Last year our Gloria Dei Book club read “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. The book discussed the power of advocacy AGAINST policies that promote systemic racism and FOR policies that promote justice and equality.
Shortly afterwards, our Diocese promoted training by Healing Communities PA. HPCA leads and joins in advocacy for those impacted by our criminal justice system. HCPA builds coalition between faith groups (including our Diocese of PA) and advocacy organizations. I attended the HCPA training and have been working with HCPA for about a year. Several others at Gloria Dei have participated in “virtual days of action,” calling and emailing to advocate for these important issues to our legislators and other public officials.
If you would like to learn more and attend an HCPA meeting, held every other week on Tuesdays at 6:30pm, please contact me at jillddd@hotmail.com and I will send you a zoom link. If you would like to attend an HCPA Model & Advocacy Training, two are currently scheduled:
Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 10:00am -3:00pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hc-pa-model-advocacy-training-february-19-2022-tickets-258135559407
and Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 10:00am -3:00pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hc-pa-model-advocacy-training-march-19-2022-tickets-258139561377
Issues include:
• Restorative Cities Initiative
• Voting registration for eligible incarcerated citizens
• Victim Survey
• Ending Solitary Confinement
• Free the Vulnerable
• Shut Down Fayette
• Abolish Death by Incarceration in PA
• Dignity for Incarcerated Women
• Probation and Parole Reform
• Faith for Fair Commutations
• Pell Grants for Incarcerated Citizens
• Automatic Expungement
• Youth Justice
• Equitable Space, Equitable Neighborhood