The Princetonian Sign Up Information

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened his welcome address by acknowledging the release of The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and its findings to the effect that Canada’s treatment of missing and murdered women and girls is equivalent to genocide. Shortly thereafter, President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that government’s responsibilities for realizing the right to education includes meeting students’ menstrual hygiene needs. He added that his government would eliminate the harmful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). In my twenty year career as a human rights educator, I have never heard a Head of State acknowledge an ongoing genocide of indigenous peoples, or identify menstruation and FGM as urgent human rights issues. My experience at the opening plenary had exceeded my expectations for a high level gathering on gender equality. Satisfied, I was ready to catch an early flight home!

Fortunately, FOMO (fear of missing out) kept me in Vancouver. This was after all, Women Deliver (WD 2019). A conference focused on women that took place from June 3 - 6, 2019. With 8000+ attendees, it promised to be the world’s largest conference on the health, rights and well-being of girls and women. Plus I had my own work to do. Later the same day I represented Episcopal Relief & Development on a panel titled  Religion and Development for Gender Justice.

My fellow panelists were Andrea Kaufmann, Mouhammed Cherif Diop, Josephine Ogola, Reyhana Patel and Yasmine Bouguerche representing World Vision International, Tostan Senegal, Hobah Community Restoration Kenya, Islamic Relief Canada and Young Peacebuilders Program MENA, respectively. We brought our toolkits, best practices and faith-based approaches to shifting gender norms to the forum and responded to a wide array of questions, tough ones such as:

• How do you engage with faith leaders that are truly dogmatic in their belief in man’s superiority over women?
• Does Scripture allow me to forgive my mother for cutting me when I was a child? 
• How do you address gender biases in your own faith-based organizations? 

These and other questions demanded serious and concrete responses, and I was grateful for the presence of Imam Diop and Reverend Ogola, who brought poignant examples of their connection as well as stories of alienation from their faith communities over contested interpretations of Scripture to address issues such as abortion rights, pregnancy spacing and ‘disciplining’ of wives.

For my part, I was excited to bring Episcopal Relief & Development’s collaboration with the Episcopal Church of Liberia Relief and Development (ECL-RD) into the forum. In addition to  touting our impressive successes at transforming attitudes and behaviors about violence against women, I also shared some critical reflections on the limitations of working within the parameters of faith-based institutions. I invited the audience to consider how faith-based organizations (FBOs) can expand interventions beyond matrimonial homes and other Church-sanctioned relationships in order to respond to unique vulnerabilities and specific forms of violence experienced for example, by widows, married children, sex workers and girls and women with disabilities.

The conference room was filled to capacity, affirming that the interest in faith-based interventions is high. Yet, despite the panel (and a few additional fora for conversation including a session on Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women Through Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Faith), I thirsted for more opportunities to engage faith-based approaches to gender justice. The Women Deliver Conference only sharpened my interest for a dedicated interfaith symposium addressing experiences with preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

I hope such a future symposium can also fully integrate youth. Women Deliver 2019 brought together 1400+ youth advocates whose  vibrancy and innovation was a vital reminder of the value an intergenerational exchange of knowledge and youth-driven responses can have on ending inequality. Early evaluations of Episcopal Relief & Development’s own gender-based violence work in Liberia suggest that the incidence of violence experienced by female youth has increased in spite of the participation of youth faith leaders in the campaign. This is one of our next frontiers as well to address. And WD 2019 exposed me to African youth advocates and new youth-centered strategies that could influence a new phase of the program.

I was impressed with the messages at the opening of the conference, I was even more energized following the panel discussions and talking with my peers – there is so much more to be done and many more opportunities to advance equality for women.

Photos: top and middle, the author with fellow panelist; bottom, Chiseche pauses to take a photo with Episcopal Relief & Development staff, Dawn Murdock, the Director for Strategic Learning & Program Resources, and Ernest Cajuste, a Program Officer for International Programs.

We have all been shocked and saddened by the terrible devastation Hurricane Dorian visited upon the Bahamas. The death toll is likely to continue to rise. The destruction is heartbreaking.
In times like this, I try to remind myself that the road to recovery is hard and long but with the right support, approach and commitment it is possible. Our ability to coordinate and leverage our relationships across the Anglican Communion give us more flexibility and a wider reach.

For instance, our response to Dorian in the Bahamas is underway in collaboration with the Anglican Alliance. Some of our friends and supporters are curious about the Alliance and how it relates to our work in the Bahamas.
Since I was present at the creation of the Anglican Alliance, I thought it might be helpful to explain the role the Alliance plays in Episcopal Relief & Development’s international disaster response.

By way of background, the Anglican Alliance grew out of a call by the bishops of the Anglican Communion at the Lambeth Conference of 2008 for greater collaboration and cooperation across the Communion when it comes to responding to disasters. A number of bishops expressed frustration that there was no one Communion-wide point of contact they could call on in times of disaster. As a result, the Archbishop of Canterbury convened a design team, of which I was a part, to address this concern. The Anglican Alliance was established to respond to this call.

It’s important to know that the Alliance is not and was never envisioned to be an international relief and development agency. It does not collect or disburse funding. The Anglican Communion already has a number of excellent agencies that do that kind of work. Indeed, many Provinces of the Communion have departments or stand-alone agencies much like Episcopal Relief & Development.

What was sorely lacking, however, was a way for us all to collaborate and coordinate in times of disaster.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but disasters produce chaos.

In times of disaster and with all the best of intentions in the world, people mobilize and seek to assist the local diocese where a disaster occurs, much as we are doing for the Bahamas. In the past, this sometimes led to further chaos—multiple reporting requirements, miscommunication about needs, double funding of some needs and critical gaps in other places. It became clear that we were just creating more confusion and heavier burdens on Church partners already overwhelmed by the disaster itself.

So, here’s where the Anglican Alliance comes into the picture.

In the immediate aftermath of a disaster the Alliance convenes all of the major players working on relief and development across the Communion to address the disaster in a collaborative and coordinated way. The impacted diocese has one point of contact at the Alliance (rather than multiple points of contact around the world) and works with a support team to create a comprehensive proposal that addresses the most urgent priorities as much as possible.

The agencies and others who want to help, then take that proposal, and cooperate to fund it to the extent we can. Episcopal Relief & Development focuses on funding humanitarian needs while others may focus on funding church infrastructure needs.

Often there is a lead agency to oversee the response and foster collaboration with other Anglican agencies. In the case of the Bahamas, Episcopal Relief & Development is likely to be the lead agency, given our proximity to the Bahamas and our experience.

Episcopal Relief & Development will also support the deployment of one of our Partners in Resilience and Response (someone from elsewhere in the Communion, in this case from within the region, who through experience and training is equipped in disaster management) to the Bahamas to help the diocese develop its strategy. This is a new aspect of our international disaster response and we hope that it will help the diocese serve the needs of the most vulnerable more effectively and efficiently.

It has been invaluable to have the Alliance as the single point of contact and as a platform for collaboration in the Anglican Communion at these difficult times. The Alliance helps to clarify communication and identify needs quickly so that we can all do what we want to do: help those most in need.

The Anglican Alliance may not be one of the official instruments of unity in the Anglican Communion, but is sure feels like that when the chips are down.

Related Stories:
Remembering Hurricane Katrina
Helping in Time of Disaster
Responding to Hurricane Dorian

"One of the strongest interventions you can do with a parent is to build that capacity in the brain, and to say really simple questions like what do you think your baby needs right now?"

Karen Longenecker, Clinical Social Worker and member of the Program Committee for Episcopal Relief & Development's Board of Directors, sat down with Rob Radtke, our President and CEO. Listen to Karen and Rob reflect on the work they observed during a recent pilgrimage in Zambia. As you learn more about our integrated Early Childhood Development program, check out ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE, Episcopal Relief & Development's grassroots Church-wide fundraising campaign dedicated to improving the lives of children.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:

Early Childhood Development (ECD) : In order to reduce illness and death among expectant and new mothers and their children, Episcopal Relief & Development supports local initiatives that train health workers and community volunteers to actively engage with families and monitor child health.

Empowering Parents: Education about early stimulation and growth and development is critical for children to reach their full potential. Using a holistic and integrated approach, we focus on teaching parents and caregivers skills and activities that involve play, nurturing and stimulation through home visits and family support networks.

Asset-Based Community Development: Episcopal Relief & Development seeks to assist individuals and whole communities to believe in themselves – their knowledge, their abilities, their values, their worth and to act as facilitators that engage and energize people through an appreciation and affirmation of the gifts that exist within a community.

After Hurricane Maria, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida became a key player in serving displaced families from Puerto Rico. The Abuelitas volunteer program connects Spanish-speaking “grandmothers” from local churches with displaced families to help them apply for services and to offer advice on adapting to the new environment. Working with over 100 families, the diocese offers housing assistance, job training and other forms of support as a part of this program. Two years after Hurricane Maria, the exodus to Central Florida continues. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Puerto Rican population in Central Florida has jumped 12.5% post-Hurricane Maria, and families are still arriving every day. Right now, The Episcopal Church is one of the few direct services providers to Maria survivors left in Central Florida. Episcopal Relief & Development has supported this program since 2017.

Episcopal Relief & Development: Since Hurricane Maria, you have been working with families from Puerto Rico who have been displaced, helping them to adapt to Orlando. How did you get involved in this work? 

Father Jose: We have been connected with this work simply because our church is in the geographical area near many of these displaced families. Once they land at Orlando airport, our church is only 15 minutes away.

Episcopal Relief & Development: What about your church made you a good fit for helping displaced people after Hurricane Maria?

Father Jose: We knew and understood our assets as a congregation. Episcopal Relief & Development is always talking about asset mapping and knowing what you have to offer. During Maria, we quickly realized that we had the cultural competency to work with the Latino community.

Episcopal Relief & Development: Can you share more about what you mean when you say cultural competency?

Father Jose: By that I mean, your team has to include people who understand the culture, not just respect it. You should know how to communicate cross-culturally. One of the biggest barriers we've seen in the community is when other organizations set up, have adequate resources to respond and are ready to serve, but don't have a means of communicating with, reaching out and appealing to people impacted by the crisis. You have to be able to engage and connect with people if you want to serve them.

Episcopal Relief & Development: Can you provide an example of how you maintained cultural competency in your program?

Father Jose: One of the things we've done to maintain our cultural competency is using some of the funds from Episcopal Relief & Development to employ Hurricane Maria survivors to serve the needs of other survivors. We have experienced the impact of migration; we have our own migration stories. I haven't been displaced by a hurricane but my family emigrated from Puerto Rico to Hartford, Connecticut. We hired individuals with similar experiences to support their fellow displaced community members. It's been key to our success.

"Don't wait until a disaster gets you ready, but prepare ahead of time."

Episcopal Relief & Development: What else do you feel was critical to your success?

Father Jose: After a disaster, everyone wants to start developing relationships, when actually, before a crisis is the best time to start connecting to community groups. A couple of years before Maria, we joined Vamos4PR. It was a coalition of 40 independent organizations that serve the needs of the Latino community and other immigrant groups. We found two or three trusted partners and built individual relationships with them over time. We attended their events, had coffee, went to any programs they had, just to be part of the community. And, when Maria happened, they remembered us. Today, we continue to work with Vamos4PR and another organization called Pa’lante por Mas, focusing on local efforts of resettling newly arrived families.

Episcopal Relief & Development: Nice! That’s a good example. We always remind churches to consider what people they are connected to. Many don’t realize that relationships are the most important thing when it comes to disaster response.

Father Jose: I challenge all churches out there to take inventory not only of what they have to offer, but also see who is serving alongside their congregations. Don't wait until there's a disaster. That's not going to work. Be part of the community ahead of time—attend school board meetings, help children get school supplies, join community foundations as a partner, etc. 

Episcopal Relief & Development: Aside from other churches and community organizations, where else should church leaders be forming relationships pre-disaster?

Father Jose: Well, we have a great relationship with the local water supervisor. We also have connected with our state representatives, state senators and commissioners. They're actually the ones that make decisions that have an impact on your local community.

Episcopal Relief & Development: As we wrap up, we want to focus on a few key tips and reminders. You mentioned cultural competency, building relationships, knowledge and experience...what other advice would you give to church leaders who want to have a successful and impactful disaster response?

Father Jose: Don't wait until a disaster gets you ready, but prepare ahead of time. Look inward, see what you have to offer, and see the communities you have access to. Look at your facilities and spaces, envision your facilities as a place for people to gather. Look at your outreach, can your current outreach meet needs? In addition, The Episcopal Church has a lot of property and assets. I am sure a community organization would love to partner with any of our parishes, especially congregations that are centrally located in downtown areas. You also may find other groups willing to do the work alongside you and they may be able to fund it as well.

Episcopal Relief & Development: Father Jose, thank you for having this conversation with us. You are helping so many church leaders to reimagine disaster response. We will continue to pray for you and your ministry.

One Thousand Days of Love:

A Father's Story

My son is on the cusp of turning three. That is exactly 1,095 days that my wife and I have managed to keep him healthy and safe. It's an accomplishment to be sure. He's a wonderfully precocious child with almost no fear, so some days keeping him healthy and safe are downright laudable. He is never boring. I love him. He has transformed every facet of my life and taught me more about myself and about being a decent human than I could have imagined possible. He has also helped me to realize that my job as a parent is so much more than just providing a healthy and safe environment for him to grow.

"For the rest of his life, he will benefit from the care afforded to him in this first, most crucial, thousand days of life."

My job as his daddy is to teach him how to be a good and kind human. To give him all the kisses. To discipline him when necessary. To be the best example of positive masculinity. It is my job to help prepare him to be his own person. He is now a remarkable toddler with a keen wit, an increasing mastery of language and a big personality. He can tell jokes and complex stories and gives the very best hugs in the world. My son can do these things because he has been blessed, given access, by way of his parent's privilege, to good doctors, clean water, proper nutrition and other critical necessities. Most importantly, he has been nurtured by his family and extended circle of friends, honorary uncles and aunts and caregivers. For the rest of his life, he will benefit from the care afforded to him in this first, most crucial, thousand days of life. 

Just like my son, the children in the communities in which we partner are filled with precocious spirited young ones, surrounded by parents and caregivers that want the very best for them. To help make that dream a reality, Episcopal Relief & Development is asking our friends and supporters to join us for one thousand days. Through the ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign, we invite you to help communities around the world nurture children to their full potential. This campaign is our opportunity to celebrate children's lives and the universal importance of children to all of us. At the very least, we have all been children with dreams and hopes for our futures.

"ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE is our opportunity to celebrate children's lives and the universal importance of children to all of us."

This sentiment also underscores the importance of World Children's Day. A day each year set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the promotion of international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improving children's welfare.

This year, as we celebrate World Children's Day and strive to uphold these values of togetherness and to improve life for our children, we invite everyone to join ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE by engaging in acts of love of their own. These acts can include:

? Learning about the campaign and our work with children.
? Sharing the campaign with your congregations and communities on social media, through online peer-to-peer fundraising and other creative campaign activities.
? Giving as an individual or congregation to help expand our work with children.

Regardless of how you choose to participate, we hope people will see ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE as a meaningful opportunity to join us in ministry and in loving our global community through caring and nurturing our children. It takes a community filled with love to raise my son. I hope that each of you will consider the children you have loved and nurtured and will join Episcopal Relief & Development in celebrating World Children's Day and by working together for lasting change in the lives of all children.

THANKFUL - TODAY AND EVERYDAY

I am always thankful for family at Thanksgiving. This year, I find myself particularly thankful for my mother. She turned 90 in September. We had a wonderful celebration of that milestone, and we reminisced with family and friends about many wonderful years together. In October, my mother fell, broke her hip and had partial hip replacement surgery. No small feat for anyone, let alone a 90-year-old. I am happy to say she is recovering nicely, but it reminded me how fragile life is. I am deeply grateful for her recovery and the medical care she received. My mother was in a new, thoroughly up-to-date hospital with talented and caring doctors and nurses. I knew she was in good hands, and I was grateful for it every day. She is now in a rehabilitation facility, and I am equally grateful for the expertise and care she is receiving there.

This episode makes me keenly aware of how privileged my family is to have access to top-notch medical care. I know that many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world do not have such ready access to good health care. For example, globally, more than 300,000 women die each year from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In order to reduce illness and death among expectant and new mothers and their children, many of whom are in rural areas, Episcopal Relief & Development supports local initiatives that train health workers and community volunteers to actively engage with families and monitor child health. We are saving lives by encouraging pregnant women to seek prenatal care, promoting nutrition for mother and child and ensuring that babies receive the recommended vaccinations.

This Thanksgiving, I give thanks not only for the medical care that is available to my mother but also for the health care available to women and children worldwide because of the tireless work of Episcopal Relief & Development's partners and community volunteers. I am also grateful for everyone whose financial support makes this work possible. We could not do it without you.

Thank you for your support, and Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

“God equips us, guides us and gives us enough light for the next step after we step out.”
- The Rev. Peter Munson

Chad Brinkman, the Director of Episcopal Relief & Development's ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign, interviews the Rev. Peter Munson. Peter is the founder of 6 Million Steps for Kids. This conversation takes place out in the field as Peter  was walking from Charleston, South Carolina to San Francisco, California. 

Tune in as Peter shares what prompted his act of love, and how he used it to raise awareness about the needs of vulnerable children, making a lasting impact in the United States and internationally.

On Saturday, November 16, 2019,  the Rev. Peter Munson walked over the Golden Gate Bridge to complete his walk. He took 6,957,500 steps and walked 3,371.5 miles to complete this journey. Along the way, Peter’s act of love inspired many people. We hope this story will inspire you as well. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE: A grassroots Church-wide fundraising campaign dedicated to helping children reach their full potential. Click here to join.

Learn more about how Episcopal Relief & Development's Church partners are helping children reach their full potential around the world.