Social Justice News

"Conversations with Friends" - Writing to people in immigration detention in Minnesota:
Conversations with Friends invites you (those 22 and older) to become a letter writer, writing one letter each week to a person in immigration detention in Minnesota to let them know that they are not alone; we care. Most have no letter writers, are suffering from isolation, loneliness, uncertainty and/or fear, and are facing deportation and subsequent permanent separation from their family, friends and communities. 

This is an opportunity to live the Gospel by accompanying those who are currently experiencing tremendously challenging times, demonstrating our solidarity, brotherhood and friendship. Training will be offered on Saturday, August 5th, 9 am - 1 pm. Location to be announced. After attending, there is no obligation, simply an invitation. To register or if you have questions, please contact Steve Kraemer, director, at 952-240-3501. For more information, visit: www.conversationswithfriendsmn.org.

Praying for healing in a divided community burdened by violence, grief and distrust.
COME TOGETHER
Thank You
Habitat for Humanity thanks you for the donation of $4500 towards the home we will be working on building this year. Your support allow familis to open the door to a safe, affordable home-a home that means kids can sleep and study in safety, parents can start saving for their kids futures and families can build lasting connections with a community.

District 279 thanked us for the donation of $500 of gas vouchers from the proceeds from Children’s Clothing Sale. They will be shared with parents of homeless students to provide transportation back to their schools until transportation can be arranged by the district.

Funding for Dorothy Day Place Is Secured—Thank You from Catholic Charities!
You may recall that a few weeks ago Catholic Charities was with us before and after several masses to ask for your assistance in advocating for state support for the new Dorothy Day Place in downtown St. Paul to provide homes and hope for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. It worked and your efforts made a difference! The Minnesota Legislature passed a bonding bill that was signed by Gov. Dayton which includes what was requested-- funding for the Saint Paul Opportunity Center and resources for critically needed housing throughout the state. There is more work to do, but now there are the resources available to complete the project—the largest public/private partnership in housing and social services in state history. Thank you! To stay informed you can visit our campaign website.

GLOBAL WARMING IMPACTS IN MINNESOTA
1. Since 2004, Minnesota has had four “once-in-a-thousand year” floods, and the largest storms-those with three inches or more of rainfall in a single day-have more than doubled in Minnesota in just over 50 years.
2. Health impacts from climate change can range from asthma attacks among children to heart attacks to premature deaths among the elderly.
3. Minnesota’s allergy season has grown longer due to global warming-and allergies may become more severe.
4. Fish habitat is already changing in many of our lakes and rivers as warmer water temperatures increase algae blooms and exacerbate the spread of invasive species.

So what we can see here is that what happens globally affects us right here in Minnesota!

Our Pope has encouraged all of us to begin to heal and protect our beautiful planet. You can do things to help.

If you would like to learn more in depth information about climate change and Caring for Creation please join our group at SJTW. We learn and share information on what is happening with climate change and how we can do our part to care for Mother Earth. If interested in joining please contact Steve Kriz. Information here was published in a brochure from Fresh Energy. You can  check this organization out at: freshenergy.org.

Youth Homelessness in MN
Youth homelessness is becoming one of the highest populations of homeless individuals in MN. How does a 16-22 year old make decisions about how to get to school, where to eat, how to pay for a meal, or paying for a bus pass to get to that PT job when they do not have a permanent place to stay? Where do these youth find support? How did they find themselves in these situations? Join us for an interactive session June 12, 7-8:30 at St John Neumann parish as you learn how each and every decision a youth makes will impact a future decision often the same day, the next day, or later that week. 
Sponsored By Catholic Charities Office of Social Justice and St. John Neumann’s Building the Common Good Ministry.

Families Moving Forward Twin sheets needed
We are in need of some additional twin sized sheets for our guests. Gently used or new donations would be greatly appreciated. Last year mid week we had a full turnover of guests and did not have enough sheets for the quick turnaround of beds. Thanks for sharing them.

Compassion Kits for the homeless available
We have kits ready to be shared with homeless in the faith formation gathering area. Keep them in your car and share as you say a prayer for those that are homeless at this time. Thanks for sharing them.

Justice Funds shared with (Northside Achievment Zone(NAZ)
With your support, NAZ collaborative is working to end multi-generational poverty one family at a time, and building a culture of achievement on the Northside so all youth graduate from high school ready for college.
• NAZ has more than 1100 families & 2300 enrolled scholars.
• NAZ children are significantly more prepared for kindergarten than their peers.
• NAZ scholars are jumping ahead academically through after-school and summer programs.
Thank you for supporting our SJTW Justice/Helping Hands fund


Avenues for Young Families
Avenues for Young Families is in the process of launching. We are thrilled to say our first young family (a single father and two young children) moved into their new home yesterday and we have a couple more moving in over the coming days. Unfortunately, the nonprofit we will be using to provide furnishings for the families’ apartments, Bridging, Inc., is low on inventory right now so we cannot provide the things a family needs. Accordingly, we are reaching out to you today to see if your congregations have the ability to help us out. We are in urgent need of:
• Double or queen beds (preferably queen)
• Twin beds and/or cribs
• Dressers
• Kitchen tables and chairs
• Living room furniture
• Kitchen supplies / set-up kits (pots, cookware, dishes, glassware, etc.)
* Bedding
If any of your members/friends/congregants have extras of these items (in good condition) taking up space in their home please have them let me know and we’ll make arrangements to get it to these young families. Contact Craig Freeman at 612-844-2005 to donate.

CARING FOR CREATION
The earth and its resources are finite – one earth, one size; limited supply of natural resources. As availability of space to live, food to eat and clean air to breathe decrease, those persons who have the least will suffer the most.
By using sustainable practices we can help preserve the land we rely on for food, housing and the beauty it holds. We can help preserve the water we rely on for agriculture, for drinking, for life of all things. We can help preserve the oceans we rely on for global temperature control, oxygen and food sources. We can help preserve the forests we rely on for carbon storage and oxygen production. Pope Francis On Care For Our Common Home Laudato Si’ Chapter one pg. 9: “Following a period of irrational confi dence in progress and human abilities, some sectors of society are now adopting a more critical approach.
We see increasing sensitivity to the environment and the need to protect nature, along with growing concern, both genuine and distressing, for what is happening to our planet”
Pg. 11 “Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it.” Here are some ways we can all help create a more sustainable lifestyle:
• Support wind and solar energy
• Use less plastic / reuse, recycle what you have
• Decrease trash by recycling and composting
• Buy locally grown foods; buy locally made products
Take a quiz on how a changing climate is affecting Minnesota at www.mndnr.gov/mcvmagazine. Become informed at the following sites: www.hennepin.us/residents/recycling; www. mysunshare.com; www.whsolarcommunity.com; www.oceanconservancy.
org; www.nature.org Read this book: Pope Francis’
Encyclical Letter On Care For Our Common Home Laudato Si’.

Tithe Grant to Mobile Hope, Dayton
In August, St. Joseph the Worker granted $2000 to Mobile Hope, Dayton Founded in 2015 and located in Dayton, Mobile Hope’s mission is to honor God by building a culture of achievement within mobile home communities where families succeed, students excel and the community has a hope for the future. Mobile Hope requested funding to help pay for rent and utilities on the trailer used by students and the volunteers that help them with homework after school. Funds are also needed to pay for legal services and to cover costs for books, tables, chairs, book racks, a computer to log activities. For more information, go to www.mobilehopemn.org or contact Cathy
Walters at 763-306-6943

Tithe Grant to CTUL
In August, St. Joseph the Worker granted $2000 to Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL). CTUL organizes low wage workers across the Twin cities and empowers them to seek fair wages and better working conditions in their workplace. The purpose of funds requested will go towards CTUL’s Defensores program which offers workplace rights education, leadership development coaching and structures for peer to peer mentorship which enables these low income workers win back stolen wages and also fi ght for changes that would prevent wage theft.
For more information, go to www.CTUL.net.


Job Transition & Networking Group
St. Joseph the Worker Job Transition & Networking Group is offered every Tuesday from 7-8:30 a.m. The purpose of the group is to create a place where people who are unemployed or under-employed can meet to network, share ideas and learn about new techniques to assist them in the job hunting process. Likewise, we also welcome those who are employed (company owners or those actively seeking new employment), people re-entering the job market and college students. If you have any questions please contact Bob Bruno or by phone at 203-578-5572. 

Online Sign-up for CROSS Food Shelf Volunteers
We have started online sign up for CROSS food shelf volunteers. We need people to sign up for the 2nd Friday of each month. Time can be anywhere from 7a.m. to 1p.m.  Sign up now.

CROSS Food Shelf needs
CROSS is committed to serving families and individuals in times of need providing mercy and compassionate supportive services.We support them in their support of families in our community by collecting food items most needed for them. Items needed at this time are spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, pancake mix, salad dressings, baking supplies, jelly and crackers. Cleaning supplies are always needed by families also. Thanks for your support of our community in need.
Easter Basket Needs: Desperately NEED…Baskets, egg dyeing kits, Easter books or toys.

Loaves & Fishes 
Loaves & Fishes provides a nutritious meal to guests who are hungry in the South Minneapolis area in an atmosphere of hospitality. Your help is needed to prepare and serve the 5:30pm dinner to the guests. Holy Rosary Church is at 2424 - 18th Ave South. Parish groups are welcome to help. Please sign up on the Social Justice bulletin board located in the hallway between the worship and faith formation wing. If you have been thinking about sharing your time in this ministry this would be a great time to come forward.

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.” Luke 6: 20-21

Home Free Shelter Needs your Used Cell Phones! 
SJTW collects used cell phones for Home Free, a shelter for wom-en and children escaping domestic abuse. The phones can be any brand and do NOT need to be in working order. Please do not include accessories. The collection box are located in St. Joseph Hall. THANK YOU – recycling used cell phones provides much-needed additional revenue for the shelter.