And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 00:00:09 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "John V. Wilmerding" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Prison to Community: Sharing the Vision - 4/29 - 5/1/99 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Well, life is full of surprises these days -- this morning I got a call from Chicago -- Jacki Belile of the Institute for World Spirituality wanted to make sure that I had heard of this great new book, Houses of Healing, by Robin Casarjian. The book is being distributed by the Lionheart Foundation -- <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- check them out for further information -- I have not seen the book yet, but it sure looks interesting -- there is a full write-up on the book at the web site: <www.lionheart.org>. By the time we had finished our conversation, I had agreed to go to Chicago and take part in this conference -- I hope to see you there! John Wilmerding FORWARDED MATERIAL BEGINS HERE: "Prison to Community: Sharing the Vision" April 29 - May 1, 1999 Chicago, Illinois At this Second Annual national gathering of the Prison to Community Initiative on the campus of the University of Chicago and the Chicago Theological Seminary, we will build on the 1998 organizing conference and our first year of work. Our Inaugural Year has provided us a framework for analysis and national community-building. The Prison to Community Initiative is an emerging interreligious community of people from many walks of life who care deeply about the cycles of crime, violence and dehumanizing incarceration which grip our society. The Institute for World Spirituality has identified disturbing local, national and global trends in incarceration policies which require greater cooperative involvement on the part of all religious communities. These trends include incarceration of individuals at younger ages, for longer sentences with less rehabilitative programming and reasonable contact with family and community resources. Such trends are identifiable within a larger context of increased public fear while actual violent crimes continue to decrease. In short, systemic breakdown of community well-being manifests in trends which scapegoat and warehouse the "least of these" -- women, the poor, and people of color. These individuals and their families desperately need the compassion, hope and concrete support of their communities -- especially the direct and indirect support of religious communities. In addition, religious communities' increased involvement in these arenas impact social policies which maintain an excessively ning a punitive approach to incarceration. The goal of The Prison to Community Initiative is to promote effective partnerships among religious communities and other grassroots organization which support healing and transformation for incarcerated individuals, their families and the wider society. We understand that such transformation requires: a) increased awareness of religious communities through personal involvement; b) a reclaiming of public leadership by religious communities in naming the larger communal realities, such as systemic race, class and gender issues, which underlie the current trends. At "Sharing the Vision," we will focus in every level of the program on the invitation to religious communities for their and partnership with prisoners, their families and supportive grassroots organizations. Each keynote address, panel and small group session is designed to identify ways in which religious communities can become involved in specific issues. Presenters and conveners will again represent regional and national leadership from a wide array of backgrounds. By the end of the conference we will construct an action plan and structure for sustained partnership with religious communities. Leaders include: Dr. Robert Moore, President of the Institute for World Spirituality The Reverend George Cairns, Chicago Theological Seminary Dr. Bob Roberts, Executive Director, Project Return Mr. James Chapman, Founder, Prison Action Committee Mr. John Wilmerding, General Secretary, Campaign for Equity-Restorative Justice Ms. Joanne Archibald, Advocacy Director, Chicago Legal Aid to Incarcerated Mothers The Reverend Deborah Haffner, RDC Associates, Recipient of 1994 "Restorative Justice Award" Dr. Rosa LaPietra, Director of Prison Program, Adler Institute Mr. Ra Chaka, Prison Action Committee ... and many others! Co-sponsors of the 1999 conference are The Institute for World Spirituality, The Chicago Theological Seminary, The Divinity School at the University of Chicago and Project Return (New Orleans). Additional sponsors for the conference are being sought in order to make the conference affordable to the largest number of attendees possible. Registration Cost is $95. This covers the entire program and all snacks and meals. Housing is not included and arrangements must be made separately by contacting the office for local information. Limited scholarship funds are available on a first-come first-served basis. For more information contact Jacki Belile, Associate Director, The Institute for World Spirituality at 5757 S. University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. 773.752.5757 ext 273 ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). -- To subscribe to the CERJ E-Mail distribution list, simply send an E-mail message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Please include your name and your state, province, or country of residence. Thank you! -------------------------------------------------------------- John Wilmerding, Gen'l Secretary | E-Mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> =================================| Web: http://www.cerj.org *CERJ* International Secretariat | ICQ Number: 18723495 ---------------------------------+============================ Campaign | 217 High Street | For | A for | Brattleboro, VT | Justice | AR Equity- | 05301-3018 USA | that | ART Restorative | Telephone & FAX | Restores | EAR Justice | [802] 254-2826 | Equity | HEAR ================================================= HEART Work together to reinvent justice using methods | EARTH that are fair; which conserve, restore and even | HEARTH create harmony, equity and good will in society | >>>|CERJ|<<< ============================================================== We are the prisoners of the prisoners we have taken - J. Clegg You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world - Gandhi &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
