Economic Disparities: What is Our Role?
Join us April 18 for the Faith & Action Spring Conference! This year's event includes two pre-conference article discussion groups, a Keynote presentation from Rev. Jamie Washington with Q&A and panel discussion, and a Workshop with continuing education credits.
Spring Conference - Main Event
Engaging at the Intersections: Exploring Race, Class, and Poverty - Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington
April 18, 9am-12pm Eastern at Christian Theological Seminary
Deuteronomy 15:11 is often cited as the reason that we can expect that poverty will never end. However, it also states that we as people of faith have a responsibility to take action if we care about humanity.
This year’s keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington will invite us to engage the dynamics of poverty with an intersectional lens. While we often see that poverty impacts populations differently based on race, this year's focus will offer us an opportunity to explore how the intersections of race and class inform our analysis of the problems and should direct our actions. The keynote presentation will be followed by a Q&A opportunity for participants to interact with the speaker.
Panel Discussion
Moderated by Hiba Alalami of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network. Featuring panelists Josh Riddick, Faith In Indiana; Rabbi Aaron Spiegel, Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance; and Sam Sniderman, United Way of Central Indiana.
Be informed on current public policy and be empowered to engage in advocacy work surrounding early childhood education, child poverty, housing insecurity, and mental health. Participants will learn:
How you can plug into a coalition working to reduce poverty
How you can take action relative to Faith In Indiana’s campaign to reduce the incarceration of folks with mental illnesses and substance abuse
How you and your faith community can join GIMA’s efforts to reduce the number of evictions through their court watching initiative
Current policies that are directly related to supporting children at risk, specifically around education, childcare, and early learning
Please note that attendance at the Spring Conference main event is a prerequisite for organizations wanting to apply for a Faith & Action grant. Conference registration closes April 15.
Workshop & Lunch
Building Capacity to Be a Change Agent - led by Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington
April 18, 12:15pm-4pm Eastern at Christian Theological Seminary
Cost for the workshop and lunch is $100 and participants can receive Continuing Education credits.
To be a bridge builder or a voice calling for change takes a lot of courage. How can we embody our faith traditions in ways that can lead to systemic change? How can we use our voice and position to fight for equity and economic mobility?
This Workshop Will:
Focus on developing tools and skills for productive, ground-up conversations about poverty and inequality.
Invite us to go deeper into living into our values to accomplish our goals and how to keep issues of poverty, equity, and inclusion grounded as matters of human dignity not as political issues.
Share best practices to handle situations when misinformation or incorrect narratives have been shared and tools for de-escalating elevated feelings around social justice.
Explore the dynamics that get in the way of real change and what actions we can implement.
Provide an opportunity for small group discussions on how our faith and sacred text guide our actions.
Pre-Event Article Discussion Groups
April 9 - Online discussion group at 1pm Eastern
April 10 - In-Person discussion group at 12pm Eastern at Christian Theological Seminary
To prepare for Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington’s presentation at the Faith & Action Spring Conference on April 18 and to encourage engagement with Washington’s ideas, themes, and solutions offered, CTS is hosting a pair of small group discussions hosted by CTS faculty member, Rev. Dr. Nick Peterson. The articles address multiple systemic issues, such as housing access and substance abuse resources and provide insights on how race and class can impact opportunity and wellbeing. Discussions will lend insights and prepare us for the spring conference themes.