A Place to Send Hurricane Relief $

My friend Liz in South Florida has provided information on a possible place to send relief dollars toward the Katrina aftermath. No overhead costs will be deducted from your dollars. This information came from an email by my Pastor, Marc Rivera, who was instrumental in organizing relief efforts here in NYC during and after the September 11th tragedy.

Professor Lopez-Humphreys

New York Latinas Against Domestic Violence Present: 5th Annual Brides' March

Monday, September 26, 2005
The 5th Annual Brides; March is in honor of battered women who have been killed and to raise awareness about the high incidence of domestic violence in our communities.

Come Walk with Us!
GATHERING SITE: 251 Fort Washington Avenue (corner of 170th Street) Gather @ 9:00amMarch Begins @ 10:30am Sharp!

For more information please log onto our website at:www.nylatinasagainstdv.org or contactEvelyn Garcia at (718) 665-6051, Grace Perez at (212) 410-9080, Mireya Cruz at (212) 994-6060, Maria Lizardo at 212-882-8319.

U.S. Poverty Rate Was Up Last Year

To read more, click on the attached link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/31/national/31census.html

Voces Inocentes (Innocent Voices): Film & Global Policy

The below is an email I recently received about a film that has the potential to influence global policy. It will be released in New York, Los Angeles and other major cities on October 14th. If you have a heart for social justice, I would like to invite you to attenda special pre-screening of Voces Inocentes (Spanish language-English sub-titles). The film is based on the true story of screenwriter OSCAR TORRES’ embattled childhood.

INNOCENT VOICES, is set in 1980’s in El Salvador where on a boy’s twelfth birthday he is enlisted automatically in the army. The eleven-year-old boy Chava (Carlos Padilla), spends his 11th year chasing a first love, shielding siblings from bullets, listening tohis priest’s advice, testing his mother and taking on the role of his absent father. His mother Kella (Leonor Varela), struggles to protect her family in the middle of a civil war. The film tracks the trials of Chava’s childhood, his survival throughhope and the evils of war.

This film has received the full endorsement of Amnesty International as it speaks to the issue of child soldiers, which is something that continues even today. The film also has received many international awards and falls into the same category as a Hotel Rwanda. They are interested in screening this film for ministries/churches that have a heart for social justice and an open mind to use films like this to help change global policy on this important issue. In theaters 10/14/05. Contact Info:Deborah Castillero-Lead BCC Marketing (formerly Maracas Entertainment), phone: 203.956.9918, emailto:dcastillero@optonline.net.

God Calls Us to Work to Overcome Poverty: World Summit NYC, Sept. 14-16

World leaders will converge at the United Nations to focus on a commitment made in 2000 to cut extreme global poverty by half by 2015. There will be a gathering at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations from September 14-16 to worship, pray, fast, and bear public witness to the scandal of global poverty.Sojourners, along with other sponsors will be heading a campaign to petition President Bush and other world leaders in the pursuit of overcoming global poverty. According to information we received from Sojourner organizers,

"the event will consist of 3 days of prayer, fasting, and public witness to call on world leaders to deliver on promises they made in 2000 to cut
extreme global poverty by 2015. While we do not require that you fast
during all or part of the 3 days, we hope to show a large group of people
who will. The 3 days will include events with children lifting up their voices
as well as world and nationally renowned religious leaders, and of course – you!"

I will be volunteering one day. You can also educate your congregation on liturgy/worship resources to overcome poverty.

AUDIO CONFERENCE ON POVERTY

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) announces an important national audio conference on poverty, which will be held Friday, September 16, 2005 from 12:30-1:30 (ET). Listen live or order an audio tape.
Click here for a short video describing this audio conference (broadband recommended).
Click here to register (or if you cannot view the video).

Need Information on NY state Mayoral candidates?

http://gothamgazette.com/mayor_grid_05.shtml

Primary Election: Tuesday, September 13th.

To register to vote visit:
www.vote.nyc.ny.us

Schedule of televised Election Debates:
www.nyccfb.info