The Advocacy Committee strives to offer opportunities for the congregation to share Jesus’ love and his call to seek justice by reaching out to make changes in public policies that impact the lives of all God’s people. In keeping with this mission, this subcommittee of the Mission Committee offers opportunities to put faith into action.

The Advocacy Committee also provides educational seminars through the Academy for Faith
and Life. For more information about the current issues supported by the Fourth Church
Mission Committee, contact Nancy Davis, at 312.274.3815.

For more information, links to additional advocacy efforts are available here.

To sign up to receive Advocacy Alerts via email, send your email address to Nancy.

 

 


STOP THE VIOLENCE. INVEST IN LIFE.

The Fourth Church Mission Committee is committed to active involvement
in programs and efforts to end violence in all forms in our city.

This fall, the particular focus of that commitment is the effort
to end the violence that affects the youth of our city.

Please join us in making an investment in the life of our youth.

Consider being a tutor for 1 of the 400 children
from disadvantaged neighborhoods who come to Fourth Church
each week as part of the Chicago Lights Tutoring program

or

Serve as a mentor at the Chicago Lights Urban Farm (444 W. Chicago)
or Asian Human Services (4753 N Broadway).

or

Hire youth for part-time jobs after school.


For more information about Fourth Church’s anti-violence efforts
and opportunities to make a difference and invest in life,
contact Vicki Reynolds, Director of Mission.


VERY YOUNG GIRLS
A documentary film screening and panel discusion
Friday, November 11, 2011
6:00–9:00 p.m. in Anderson Hall

The Sunlight Project of Fourth Presbyterian Church,
an education, advocacy, and action group that works to
shine a bright light on and end the sexual trafficking of Chicago children,
is sponsoring a screening and discussion of the documentary film Very Young Girls.

The film is an exposé of the commercial sexual exploitation of girls in New York City
as they are sold on the streets by pimps and treated as adult criminals by police.
Afterwards a panel will discuss this film produced by Showtime Network for
the Girls Educational Mentoring Services (GEMS) and the issues it raises.

Panel Participants
Donna Werner, Werner Health & Wellness, provides individual health coaching and wellness presentations to clients and the public. She works on a volunteer basis to raise awareness about the commercial sexual exploitation of children and domestic human trafficking. Donna served as one of the founding board members of GEMS and as chairperson of the GEMS Board of Directors for four years.

Andrea Hall, Senior Organizer, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, serves as a member of the Prostitution Alternatives Roundtable (PART) and as an advocate/activist for women's rights, particularly those involved in the sex trade. Drea has worked tirelessly at assisting to change policies and laws at a state level and ensuring the stories of survivors are heard. 

Octavia Tyson, Therapist, Chicago Women's AIDS Project (CWAP), currently works as the South Side therapist for CWAP and as a clinical case manager for a nonprofit. She is a licensed professional counselor who holds her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University. In addition she volunteers as a therapist and community organizer for the Breaking Free project helping young, single mothers who have been formerly prostituted and with Diamonds in the Rough Inc. Octavia also serves as a committee member of the Prostitution Alternatives Roundtable.   

For more information about the Sunshine Project, please contact Nancy Davis (312.274.3815).



ADVOCACY LETTERS

The Advocacy Committee periodically makes available on this page
letters to send to legislative and executive officials
to urge action to ensure justice for all.





ADVOCACY ISSUES AND LINKS


AIDS/HIV
Protestants for the Common Good

 
Child Abuse
Amnesty International
Association on American Indian Affairs
Child Defense Fund
Protestants for the Common Good
Voices for Illinois Children


Domestic Violence/Abuse
Amnesty International
Association on American Indian Affairs
Between Friends
Protestants for the Common Good

 
Education Finance
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
Protestants for the Common Good
Voices for Illinois Children

Environment
American Community Gardening Association
Eco-Justice Collaborative
Faith in Place
Protestants for the Common Good

 
Fair Trade
Chicago Fair Trade
Protestants for the Common Good


Gun Control
Amnesty International
Cease Fire
Illinois Council against Handgun Violence
Protestants for the Common Good


Health Care
Association on American Indian Affairs
Campaign for Better Healthcare
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
Children’s Defense Fund
Protestants for the Common Good
Voices for Illinois Children

 
Hunger/Homelessness
Bread for the World
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
CROP Walk
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Illinois Hunger Coalition
Protestants for the Common Good
Voices for Illinois Children


Mental Health


Other Advocacy Links
National Council of Churches
PC(USA) Mission Through Advocacy
Presbyterian Legislative Action Center
Presbyterian Witness in Washington
Project Vote Smart
Illinois General Assembly
League of Women Voters


Local, State, and National Government Officials
(Find your district)

Illinois State Representatives in the Chicago Area
 Susana Mendoza, 1st district, 773.277.7711, 2500 S. Millard
Edward Acevedo, 2nd district, 773.843.1200, 1836 W. 35th
Luis Arroyo, 3rd district, 773.637.2000, 4909 W. Fullerton
Cynthia Soto, 4th district, 773.252.0402, 2434 W. Division
Kenneth Dunkin, 5th district, 312.266.0340, 1543 N. Wells
Esther Golar, 6th district, 773.925.6580, 4926 S. Ashland
Karen A. Yarbrough, 7th district, 708.615.1747, 2305 W. Roosevelt
LaShawn Ford, 8th district, 773.378.5902, 5104 W. Chicago
Arthur Turner, 9th district, 773.277.4700, 3849 W. Ogden
Annazette Collins, 10th district, 773.533.0010, 259 N. Pulaski
John Fritchey, 11th district, 773.871.4000, 2539 N. Southport
Sara Feigenholtz, 12th district, 773.296.4141, 1051 W. Belmont
Greg Harris, 13th district, 773.348.3434, 1967 W. Montrose
Harry Osterman, 14th district, 773.784.2002, 5535 N. Broadway
John C. D’Amico, 15th district, 773.736.0218, 4404 W. Lawrence
Joseph M. Lyons, 19th district, 773.286.1115, 5205 N. Milwaukee
Michael P. McAuliffe, 20th district, 773.792.0749,
6650 N. Northwest Highway
Michael J. Zalewski, 21st district, 708.728.9922, 7676 W. 63rd
Michael Madigan, 22nd district, 773.581.8000, 6500 S. Pulaski
Daniel J. Burke, 23rd district, 773.471.2299, 2650 W. 51st
Barbara Flynn Currie, 25th district, 773.667.0550, 1303 E. 53rd
William D. Burns, 26th district, 773.924.2600, 435 E. 35th
Monique D. Davis, 27th district, 773.445.9700, 1234 W. 95th
Mary E. Flowers, 31st district, 773.471.5200, 2525 W. 79th
Andre Thapedi, 32nd district, 773.873.4444, 371 E. 75th
Marlow H. Colvin, 33rd district, 773.783.8492, 8539 S. Cottage Grove
Constance A. Howard, 34th district, 773.783.8800, 8729 S. State
Kevin Joyce, 35th district, 708.448.3518, 6965 W. 111th
Maria Antonia Berrios, 39th district, 773.235.3939, 2058 N. Western
Deb Mell, 40th district, 773.267.2880, 3657 N. Kedzie
Deborah L. Graham, 78th district, 708.445.9520, 6101- 1/2 W. North


CARE OF CREATION

• More information about the Care of Creation initiative is available here.

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1

As Christians, we are called to honor and tend the Earth that God created. The following are a few steps you can take to help care for God’s creation.

§ Offset your carbon footprint.
§ Drive more fuel-efficient, less polluting cars.
§ Cut driving miles.
§ Carpool.
§ Buy energy-efficient products.
§ Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.
§ Turn off the lights.
§ Choose renewable energy.
§ Recycle materials you use.
§ Buy recycled products.
§ Buy products with less packaging.
§ Install a low-flow showerhead.
§ Install an ultra-low-flush toilet or a toilet displacement device.
§ Repair leaks.
§ Use water wisely in everyday activities.

The Creator-Redeemer calls faithful people to become engaged with God in keeping and healing the creation, human and non-human.

Excerpted from the PCUSA “Call to Restore Creation” policy

.

FAIR TRADE COFFEE


The Presbyterian Coffee Project brings Presbyterian congregations nationwide together with small-scale farmers in developing nations. By offering a great cup of coffee—and spreading the word about fair trade—our congregation is helping impoverished farmers build a better economic future for their families and communities. Fair trade guarantees that small farmer cooperatives receive at least $1.26 per pound for conventional coffee, and $1.42 per pound for shade-grown, organic coffee.

By purchasing fair trade coffee, you make a difference in the lives of small farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia by ensuring that the people who grow the beans used to brew your coffee:

- Receive a fair price for their hard work and care in growing your coffee
- Benefit from being members of a democratic co-operative
- Have access to co-op services such as healthcare, education and training
- Emphasize agricultural practices that are healthy for the land and farmers
- Enjoy the stability of a long term trading partner, Equal Exchange

Click here for a list of where to buy fairly traded coffee in the Chicago area.

.

 

 

.