| Social justice
forum to convene at HNU
By Michele Jurich
Staff writer
More than two dozen presenters on topics ranging from
access to water to human trafficking to spirituality in action will offer
workshops during the Bay Area Social Justice Forum March 19 at Holy Names
University in Oakland.
When the expected 150 to 200 attendees leave at the end of the day, Sister
Susan Wells, the university’s director of the Center for Social
Justice & Civic Engagement, hopes they’ll go home with a plan
for action.
“We hope people will walk away with a sense that they as individuals
can make a difference,” she said, “but also there’s
power in community to act together and make change.”
In addition to the host Center for Social Justice and Civic Engagement,
co-sponsors include the Diocese of Oakland’s Global Solidarity Team;
JustFaith Ministries; Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian
Charity; Sisters of the Holy Family, Fremont; St. Anne Catholic Church,
Byron; and Stop Slavery: Northern California Coalition of Catholic Sisters.
The day begins with a keynote address by Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, executive
director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California,
a statewide alliance of multifaith organizations of religious leaders
who come together to respond to the crisis of working poverty by joining
low-wage workers in their struggle for a living wage, health insurance,
fair working conditions and a voice in the decisions that affect them.
Rev. Salvatierra is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America.
The keynote address in the afternoon will be delivered by Joe Grant, co-founder
and chairperson of Crossroads Ministry, a justice-based retreat center
in Louisville, Ky. He is the creator of JusticeWalking (J-Walking), a
JustFaith “prophet-raising” process with older teens. He is
the developer of Engaging Spirituality, the latest offering of JustFaith
Ministries
Presenters have been encouraged to offer “avenues for action,”
said Sister Susan. Among them will be the opportunity to sign up for the
Walk Against Genocide April 10 at Lake Merritt. Some of the proceeds from
the forum will benefit Oakland Catholic Worker House.
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