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Resources and information for your ministries, opportunities for action.

March News

STUDY FINDS MICROPLASTICS POLLUTING PA'SWATERWAYS

A new report based on a study by PennEnvironment found that in the53 PA waterways tested, covering the entirety of the commonwealth,all of them returned evidence of microplastic pollution. These findingsunderscore the severity of the plastic crisis in our communities andecosystems, a hazard to both human an environmental health. Readmore.

NEW EMERGENCY RENT RELIEF GUIDELINESANNOUNCED

The state's new emergency rent relief program is expected to launchthis month, based on guidelines from the U.S. Treasury to help quicklydistribute more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance torenters in need and avoid problems that saw millions diverted tobalance the state budget. Read more, including FAQ abouteligibility.

PA URBAN AGRICULTUREGRANT PROGRAM OPENS

The 2020-21 PA Farm Bill’s $500,000 Urban Agriculture GrantProgram is open to address food deserts in urban areas through theexpansion of agricultural infrastructure. The program is also intendedto create opportunities for hands-on learning and community buildingthrough the shared experience of growing fresh, local produce. Learnmore.

IS YOUR SCHOOL A WELCOMING SCHOOL? SHARE THESURVEY!

Only six PA school districts have policies in place that welcome andsupport immigrant and refugee students? The Welcoming SchoolsCampaign, aims to educate and empower immigrant and refugeestudents and parents about how they can work with their schools tocreate welcoming, supportive, and protective policies and practices,regardless of immigration status.

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PA RACIAL EQUITY REPORT A STEP TO ANTI-RACISTWORK

Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services has released itsfirstRacial Equity Report. The report highlights the departmentsongoing efforts to "promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through thiswork in order to be a partner in correcting systemic racism andinequities." The report covers work in health equity, economic justice,early childhood education, child welfare, and juvenile justice and ismeant as a starting point for DHS and its partners to guide effortsmoving forward.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS AND DATES FOR PRIMARYELECTION

Though the nation just completed one of the most contentious electioncycles in our history, the 2021 primary season is upon us, and thereare important pieces of information for voters to know. Findinformation on deadlines, how to request a mail-in ballot, how toreceive alerts and updates, and who and what will be on the ballot thisyear. Stay alert to help top any attempts at voter suppression. Readmore.

SNAP ELIGIBILITY EXPANDED FOR COLLEGESTUDENTS

The USDA has updated college student eligibility for the SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This act temporarily expandsSNAP eligibility to students in higher education enrolled at least parttime. The new eligibility criteria come at a time when 40% of highereducation students are reporting food insecurity. Learn more.

ONLINE REFERRAL TOOL CAN LINK TO SERVICEMINISTRIES

The Pa. Department of Human Services is holding webinars tointroduce the Resource Information and Services Enterprise – or RISEPA – an upcoming statewide resource and referral tool that will enableadvocates and individuals in need to more quickly identify appropriateservice providers. Learn more, including how and when yourministry might plug in.

INTO THE WILDERNESS: OUR LENTEN JOURNEY &ADVOCACY

At the start of Lent, the Lower Susquehanna Synod partnered withLAMPa in honor of the UN World Day of Social Justice for a specialpanel discussion on our baptismal call to labor for justice, reflecting onwilderness and what it means to be a disciple in this democracy. Youcan watch the panel discussion here.

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JOIN LAMPA SEMINARY INTERN FOR WEEKLYCOMPLINE

Join LAMPa United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) Intern Margaret (Meg)Folkemer on Wednesday evenings for a Compline Service. Since earlypandemic days, Meg has been leading a compline or night prayerservice live on Facebook with her family. Learn more.

SAVE THE DATE: LUTHERAN DAY IN THE CAPITOL OCT.28, 2021

As we continue to move through the pandemic, we look forward andinvite you to mark your calendar for next year’s Lutheran Day. We willgather in Harrisburg on Thursday, October 28, 2021. We have movedthis annual event from the spring into the fall in prayerful anticipationthat we may safely gather by then. Learn more.

Action

Support tax credits to reduce child poverty ratedramatically

Included in congressional COVID relief is a proposal that would liftan estimated 4.1 million children out of poverty in one year. Thelegislation would also lift 1.1 million more children out of deeppoverty That would reduce of child poverty in the U.S. of nearly 40percent. Learn more and act.

Urge Congress to Reauthorize Violence AgainstWomen Act

More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Nativewomenhave experienced violence; 96% of Indigenouswomen who are victims of sexual violence experienced it at thehands of a non-Indigenous perpetrator. Support action to protectIndigenous victims of sexual assault and keep Indigenous childrensafe.

Blogs

Cut Child Poverty in Half? It could happen.-- Ryan Cumming, ELCA Program Director for Hunger Education The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and its economy is by far the largest. Yet, the U.S. has one of the highest ratesof child poverty among developed countries, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. According to the U.S.Census Bureau, in 2019 (the most recent year for data), 14.4% of children – about 10.5 million children – in the U.S. were living in poverty. This istremendous progress from 2010, when 22% of U.S. children were living in poverty.

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God richly provides for our daily bread — the earth can produce enough to feed everyone. Yet many still go hungry. As members of theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America and through our gifts to ELCA World Hunger, we commit to pursuing a world of justice where all are fed.There is much to be done, and new federal proposals about refundable tax credits may be a sweeping policy change that could do more to lowerchildhood poverty than any other policy measure available. Read more

Events

March 10 -- Lutherans Restoring Creation -- Join us and LutheransRestoring Creation at 8:00 p.m. to hear from the ELCA’s Ruth Ivory-Moore, Program Director for Environment and Corporate SocialResponsibility. Learn more and register, plus sign up for Creation-focused worship materials for Earth Day!

March 16-18 -- National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference. Jointhousands of advocates from across the country virtually to hear fromofficials from the Biden-Harris Administration and the new Congresswhile capturing the energy and learning opportunities that are ahallmark of this annual “can’t-miss” conference. Even though this is avirtual conference, space is still limited. Some scholarshipsavailable. Learn more and register.

March 30 - 31, 2021 -- NLIHC Virtual Housing Policy Forum. Thetheme for this forum is 2021: A New Day. Participantswill have opportunities to engage with and learn from thought-leaders,policy experts, researchers, affordable housing players, low-income residents, and leaders about the state of the affordablehousing crisis in America and its solutions. Learn more.

April 18 - 21, 2021 -- Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) SchedulesVirtual Event. Save the date for EAD 2021. Join an online gatheringto Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored. Together, participantswill advocate and reimagine a world that lives out the values of justice,equity, and the beloved community. Learn more.

April 16-25 -- Faith Climate Action Week Food insecurity is on therise, with many families losing jobs and economic resources due to theongoing pandemic. Interfaith Power & Light’s Faith Climate ActionWeek theme focusing on food systems, will help your congregationaddress the intersecting challenges of food insecurity, racial injustice,and the climate crisis. Learn more and register.

April 27-29 -- American Climate LeadershipConference.Raise national ambition and local action on climatesolutions, whether you're a seasoned advocate or just getting started.Collaborate with medical professionals on climate action as a matter ofhealth and join faith leaders to co-create ways to address the climateemergency in a hyper-partisan environment. Learn more.

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Resources

Advocacy 101 for Young Adults: When Faith Meets Public Policy -- Looking for new material for you or young adults you know that willassist in learning about and getting involved in faith-based advocacy?In conjunction with ELCA World Hunger and ELCA Advocacy, the2019-2020 Hunger Advocacy Fellows prepared this resource

ELCA Advocacy Update and Toolkit for Action on U.S. CitizenshipAct -- More than 500 ELCA rostered ministers, Bishop Eaton, plus theheads of LIRS and LSA, signed a letter in support of the U.SCitizenship Act. You’re invited to use the US Citizenship ActionToolkit to continue to press Congress for action. This is the year forimmigration legislation! Please share with your networks. Learn moreand register for a March 10 update on U.S. immigration policyhere.

Stories of Faith in Action. Digital platform features content from thisannual publication in a modern, dynamic format, mixing video andvisual elements with stories to take you further into the work of MissionSupport. This ELCA resource contains countless inspiring faith storiesof people bearing witness to God’s provision and continuing to showup for their neighbors. Learn more.

ELCA Spanish Language Resources. A wide variety ofdownloadableresources, including AMMPARO, Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica (ELCA) Social statements and messages, Bishop'smessages, and God's work. Our hands., on the web page of theELCA. Spanish language resources are also available to purchase onthe ELCA eStore. Learn more.

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