717 Central Ave. NW in downtown Albuquerque (map), 1:00-3:30 p.m., Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Reps. Javier Martinez, Andrés Romero and Miguel Garcia will host a town hall to discuss their plans and answer your questions and take note of your suggestions, Even though the meeting is targeted at constituents of Senate District 12, everyone is invited to attend. 
• At Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 114 Carlisle Blvd. SE  in Nob Hill (map), 2:00-3:30 p.m., Sen. Cisco McSorley and Reps. Gail Chasey, Christine Trujillo, Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Debbie Sariñana will hear from constituents about issues they care about.  RSVP on Facebook requested

Poor People's Campaign to Launch 2018 Efforts in New Mexico

The rally and mass revival for the Poor People's Campaign made a big impact in Albuquerque last August. Central United Methodist was packed to capacity, and the energy and sense of commitment was very palpable that evening. In 2017 over 1200 New Mexican's marched and gathered to support this campaign. The reasonable question is "what comes next?"

Here is the answer.  Organizers of the Poor People's Campaign in New Mexico are planning a big event to launch activities for 2018 in Albuquerque and elsewhere in New Mexico on Sunday, January 14, at Congregation Nahalat Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (map), 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The date coincides with the celebration of  Dr. Martin Luther King's 91st birthday as well as the 50th year of his death. 

The Albuquerque event, which is part of a series of similar rallies around the country, will feature speakers, local music and more. A Facebook event has been created for the occasion. "Bring your friends and your family. Everyone is invited to attend as the issues being addressed affect us all," say the organizers of the campaign. Let's do this together!"

"Rev. Dr. King lived and died championing the cause of justice for all and striving to bring good news of a brighter day for the poor and vulnerable people of the world," said the organizers, "We are holding this national revival gathering to call on the nation to enlist in the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. We call on all people of moral conscience to join us in 40 days of direct action in over half the states to challenge extremism in state and national politics."

End Hunger Day in New Mexico (February 6) Back on Track

Earlier this month, the State of New Mexico rescinded its contract with the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging, effective on February 1. The management entity, which has provided a variety of services for about 70,000 New Mexicans over the past 30 years, was also one of the parties in charge of organizing the annual End Hunger Summit in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, in partnership with other organizations. The Interfaith Hunger Coalition was honored to deliver a keynote address at the most recent summit in October 2017.

This year, the NMAAA had also planned an End Hunger in New Mexico Day at the State Legislature on Tuesday, February 6. With the agency no longer in operation, this event--which would have highlight the issue of hunger in our state to the New Mexico State Legislature--was in jeopardy.

Fortunately, the New Mexico Association of Food Banks and others have come to the rescue, and the End Hunger in New Mexico Day is back on track!

In the meantime, two state legislators have taken legal action questioning the manner in which the contract was rescinded. If the issue is resolved in favor of the NMAAA, the Fifth End Hunger Summit scheduled for September 2018 might still be held. But for now, thanks to the NMAFB and others, the End Hunger in New Mexico Day at the State Legislature is back on track. Among other things, the event will feature exhibits and short statements from organizations involved in anti-hunger efforts in the state. A memorial will be read on the floor declaring February 6 as End Hunger Day in New Mexico.

Witness for the People Gathering Scheduled in Santa Fe on February 1

Interfaith Worker Justice-New Mexico cordially invites people of faith and people of conscience to the

9th Annual
"Witness for the People"

Thursday, February 1

Rev. Dr. James Forbes attended in 2015

Schedule 
8:30 am - Breakfast Strategy Meeting
at First Christian Church
644 Webber Street (map)
(2 blocks from the Roundhouse with parking)
 9:30 am - Meet with Legislators at Roundhouse
12:00 Noon - Gather in the Rotunda

Hear Our State of the State Address with the Reverend Dr. William Lyons, Southwest Conference Minister United Church of Christ

Music led by Eileen and the In-Betweens

IWJ-NM has been organizing this annual event since 2010 before or during the annual session New Mexico State Legislature. This year, the session runs from January 16 to February 15. Rev. Bert Scott said a prayer on behalf of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition in 2015. See our blog posts from 2015, 2016, and 2017

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry to Hold Bishop's Luncheon, Issues Briefing

Bishop Jim Gonia at 2015 luncheon

Each year during legislative session, the Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) hosts a legislative luncheon in Santa Fe. The luncheon hosted by Bishop Jim Gonia is an opportunity to meet and network with Lutheran, ecumenical and interfaith advocates from around New Mexico.

The event is held in conjunction with the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico's Issues Briefing, at which current information about legislative activity on bills related to LAM-NM's Advocacy Agenda is shared,

This year, luncheon and issues briefing are scheduled for Monday, January 22.

The luncheon will be at 12:30 pm at La Fonda Hotel, 100 E. San Francisco in Santa Fe (map). The cost of the luncheon is $35 per person. The cost is reduced to $30 when 4 or more people attend from your congregation or group.

The annual Issues Briefing, will take place at United Church  of Santa Fe, 1804 Arroyo Chamiso (map). Registration and refreshments will begin at 9:00 am.  If you are only able to attend the morning Issues Briefing, the cost is $10.

Deadline for reservations is January 18

Please make reservations by calling the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM office at 505.984.8005 or sending an email to info@lutheranadvocacynm.org

#ABQ Martin Luther King Jr. Events Set for Jan. 13 & Jan 15

Photo MLK Commission

Several events are planned in New Mexico to commemorate the birthday of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  There are two important events.

The New Mexico Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission invites the public to a march and commemoration ceremony on Saturday, January 13. The march starts at 11:00 a.m. on the corner of University Blvd & Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and proceeds to downtown. The commemoration ceremony will take place at Civic Plaza at 1:00 p.m.

On Monday, January 15, the Martin Luther King Multicultural Council will hold its annual celebration at Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana Ave., from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The council will honor community members who have made significant contributions to the world and represent the legacy of Dr. King.

Three Sisters Kitchen Works Toward a Food-Secure Community

Anzia Bennett, director of Three Sisters Kitchen, will be the featured presenter at the bimonthly meeting of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition on Tuesday, January 23, at 12:00 Noon at First Presbyterian Church (Martin Luther King Blvd. and I-25).

 The mission of Three Sisters Kitchen, which was opened in 2017, is to support the incubation of new ideas and work towards a vision of a food-secure community with a vibrant culture of health and a deep commitment to food and economic justice. 

The non-profit organization provides a local foods and shop cafe (which offers a year-round market for local food makers to sell their products), a test kitchen (a space for food entrepreneurs and young food businesses to experiment, make mistakes, learn, and adjust to create viable products), and a community classroom (offering multi-generational, multi-lingual, community-based culinary, business, nutrition, and health education to build confidence and creativity in the kitchen).
 

Three Sisters Kitchen was created as a result of community conversations hosted by the DowntownABQ MainStreet Initiative, the Downtown Albuquerque Growers’ Market, and their partners, from 2015-2017 with neighborhood residents, community-based organizations, farmers, healthcare and social service providers, and local business owners.

Immaculate Conception Church's Bread and Blessings Ministry 

Bread & Blessings team (2013 photo)

We are beginning a new feature at our bimonthly meetings, which is to highlight the outreach efforts by one of our local congregations to minister to the community at large.  

For our January meeting, we are featuring the Bread and Blessings Ministry at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, which received national recognition from Catholic Relief Services in 2013. Roberta Montoya, coordinator of the ministry at ICC, will offer an overview.  Here is what the church says on its website.

Every Sunday afternoon at 12:45, we are grateful to be able to serve a sit down, hot lunch to our guests-in-need. This ministry is made possible by a faithful group of volunteers who prepare and serve the meal.  Many volunteers are from other Catholic parishes as well as from other churches. On average, each week we are able to serve over 100 persons in the Parish Hall. Since its founding 8 years ago, Bread & Blessings has served around 30,000 meals!

Pope Dedicates 2018 World Day of Peace to Migrants, Refugees

Cross created by migrants via Kino Border Initiative

Con espíritu de misericordia, abrazamos a todos los que huyen de la guerra y del hambre, o que se ven obligados a abandonar su tierra a causa de la discriminación, la persecución, la pobreza y la degradación ambiental. -Papa Francisco

The World Day of Peace is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to universal peace, held on 1 January, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Bl. Pope Paul VI established it in 1967, being inspired by the encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope St. John XXIII and with reference to his own encyclical Populorum Progressio. The day was first observed on 1 January 1968.  (from Wikipedia)

Here is an excerpt from the message by Pope Francis at the beginning of 2018, which he dedicated to migrants and refugees worldwide.

Among these whom I constantly keep in my thoughts and prayers, I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide, of whom 22.5 million are refugees...

We know that it is not enough to open our hearts to the suffering of others. Much more remains to be done before our brothers and sisters can once again live peacefully in a safe home. Welcoming others requires concrete commitment, a network of assistance and goodwill, vigilant and sympathetic attention, the responsible management of new and complex situations that at times compound numerous existing problems, to say nothing of resources, which are always limited.

Link in English     See Message in Spanish, Arabic, German, French