Last year, I was so busy that I didn’t get to do much for Advocacy Days. Plus, I was sick. I was there off and on, taking part in what I could. This year, I’m going to try to pay my own way and do more. I’m planning on not being sick. But on to the point of the post…
What is Ecumenical Advocacy Days? It’s a conference of social and religious activism, giving church leaders from many denominations and areas around the world an opportunity for conversation and strategy on the important challenges of our day. These tracks of discussion include hot topics like environmentalism, wage, poverty, war, and more. Some tracks also focus on the issues of specific regions of the globe, such as Africa or Southeast Asia. Along with the great speakers, fellowship, and information at hand, participants also spend a day directly lobbying their legislators. This is a great experience for any community activist - or even someone who is considering getting involved in a justice issue.
Advocacy Days is taking place this year on March 9-12 at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, VA. Crystal City is close to a Metro and just across the river from Washington, DC. It’s a great place to spend a few days on these topics. PLUS: There should be another great crowd of young adults present. Last year, the young adult presence increased by 5 (from 50 the year before to 250). Opportunities for fellowship and networking, especially for young adults, will also increase.
Another bonus - Disciples Justice Action Network also holds an annual event on the Saturday night of the weekend. UCC and Disciples leaders gather for an interesting program, usually featuring a couple of different voices from across the denomination. It’s a great chance to connect with other like-minded individuals, and we’d love to see an increase of young adult participation in the event as well.
So, the bottom line is this - sign up! There are scholarship funds available, specifically for seminarians and young adults. Any person from any denomination is welcome to come, and often, your church or organization will support you in the trip. It’s a great opportunity, and if you haven’t been to DC before, here’s your chance!
Here is the website with basic info: http://www.advocacydays.org/
And, check out the Young Adult page for other info: http://www.advocacydays.org/yadults/index.php
Since I was there last year, I managed to record some brief interviews with a few of the voices present at the DJAN event. Here, Sara Critchfield speaks about her work in bringing young adults to Advocacy Days. She was one of the key contacts for Advocacy Days - her work was so vital to making it all happen.
[audio:sara-interview.mp3]
Krista Johnson was also present, preparing for her two years in Palestine that began the following fall. She was one of the key speakers, but I grabbed her afterwards for a couple of extra comments.
[audio:KristaJohnson-interview.mp3]
Laura Everett came from Boston to attend the event. She was stoked about the possibilities of the weekend.
[audio:LauraEverett-interview.mp3]
The musical performance for the event came from Phoebe Spears, who led us in her folksy style. Here’s a snippet from one of her tunes.
[audio:phoebe-snippet.mp3]
Finally, Amy Gopp, now with Week of Compassion, also had some fiery words for young adults.
[audio:AmyGopp-interview.mp3]
And finally, feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments. I’ll see what I can do to serve as a contact for the region in bringing you here. Your presence is vital!
