MIPC Joins IJM to Eradicate Slavery

Dear Mercer Island,

Thank you for joining with IJM and calling on President Obama to make the eradication of modern-day slavery a priority for his Administration. Last week, I had the honor of delivering our letter - signed by you and nearly 21,000 other modern-day abolitionists! - to Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to President Obama and Senior Director at the National Security Council. Ms. Smith is responsible for global development and humanitarian assistance issues for the Obama Administration, and has been a leading voice on foreign aid reform. I talked with her about how we can secure more resources for combating slavery around the world, especially in the context of proposed deep cuts in U.S. foreign aid.

Ms. Smith told me, “It is amazing that when there’s so much going on in our own country, 21,000 Americans want the President to know that they care about trafficking victims abroad.” She said that the strong bipartisan support around the country is very important to confronting slavery.

Your help does make a difference. Thanks in part to those of you who supported this effort last year, the President requested an increase of $400,000 more for the Trafficking in Persons office in 2012 over his request for the previous year. Having been active in the human rights field for twenty-five years, I am increasingly aware that building the political will to protect the most vulnerable among us requires an active constituency of people who care enough to speak up to those in power. Thank you for raising your voice on behalf of children, women and men who are living in bondage. IJM greatly appreciates your partnership in this work.

Warmly,
Holly J. Burkhalter
Vice President for Government Relations

Sunday's Luncheon at Simon's Apartments

Several helpers were at our luncheon at Simons this week including three adults and three teen boys. We arrived at Simons at 11:00 AM and left 1:00 PM, altogether a total of 12 hours. We had a larger than usual crowd. We served about 50 people with 15 or more coming back for seconds, so about 65 lunches altogether.

Simon’s is part of Plymouth Housing and is for seniors, many of whom are veterans.

No One Should Be Forced

No One Should Be Forced:
An Interfaith Dialogue on Modern Slavery

Herzl-Ner Tamid, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church and Seattle Against Slavery invite you to help us expand a growing movement for freedom and human rights around the world.

The evening is timed to coincide with the holidays of Passover and Easter, holidays which embody a universal message of freedom, rebirth and renewal. It will feature Urmi Basu, director of New Light (an organization that rescues children from trafficking) in a live feed from Kolkata, India; and Sheila Houston, a minister who reaches out to young people who are trafficked in Washington state.

I Am My Brother's Keeper: Confronting Islamaphobia

May 6th and 7th, 2011

St. Mark's Cathedral
1245 10th Avenue East
Seattle, WA

An interfaith conference of Jews, Christians and Muslims presents an opportunity for your organization to show its support for respect and understanding for Americans of all faiths.

This event will include outstanding speakers, workshops, and an interfaith prayer service, led by Episcopal Bishop Greg Rickel, Iman Fazal Hassen of the Eastside Islamic Center, and Rabbi Jim Mirel, of Temple B'nai Torah.

Good News About Asa Mercer Middle School

As the morning paper continues to carry disturbing news about the Seattle School District administration, it is great to see Mercer Middle School continuing to thrive under its hardworking and dedicated staff.

I hope you all have a chance (even if you are not currently tutoring) to appreciate the colorful bulletin board in the main hall that tells of two recent rewarding events. One is the attendance of a number of students at a reading by Sherman Alexie at the University Village Borders bookstore. There are many photographs of students meeting the author and receiving his autograph as they talked with him and asked many good questions. The other half of the bulletin board shows an oversize check for more than $7,300 from the state to the school in recognition of their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum. Mr. Ettinger, science and math teacher extraordinaire accepted the check on Mercer's behalf at a press conference.

We rejoice with students and staff alike as their hard work is noticed and rewarded!

Coming up: Spring Break April 18 - 22.

Linda Fetters, Asa Mercer Tutor Coordinator

A Way to Contribute to Japan

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) staff are working to respond to the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan March 10, killing unknown numbers of people and sending tsunami waves across the Pacific. Denominational leaders have issued a call to prayer. The Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk; Elder Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly; and Elder Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council are urging Presbyterians to pray for all those affected by the disaster — victims and their families, aid workers, faith communities and leaders. “The magnitude of this kind of tragedy is difficult to grasp. Yet, our faith leads us to affirm that in even greater measure is the presence of God in the midst of the devastation,” states the call. The 8.9-magnitude earthquake is the world’s fifth largest since 1900 and the biggest to hit Japan in 140 years.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has set up a direct response account for donations. Individuals can give through their congregation, by calling PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283, on the secure PC(USA) website (https://gamc.pcusa.org/give/make-a-gift/DR000117/), or by sending a check to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Gifts should be designated for account DR000117 — Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.