What Good Is Government?: Developing An Effective Interfaith Message in support of Economic Justice and Safety-Net Services May 24, 2012

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
and the Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger
invite you to a free workshop:

What Good Is Government?
Developing An Effective Interfaith Message
in support of Economic Justice and Safety-Net Services

A Guided Two-Session Workshop for Religious Leaders and 
Congregational Members of all Faiths

Session I: Tuesday, June 19th, 9:00am – 12 noon
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Parish Hall
1704 NE 43rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97213-1402

Workshop led by:
Janet Byrd, Executive Director, Neighborhood Partnerships, and
Alison McIntosh, Policy and Communications Director, Neighborhood Partnerships

This 3-hour workshop will offer a mix of communications theory, public opinion research findings, and tested advocacy messages on safety-net programs.  Together we will work to develop a shared interfaith message on why government must continue to provide critical safety-net programs, like SNAP (food stamps), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Medicaid, and more. 

Free, but limited to 25 participants, please pre-register soon.

To Register: please email Kevin Finney, EMO Public Policy Director at kfinney@emoregon.org or phone 503-221-1054 x204 and leave a message with your name,  phone number, and congregational affiliation.

This workshop made possible with support from the

Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon.

 About the Trainers

Janet Byrd

Janet is currently the Executive Director of Neighborhood Partnerships, which works to create opportunities for low income people.  Janet’s roots as a neighborhood organizer in Chicago working on housing issues as varied as insurance redlining, neighborhood disinvestment and tenant rights stoked a passion for housing policy and community development that has remained constant over the intervening years.  As Director of Neighborhood Partnerships, Janet has been central to the success of the statewide advocacy coalition, the Housing Alliance.  During her tenure NP also helped to launch the innovative multi-county collaborative to serve high-need homeless families, Bridges to Housing, and quadrupled the impact of the Oregon IDA Initiative, a unique statewide partnership that builds the assets of low income Oregonians.

Since 2003, Janet has been a proponent of the use of strategic communications, based on theories of cognitive linguistics, and has worked to hone the skills of fellow advocates throughout Oregon. In 2009, Neighborhood Partnerships convened an Advocates College, with the support of the Public Works project and Larry Wallack of Portland State University. The Strategic Communications Initiative grew out of that effort, and now engages NP in supporting policy work to strengthen communities throughout Oregon.

Ms. Byrd holds a BA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University.

Alison McIntosh

Alison is the Policy and Communications Director of Neighborhood Partnerships. Alison joined Neighborhood Partnerships in late 2006.  She quickly became essential in her roles managing the Bridges to Housing collaboration and overseeing fundraising.  She brings to NP her skillful collaboration management, creativity and a willingness to shoulder new tasks.

At NP, Alison has assumed increasing responsibility in advocacy, communications, and policy analysis. She now coordinates the work of the Housing Alliance and advises our work on asset building as a state partner of CFED. She leads our work to think creatively about new ways to engage our members in advocacy – through coalitions, voter registration, and voter engagement.  Alison began working for non-profit organizations in 2001 as a community organizer in Minnesota. After moving to Portland in 2003, Alison gained experience in local housing issues as a volunteer and Board member for the Portland-based Community Alliance of Tenants. As a CAT board member, Alison participated in the City of Portland’s Quality Rental Housing Workgroup in 2007–2008. In 2010, Alison was selected to participate in Robert Wood Johnson’s Ladder to Leadership fellowship program. She holds a BA in Political Science from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN

Covenant of Hope: A Faithful Response to Family Homelessness February 9, 2012

Lenten Materials on Hunger for your Congregation February 3, 2012

OFRAH Statewide Conveners John Elizalde and Norene Goplen have prepared some materials on hunger for congregations to use during the Lenten Season.  The materials include a Power Point presentation and several associated documents. The materials are  designed to be used as part of  four consecutive weeks of education on hunger. They can also be used individually to meet the needs for one or two sessions.

All of the documents are linked below.
For more information, contact John or Norene at 503-775-6830.

2012 lenten slides
OREGON TRAIL FACTS-English
OREGON TRAIL FACTS – SPANISH TEXT
Healthy Elders flyer-1

Portland Metro OFRAH: February Meeting: Wednesday February 8 February 2, 2012

OREGON FAITH ROUNDTABLE AGAINST HUNGER
PORTLAND METRO MEETING

Wednesday February 8
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Human Solutions, Rockwood Branch Conference Room 
124 NE 181st, Portland, OR 97230

PROGRAM

Bread for the World’s 2012 Offering of Letters
Presented by Robin Stephenson, Western Regional Coordinator, Bread for the World

Advocate Together - Bread for the World
We are people of faith making our voices heard in Congress and to make our nation’s laws more compassionate to people in need. Each year Bread for the World invites churches and groups across the country to write personal letters and emails to their members of Congress, advocating for policies that help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. The 2012 Offering of Letters campaign will urge Congress and the administration to form a circle of protection around programs that help poor and hungry people.

This new, flexible campaign has one overall campaign and four mini-campaigns addressing specific legislation that Congress will decide on in 2012:
• Domestic nutrition assistance
• Tax credits for low-income families
• Poverty-focused foreign assistance
• International food aid

Human Solutions: Building Pathways out of Poverty

Human Solutionsshelters or houses over 150 homeless families (more than 450 people, many of whom are children) every night of the year through its Daybreak Shelter and Housing First programs!

Download a pdf of this announcement

“Food Stamped” January 23, 2012

OFRAH is a co-sponsor of this important event.
And it is FREE!

Download a pdf of this event flyer – foodstamped_flyer (2)

Farm Bill: Why Does OFRAH Care? January 11, 2012

Below you will find a link to the Power Point presentation that was shown at the January OFRAH Portland Metro meeting. 

Why the Farm Bill Matters!

2011 Harvest of Hope Breakfast October 24, 2011

The Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger hosted its 9th annual Harvest of Hope Breakfast at Congregation Beth Israel on Tuesday, November 8. Congressman Kurt Schrader was the keynote speaker. At the event it was announced that Norene Goplen would be stepping down as OFRAH lead convener and that Matt Newell-Ching of Bread for the World would be taking Norene’s place.

OFRAH also presented our Harvest of Hope Awards at the event. The honorees are listed below.

To see more photos from the event, go to OFRAH’s Facebook page . Don’t forget to “like”us.

2011 Harvest of Hope Award Winners 

Mike Hiland (Bread for the World)
Over the years, Mike Hiland has dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to Bread for the World. (Frankly, we all thought he worked for Bread!) He has organized countless offerings of letters in churches throughout the region. Most recently, Mike spearheaded the event “Hunger and the Budget Crisis: A Faith-based Call to Action’” which was attended by nearly 100 people from a wide variety of religious groups. Mike is pictured at right with new Lead Convener Matt Newell-Ching.

Farmers Ending Hunger
Farmers Ending Hunger begins with Oregon farmers and ranchers who raise hundreds of acres of produce, grain and cattle. With a little extra effort, each farmer donates an acre or two to feed the hungry and suddenly their network had thousands of tons of fresh food!

HomePlate Youth Services
HomePlate supports the positive development of young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability through community building, education, access to services and resources, and youth empowerment.  They do this primarily through a drop-in every Monday and Thursday, which includes a free weekly meal and access to a variety of resources.

Portland First United Methodist Church—Special Award
For as long as any of those involved in serving the hungry, the poor or the vulnerable can remember,  Portland First United Methodist has reached out and served other faith communities and not for profits with the same compassion and dedication as it has in its direct service. If the interfaith community needs a place to celebrate, to mourn, or to learn together, they welcome us. Their welcoming community extends beyond bricks. Their pastors, their staff, and their community make space in their building and space in their hearts.

Summaries of the OFRAH Portland Metro General Meetings, 2010-2011 May 17, 2011

Click here for a pdf – OFRAH 2010-2011 Recaps (2)

JULY: ENDING POVERTY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY
Paul Schroeder, the Coordinator of Faith-Based Resources for JOIN, presented the New City Initiative. New City Initiative began as CUSINA; Paul Schroeder is its founder, CUSINA began in 2007 as a unique partnership between Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Portland, Oregon, and JOIN. The CUSINA concept was to take the “genius” of the Holy Trinity Community—its rich experience and heritage of traditional Greek cuisine—and turn this into an opportunity to engage and create a new kind of supportive community with people transitioning out of homelessness. The result: a six-week series of Greek cooking classes taught by six local Greek restaurateurs. Its fundamental purpose is to build relationships and community.

AUGUST: ENDING HUNGER BEFORE IT BEGINS
The Oregon Hunger Task Force and Partners for a Hungry Free Oregon presented its 5-Year Plan “Ending Hunger Before it Begins: Oregon’s Call to Action.” Oregon is the 2nd hungriest and food insecure state: 1 in 5 Oregonians rely on SNAP (food stamps). 48.6% of students are eligible for free school meals. 240,000 emergency food boxes are issued each month.The Oregon Hunger Task Force set three goals with specific recommendations for each:

1. Increase the economic stability for people, communities, and the state
2. Cultivate a strong regional food system in Oregon
3. Improve the food assistance safety net (including school community gardens)

SEPTEMBER: 30 WAYS TO FIGHT HUNGER IN 30 DAYS
Sarah Flynn of Oregon Food Bank West presented opportunities for advocacy and community involvement through Hunger Action Month, and becoming a Community Food Champion. Washington County has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state—demand for emergency food boxes has increased 28%–OFB’s much larger facility is necessary to fill a need. The meeting included a tour of the new Oregon Food Bank Facility with a Learning Garden and the Nutrition Kitchen.

OCTOBER: FOOD: LOCAL CHALLENGES & GLOBAL ISSUES
Emily Harris, host of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s “Think Out Loud” moderated a panel discussion on the complexities of buying local, supporting local organic food and the effects of the global economy.

JANUARY: MOM AND DAD, CAN YOU SPARE 700 MILLION DOLLARS?
OFRAH presented “Healthy Elders, Healthy Communities,” its plan to engage the faith community in encouraging seniors in Oregon to enroll in SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps). Through this plan OFRAH engages denominations and faith communities to encourage their congregations to share key information. Faith communities have an important reach to senior populations, both through their members and through their relationships with others in their community.

Two-thirds of Oregon seniors eligible for SNAP fail to take advantage of this federal program. That’s $700 million of their tax dollars that we left on the table. Yet many seniors are financially constrained—the economy has wrecked many a carefully constructed retirement strategy.

Oregon ranks third in the nation for hunger or Very Low Food Security. In our country, hunger is often a hidden problem. SNAP is a program that helps people eat right when money is tight; with SNAP, nutritional and healthy food within reach of low-income households

FEBRUARY: WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF HOPE
Oregon ranks third in the nation for hunger or Very Low Food Security. We were recently second but another state got worse; for the hungry in Oregon, nothing changed. But something must change and Partners for a Hungry-Free Oregon presented its 2011 State Legislative Agenda while there was an opportunity for change while the State Legislature in session.

The vision for the Partners for a Hungry-Free Oregon 2011 State Legislative Agenda is “an Oregon where all children, families and individuals have the opportunity to be stable, hunger-free and healthy, with a foundation in place to succeed in school, work and life. One goal is to put more money in the pockets of the poor and low-income so they can buy food themselves.

MARCH: EVERYONE DOES BETTER WHEN EVERYONE DOES BETTER
Because of a shortfall of 3.6 billion dollars, Oregon has a small pie of a budget where everyone must receive a smaller slice of the pie. Sometimes when there are not even enough small slices for everyone to share we must ensure that the poor and vulnerable are fed first. But they have a smaller voice, or no voice at all, and it’s difficult to be heard.

When business and larger interests are mobilized and using a loud voice, the rest of us must be spiritually resolved to speak for those who are hungry, homeless, worried about their health.

People of faith must advocate for a slice of the pie before nothing is left. We take the principles from our traditions, use our faith-based lens, rely on stories from our congregations, those we know, those we serve, and we speak for them. Presented by Kevin Finney of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

APRIL: WHO GET’S HURT?
Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director for the Oregon Center for Public Policy presented on “Addressing Poverty at the State Level.” Oregon’s revenue shortfall today is $3.6 billion dollars. Without a discussion on new revenue sources, the Oregon State Legislature looks to reduce the projected deficit through eliminating some tax credits and reducing a lot of tax expenditures. Who gets hurt?

55,000 dependent children in Oregon receive help from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).” $506 is the maximum cash assistance a family of three that qualifies would receive each month.

Under proposed legislation, a single parent would have 18 months to find a job, without job training programs, before the TANF limit expired. Families currently have a 60-month lifetime limit to receive TANF, which includes job training.

People of faith must advocate for a slice of the pie before nothing is left.

2011 HUNGER CONFERENCE A GREAT SUCCESS! April 26, 2011

On  May 11, OFRAH sponsored its annual Hunger Conference at St. Pius Catholic Church. The theme this year was “Fresh Food for Thought: Critical Issues in Low -Income Nutrition.” Trudy Toliver, Executive Director of the Portland Farmers Market (pictured at left) was the keynote speaker, presenting a talk entitled “Whole Food Fosters Whole People.”

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Also featured at the conference was a panel presentation including Jenny Holmes, Director of Environmental Ministries, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon; Leslie Pohl-Kosbau, Founder and Director of Portland’s Community Gardens Program; Alejandro Tecum, Program Director, Adelante Agricultura sustainable farming project of  Adelante Mujeres; Claudia Maria Vargas, Professor of Public Administration, Center for Public Service, Mark O. Hatfield School of  Government,  Portland State University; and Shawn DeCarlo, Metro Services Manager, Oregon Food Bank.

The OFRAH Portland Metro Conveners were the organizers of the event, headed by Matt Cato and including Nancy Miller, Matt Newell-Ching, Bob Raes, Janet Raes,  and Connie Brenner. About 60 people attended.

OFRAH Legislative Recommendations February 10, 2011

Click on the link below for OFRAH’s 2011 legislative recommendations.
Please note:  As a roundtable of many organizations, OFRAH does officially endorse particular positions. We urge you to go to your own organization and share our recommendations.

OFRAH Legislative Recommendations 2011