A “bang-up party” on October 18 will allow St. John Baptist’s Pennsylvania Churches Supporting Churches partners to meet and mingle with 15 youth and adults visiting from New Orleans. The party will be a combination potluck dinner and fundraiser for the St. John Baptist after-school music program for at-risk youth, with entertainment provided by several area musical groups as well as by youth musicians from St. John Baptist led by their music director, Hezekiah Brinson.
College Visits and Service Projects
The delegation arrives in Philadelphia late on Wednesday, October 15. On Thursday, the youth will visit Eastern University and Temple University. The adults will meet with the CBC Senior Support and Service Corps in the morning and explore community gardens in West Philadelphia in the afternoon with Rev. David Braneky, pastor of CSC partner, Lansdowne Baptist. Members of CBC’s Churches Supporting Churches Task Force will join them that evening for a potluck dinner at the Prima’s.
On Friday morning the youth will be taken to Lincoln University by members of CSC partner, Saints Memorial Baptist Church, while the adults visit Urban Promise in Camden where they will discuss this organization’s after-school music program and youth leadership program. Youth and adults will come together for lunch at the Reading Terminal Market to get a flavor of Pennsylvania cuisine followed by a classic tour of the Liberty Bell. A National Park Ranger will lead them on the "Quest for Freedom: Slavery and the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia" tour to be followed by a visit to Mother Bethel and the Richard Allen Museum. The adults will eat out for dinner while the youth will go to a Phantoms hockey game with Chuck Hill and youth from CSC partner, St. Andrews United Church of Christ. That evening Marcus and Nancy Pomeroy have invited the pastors of the CSC partner churches to join Laurie Sweigard and themselves in an evening with Don and Joyce Boutté.
Policy Link Workshop
Saturday morning provides an opportunity for adults from all the CSC partner churches to join adults from St. John Baptist in an advocacy training workshop led by Annie Clark, the associate director of Policy Link. Rev. Boutté is a staff member of Policy Link and the workshop has been scheduled to meet one of the priorities he lifted up for our work with Churches Supporting Churches. Policy Link has been particularly helpful in bringing to the attention of state and national legislators the need for equitable development in reconstruction from Katrina’s devastation, particularly as this relates to affordable housing.. Call Kathy Cleveland at the CBC church office (610-688-0664) to indicate you are planning to attend. The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
The Welcome Party
The Welcome Party on Saturday evening is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. No reservations are necessary. Just bring something to share at the potluck. Beverages will be provided.
In addition to the potluck, some “awesome cooks” (Rev. Boutté’s description) from the St. John delegation will be whipping up New Orleans dishes for a New Orleans Tasting Table, with small portions offered for $1.00.
Entertainment will be provided by the Soulé Haitian-American Gospel Ensemble, Zion Baptist Church Mass Choir, Arcadia University Exalted Movement and the Annointed 4, the CBC Jazz Band, and youth musicians from St. John Baptist.
Fundraising activities, in addition to the New Orleans Tasting Table, include a Silent Auction and a Line-Dancing Competition.
Child care will be available for the entire evening.
The delegation’s visit promises to be a unique opportunity to offer hospitality and friendship to a people whose faith has been tested beyond what most of us have imagined possible. We need to give them a respite from their daily struggle with healing and survival and we need to open ourselves to learning how to develop what our recent sermon series has described as a “faith for hard times.”
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
UPDATE FROM REV. BOUTTE ON EVACUATION
CBC Pastor Marcus Pomeroy spoke with Rev. Don Boutte this afternoon, Sunday, August 31. He and his family are safe in Baton Rouge. Members of his congregation have all evacuated and they have a database of phone numbers this time so that they can keep in touch. Rev. Boutte and his family may go to Nashville if things get bad in Baton Rouge. He appreciates our prayers in worship this morning and asks for continued prayer.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
A Long Way Home, August 2008
Policy Link has just released its analysis of the progress of housing rebuilding and repair in Louisiana since Katrina three years ago. The report, A Long Way Home: The State of Housing Recovery in Louisiana 2008, focuses on the three federal programs: the Road Home for homeowners, the large rental program, and the small rental program.
Key findings posted Aug. 21 on Equity Blog by report author, Annie Clark:
• In New Orleans, 4 of every 5 Road Home recipients rebuilding their homes did not get enough money to cover their repairs. Statewide, more than 2 of every 3 face the same predicament.
• Statewide, the average Road Home applicant fell more than $35,000 short of the money they need to rebuild their home. The shortfall hit highly flooded, historically African-American communities particularly hard.
• Nearly 40,000 low-income homeowners received an average of about $27,000 each from an additional Road Home grant program designed to help vulnerable residents.
• Renters still face huge hurdles—only 2 in 5 damaged affordable rental units statewide will be repaired or replaced with recovery assistance. In the New Orleans metro region, it’s an even more dismal rate of 1 in 3.
• The national credit crunch and personal financial vulnerability keeps many mom-and-pop landlords from being able to rebuild through the small rental repair program. Meant to restore more than 10,000 rental homes, the program has completed only 82.
• Nearly 28,000 families nationwide still rely on disaster rental assistance, with 14,000 in the greater New Orleans metro region alone. There will not be nearly enough affordable rental units on the market by the time the assistance runs out in March 2009.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Public Policy and Justice: The Case Study of New Orleans
People from around the country, from Seattle to Rochester, from Missouri to North Carolina, participated in the workshop on "Public Policy and Justice" at the Baptist Peace Fellowship Summer Conference in Montréal. Rev. Donald P. Boutté, executive director of Churches Supporting Churches (CSC), shared stories of his work with CSC, Policy Link, and the Equity and Inclusion Campaign on equitable redevelopment of the Gulf Coast.
Affordable housing remains a profound need for those with limited and low incomes. The current plans are shockingly inadequate: funds have been allocated to restore only 1 out of 3 deeply affordable housing units in New Orleans. Recent legislation offered by Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, The Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act, supports affordable housing for the elderly and disabled.
Jobs and infrastructure rebuilding are two great needs for the restoration of a livable community. California Representative Zoe Lofgren offered legislation, The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, that supports the creation of 100,000 new jobs and supports job training in infrastructure rebuilding. Although for the most part funding for youth has been left out of Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts, this bill provides for a youth Conservation Corps with job training in wetlands restoration.
For information on The Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act, see the Equity and Inclusion Campaign's summary of S. 2975.
For information on The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, see the Equity and Inclusion Campaign’s summary of H.R. 4048.
For general information about Gulf Coast advocacy, see the workshop handout. Write your Congresspersons asking them to co-sponsor this legislation and write to Congressional committee members asking them to move the legislation forward.
Affordable housing remains a profound need for those with limited and low incomes. The current plans are shockingly inadequate: funds have been allocated to restore only 1 out of 3 deeply affordable housing units in New Orleans. Recent legislation offered by Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, The Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act, supports affordable housing for the elderly and disabled.
Jobs and infrastructure rebuilding are two great needs for the restoration of a livable community. California Representative Zoe Lofgren offered legislation, The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, that supports the creation of 100,000 new jobs and supports job training in infrastructure rebuilding. Although for the most part funding for youth has been left out of Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts, this bill provides for a youth Conservation Corps with job training in wetlands restoration.
For information on The Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act, see the Equity and Inclusion Campaign's summary of S. 2975.
For information on The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, see the Equity and Inclusion Campaign’s summary of H.R. 4048.
For general information about Gulf Coast advocacy, see the workshop handout. Write your Congresspersons asking them to co-sponsor this legislation and write to Congressional committee members asking them to move the legislation forward.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Images from the Ninth Ward - March 2008
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photos by Joe Spampinato, member of the CBC delegation to New Orleans in March 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Day of Gulf Coast Advocacy, April 24: CBC Members Partner with Rev. Boutté in Washington, D. C.
Sitting straight-backed, excited, and a bit nervous, we all focused on the head of the conference table in Senator Specter’s office suite as we engaged in conversation with legislative aide, Alex Helpman. We had exhausted our understanding of the problems with current housing initiatives and challenges in Gulf Coast rebuilding turning to Rev. Boutté for his response to Mr. Helpman’s focused, thoughtful questioning. After 30 minutes of intense dialogue, a platform for Rev. Boutté to explain the nuances of the current failure and the ongoing need for federal housing legislation concerning Gulf Coast rebuilding, we left Senator Specter’s office invigorated and appreciative of Mr. Helpman’s careful attention.
Seven CBC members, including Pastor Laurie Sweigard, participated in the legislative lobbying day organized by the Equity and Inclusion Campaign. In the Senate we advocated for funding to address the chasm between need and availability of affordable housing. We met with Senator Specter’s staff; Senator Casey was already on board as a cosponsor of The Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act of 2007. In the House we advocated for The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, legislation that would fund job development, especially in infrastructure rebuilding and in environmental restoration (H.R. 4048). We met with Representative Joe Sestak’s staff, Representative Jim Gerlach’s staff, and Representative Paul Kanjorski’s staff. All were receptive and attentive.
The vision of partnership and accompaniment blossomed into a reality that day. As constituents, we had provided access to Pennsylvania congressmen for our partner, Rev. Boutté, who brought his expertise and experience to the conversation; together we gave voice to the needs of the struggling Gulf Coast community. We ended the day with a bit of faith restored in the democratic process and with a reclaimed commitment to our participation in the process.
(Note: None of the Representatives have co-sponsored The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act; our work continues.)
Seven CBC members, including Pastor Laurie Sweigard, participated in the legislative lobbying day organized by the Equity and Inclusion Campaign. In the Senate we advocated for funding to address the chasm between need and availability of affordable housing. We met with Senator Specter’s staff; Senator Casey was already on board as a cosponsor of The Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act of 2007. In the House we advocated for The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, legislation that would fund job development, especially in infrastructure rebuilding and in environmental restoration (H.R. 4048). We met with Representative Joe Sestak’s staff, Representative Jim Gerlach’s staff, and Representative Paul Kanjorski’s staff. All were receptive and attentive.
The vision of partnership and accompaniment blossomed into a reality that day. As constituents, we had provided access to Pennsylvania congressmen for our partner, Rev. Boutté, who brought his expertise and experience to the conversation; together we gave voice to the needs of the struggling Gulf Coast community. We ended the day with a bit of faith restored in the democratic process and with a reclaimed commitment to our participation in the process.
(Note: None of the Representatives have co-sponsored The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act; our work continues.)
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