Offering of Letters: Make a Difference in Africa The Archdiocese of Newark Office of Human Concerns and Office of Black Catholic Affairs, along with other religious and social justice organizations, will sponsor an Offering of Letters Workshop on Saturday, March 3, 2001. Held at the Archdiocesan Center, 171 Clifton Ave., Newark, the day-long event will begin at 9 am, ending at 2 pm. Bread for the World members and their partners recently had an amazing victory -- Congress passed the full $435 million sought this year for debt relief. Bread for the World's 2001 Offering of Letters campaign, Africa: Hunger to Harvest, will build on the success of the debt relief campaign. The goal of the campaign is simple: a $1 billion increase in poverty-focused assistance to Africa. Though the idea is easy to understand, it may raise many questions for you. This workshop will explain why the campaign is pushing for an additional $1 billion toward poverty-focused assistance, and will give you specific ideas on how you can get involved. After the morning session, which will focus on the issue and legislation, the afternoon will break into four different skills sessions. Attendees can choose the session that most meets their needs. The session titles are How to Hold an Offering of Letters in Your Church; Basic Advocacy Skills; Meeting with Members of Congress; and Speaking About Africa in a Positive Way. At the workshop, attendees can learn background information on Africa and its current situation. People will get an explanation of Hunger to Harvest legislation and learn how aid money is used. The skill sessions will offer specific skills training in your choice of four areas and ideas on how you and your church or campus can get involved. The cost of the workshop, including lunch, is $8. The optional Offering of Letters kit, with handbook and video, is $7. For more information, or to register, please contact Kay Furlani, Director of Human Concerns, (973)497-4341 or furlanca@rcan.org.
|
