Responding to local needs in this tough economy will be the focus of The Washtenaw Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice's annual Congregation Liaison Meeting on Monday, Feb. 1.

Delegates from participating churches, synagogues, mosques and other diverse congregations will hear about how congregations are responding to local hunger, tough economic times, and local challenges of multiculturalism. Then they will gather in groups to share their own experiences, brainstorm future activities and suggest how ICPJ can support them in the future.

Local Hunger

ICPJ may be most widely known as the county coordinator of the annual CROP Walk to raise money to feed the hungry, here and around the world. Speaking about another hunger project, Lucia Heinold commented that “one of the most exciting developments I witnessed as a new member of the ICPJ board was the success of ICPJ, Food Gatherers and Growing Hope in motivating fifteen Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area congregations to break new ground for one reason only — to raise local nutritious food to contribute to local food banks. “

Peggy Herron will speak to local hunger issues and how congregations may get involved. Herron is a member of The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation (ECI) in Ann Arbor, which she joined in 2008. Peggy led her congregation’s Faith and Food initiative in 2009, the first year ECI was involved. She works as a freelance editor and writer after serving for 10 years as the editor of Michigan Sports & Fitness Magazine.

Tough Economic Times

Mark Evens, Associate Minister at First Unitarian Universalist Church in Ann Arbor (UUAA), will share his congregation’s efforts to deal with this economy. Mark's responsibilities this year at UUAA include pastoral care, inter-generational community building, and chalice circle programs. Currently Mark facilitates a group of church members seeking jobs after economic reversals.

Mark said, “Hearing about how other congregations are addressing current needs is always helpful, and sharing resources and access to each other’s programs when appropriate would also be helpful. For example, we have congregants who are helping us start a group specifically for parents grieving the loss of a disabled child. Such parents face some distinctive dynamics, and we happen to be in a position to host this group. Other congregations probably have similar strengths to share.”

Multiculturalism

Heather Laird, former President of Muslim Social Services located in Washtenaw County and a former member of the Board of Directors for Council on American Islamic Relations in Michigan (CAIR-MI), will be the third speaker.

Heather has academic degrees in Political Science, Arabic and Islamic Studies and a Non -Profit Public Management certificate. She is the Director for the Summer Arabic Institute, and a Fellow for the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). She has her own consultancy group, Laird & Associates. She also writes for the Religion & Spirituality section of Examiner.com .

She has also been heavily involved in non-profits within Ann Arbor including the Girl Scouts where she is currently a Brownie leader and Cookie Mom and has served in many administrative volunteer positions, the AIDS walk, PTO and others.

Heather said, “I will be speaking on the diversity of our community, and how we, as Muslims, deal with the issues of multiculturalism. I will also discuss where some of the tensions exist in tackling this issue. More specifically, in light of recent events, I will discuss not only how this affects the adults in the community, but also the youth.

“It is my hope that an event like this will allow people to come together and know one another better. One of the fundamental means of breaking down the difficulties of multiculturalism is taking the time to know people who are different than themselves. The events that ICPJ plans usually allow for this mutual understanding. This kind of activity makes Americans more secure than any amount of money spent on technology meant to keep us secure.”

Tamar Weaver of Beth Israel Congregation and an active ICPJ member has participated in past Congregational Liaison Meetings. She said, "The liaison meeting is a gathering of people from all faiths and congregations in town to share their vision for a world of justice and peace. This collective spirit of doing things to make this vision closer to reality is very motivating and it creates new ideas for actions."

For more information on The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice call 734-663-1870 or visit www.icpj.net. For more information on the Congregational Liaison Meeting, click here.

This article was written by By Lucia Heinold, Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice Steering Committee member.