[Faith & Hunger] Faith and Hunger Conf. Sun. Feb. 25th - Farm Bill, Welfare Grant, Albany

[Dunleamark at aol.com]

(HANNYS / ES2 lobby day is Tues. March 13. More info at end.)
 
 
 
 
Please circulate 
Faith  and Hunger Network 

January 31, 2007 
Dear Friends: 
We hope you will join us for the 7th Annual Faith and Hunger  Network 
Conference for the Capital District on Sunday, February 25th.  The conference will be 
from 1:30 to 5:30 PM at the B’Nai Sholom Reform  Congregation, 420 Whitehall 
Rd.. 
The conference is an opportunity for members of faith community to learn  
about how to advocate to end hunger. This year we are going to establish a  
working group to follow up from the conference, helping to coordinate local  
actions and educational events throughout the year. The work groups will also  help 
arrange skills training on advocacy. Please let us know if you would like  to 
volunteer. 
David Minor, the National Board Chair of Bread for the World will deliver  
the keynote address, discussing how to mobilize faith members to work to end  
hunger at a time when material wealth is such a major factor in our  society. 
Rev. Derrick Boykin, the northeast organizer for Bread for the World,  will 
discuss the Offering of Letters campaign for 2007, focused on the farm  bill. 
The farm bill addresses hunger at both the national and international  level. 
We want the farm bill to do more to promote better nutrition (e.g.,  increased 
food stamp benefits) while doing a better job of assisting family  farms and 
rural communities. The farm bill and its subsidy programs also have a  major 
impact on small farmers in third world countries. 
Newly elected Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand has been appointed as New  York
’s only member on the House Agriculture Committee. We have invited her to  
attend to hear the presentation, and to discuss the issue with the  attendees. 
Misha Marvel of CREO will provide an overview of a joint state and  national 
anti-hunger policy platform that was developed by a coalition of  emergency 
food programs, food banks and anti-hunger advocacy organizations on a  wide 
range of issues. Mark Dunlea of Hunger Action Network will discuss the  campaign 
to raise welfare benefits, which have not been increased in 16 years.  Benefits 
have now fallen to less than 50% of the federal poverty  level. 
Co-sponsors of the event include: Bread for the World, Capital Region 
Ecumenical  Organization, FOCUS Churches of Albany, Food Pantries for the Capital 
District,  Hunger Action Network NYS, Interfaith IMPACT of NYS, Albany 
Presbytery, Troy  Area United Ministries, Reform Jewish Voice of NYS, The Interfaith 
Alliance of  NYS. 
We hope you will share information about this event with members of your  
faith group. 
Yours in hope, 
Rev. Debra Jameson                             Misha Marvel              Mark 
 Dunlea 
FOCUS Churches                                CREO                       
Hunger  Action Network 

Capital District’s Seventh  Annual 
Faith and Hunger Network  Conference 
Speaking to the Immorality of  Hunger and Poverty 

Sunday, February 25,  2007 
B'Nai Sholom  Reform Congregation, 420 Whitehall Rd., Albany 
- 1:30 pm –  5:30 pm 
1:30     Registration 
2:00     David Minor,  Bread for the World – Getting A Material Society to  A
dvocate to End Hunger  
Overview of Anti-Hunger Agenda for 2007 
2:45     The need to raise welfare benefits –  Barbara Zaron, Social Action 
Co-Chair, Beth Emmett; Rev. John Miller, Capital  Area Council of Churches, 
Pastor, United Church of Christ, South End; Mark  Dunlea, Hunger Action Network 
of New York State - 10 to 15 Minute  Summary 
3:15     A NY and National Anti-Hunger Agenda –  Misha Marvel, Capital 
Regional Ecumenical Organization 
3:30     break 
3:40     2007 Farm  Bill – Rev. Derrick Boykin, Bread to the  World 
- Cong. Kirsten Gillibrand invited to respond (Member of House  Agriculture 
Committee) 
4:45     Developing a Coordinated Advocacy Campaign for Faith and Hunger 
Network  in the Capital District 
5:30     Adjournment 
Sponsors: Bread for the World, Capital Region Ecumenical  Organization, FOCUS 
Churches of Albany, Food Pantries for the Capital District,  Hunger Action 
Network NYS, Interfaith IMPACT of NYS, Albany Presbytery, Troy  Area United 
Ministries, Reform Jewish Voice of NYS, The Interfaith Alliance of  NYS 

******************************** 
Note: The Empire State Economic Security / Hunger Action  annual legislative 
education and action  day will be on Tuesday, March  13. Briefing at 10 AM at 
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut St.,  Albany. Noon Rally at the 
Capitol. Legislative Visits from 1 to 4. Call 434-7371  for more information. 

__________________________________________________________________ 

Conference  Registration Form 

Name  __________________________ Faith Affiliate  
_____________________________________ 
Address ___________________________ Town __________________ Zip  
______________ 
Phone  _____________________________  Email  __________________________ 
Return by Feb. 20  to : HANNYS, 275 State St., Albany NY 12210 – or call 518  
434-7371 
-------------------------------------------- 
Hunger Action / ES2 Rally and  Lobby Day, March 13th 2007

Come rally and lobby with the Hunger  Action Network on Tuesday March 13th. 
We will be lobby to support our Empire  State Economic Security Campaign. The 
issues raised are income security for all  families through a higher minimum 
wage, raising the welfare benefits and Earned  Income Disregard; universal 
health care for all New Yorkers; developing a strong  and educated workforce for 
New York; and job creation for low-income New  Yorkers. This lobby day will come 
at a crucial time as the State begins to  finalize the 2007-2008 budget. The 
budget needs to be finalized by April 1st.  

The day will begin with a briefing at 10 AM at the Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church, 85 Chestnut St, Albany. Followed by a rally at noon at the  Capitol 
Building, and finally, lobby visits with key state legislators from 1 to  4. 

Between 250 and 300 people are expected to attend, with many  being from 
low-income households. A majority of those in attendance will be from  NYC, please 
come out and show the Capital District supports the cause.   (Buses are 
expected from NYC, Rochester, Westchester, Buffalo)

We  need about 12 volunteers for logistics including food preparation, sound 
set up  for the rally and other logistical needs. Please contact Mark Dunlea 
at the  HANNYS office to sign up as a volunteer.

For more information,  contact the Hunger Action Network of NYS:
_www.hungeractionnys.org_ (http://www.hungeractionnys.org/) 
275 State  Street, 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 434-7371  •  Fax (518)  434-7390




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