I wanted to make sure you knew that the NextGen national, self guided retreat is going on this weekend. If you are interested in participating, please email Christine at christine.haider@gmail.com.

If you are unable to participate in the full retreat, please consider joining us for a national call discussing issues of food justice on Sunday, August 9th at 11 PST/12 MST/1 CST/2 EST. We will be joined by a guest speaker, Faatma Mehrmanesh of Denver, CO who has been working as a self-described ‘food justice organizer’ for many years. The call in number and code for Sunday are: 218-339-2699; 231565.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions but we would love for you to join us on the call. Peace!

Amy Stenson
stensonamy@hotmail.com

Thank you so much for your post. I agree with you in that it is so important to raise awareness and to act locally to engage and support current organizations and groups working to address this complicated issue.

Furthermore, I would like to encourage you to participate in the upcoming NextGen retreat in which we will be addressing issues of food justice. See below for details.

Thank you again for your post. I hope to interact with you again via the retreat! -Amy

—-
Call To Action NextGeneration Summer 2009 Retreat

“What’s on The Table? Exploring and Engaging in the Food Justice Movement”

When: Saturday, August 8, 2009 (day of service) Time – depending on location and Sunday, August 9, 2009 (day of reflection) Time – depending on location (Not available on this weekend? Choose your own weekend! See below.)

Where: Participate where you live. This retreat is designed for participants to engage in activities over this weekend and/or another weekend that works better for you.

Who: Participate with your local small faith sharing group; with a group of friends; with one other person, or by yourself. This is a self-directed retreat with suggestions for a day of service and a day of reflection. On Sunday, there will be an opportunity to check-in with other participants across the country during a nation-wide conference call. This call will be recorded so that you may listen at another time, should you choose to participate during another weekend.

Why: Corresponding with the theme for the 2009 Call To Action National Conference: “Everyone at the Table: Rejoicing as People of God” (http://www.cta-usa.org/conference/), this retreat offers an opportunity to explore social justice issues concerning food, including: equal access to healthy, organic foods, fairtrade,
the importance of buying locally, food sustainability, the food crisis and issues of hunger.

How: Because you will participate where you live, you have the opportunity to learn more about the food justice movement in your own community, city or region. Once you sign up, you and/or your group representative will receive a welcome/confirmation email and an email containing pre-retreat suggested readings and resources. As time gets closer you and/or your group representative will receive an email with a retreat schedule, materials, and other information needed to self-direct your own retreat.

Sign up to participate in the 2009 NextGen Summer retreat:

Contact Christine Haider at: christine.haider@gmail.com and give her your name, email address, phone number as well as the small faith sharing group with whom you are participating (if applicable).

Start brainstorming service opportunities in your area related to food justice.

Share this announcement with others and encourage them to join you in participating.