October 13, Meeting Summary

DGAAN: DuPage Glocal AIDS Action Network

Promenade, Wheaton Franciscan Campus

Wheaton, IL

 

  1. Co-chairs; S. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, D. Min., Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Wheaton Franciscans; Dr. Sandra Joireman, Ph.D., Dept. of Politics and International Relations, Wheaton College.
    14 participants were present.
  2. Dr. Joireman led with the reflection; while, S. Sheila gave a brief overview of Dgaan
  3. Dr. Evvy Campbell spoke about the Micah Challenge USA (http://www.micahchallenge.us/contact.html), a global campaign to mobilize Christians to address the Millennium Development Goals. Its aim is to deepen Christian engagement with the poor and to influence leaders of rich and poor nations to fulfill their public commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and so halve global poverty by 2015. On October 11 Christian leaders were addressed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virgina. This Global Leaders Dinner was designed to educate and inform evangelical opinion leaders about the Millennium Development Goals and the significance of this critical moment in history for making a lasting impact on poverty. Convened by the National Association of Evangelicals and Micah Challenge USA, this event brought together top evangelical leaders from the United States and the Global South. In addition to the historic dinner with Ki-Moon, leaders met for the Global Leaders Forum on Friday, October 12 to discuss various issues, including poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, bioethics, human rights, creation care, torture, and peacemaking.
    World Hope International, a member of the Micah Challenge USA steering committee, is lead agency in a $7.7 million HIV/AIDS initiative in Haiti. To implement the "Haitian Partners for Health" initiative, World Hope will be partnering with seven indigenous Haitian organizations. The goal of this program is to strengthen indigenous community- and faith-based organizations, mobilizing them and their networks to provide comprehensive prevention and care services. Nearly 85% of the funding will be used to finance the partners' interventions, building their capacity to address HIV/AIDS, build linkages to ensure a continuum of care for those affected/infected, and build sustainable programs and strong networks for the future. The New Partners initiative (NPI) is part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), designed to holistically address HIV/AIDS in some of the most impacted areas of the world. Over the next three years, World Hope and its partners will reach over 32,450 Haitians with prevention and education, 10,500 with counseling and testing, serve over 24,250 orphaned and vulnerable children, train and support 7,000 caregivers, and provide palliative care for at least 15,200 men and women. World Hope is also a member of the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST) which has just published "Hands That Heal: International Curriculum to Train Caregivers of Trafficking Survivors" which is available through faast@worldhope.net (1-888-466-4673).
  4. Erik Hadland, President Student Global AIDS Campaign, shared the SGAC current and future goals. Erik explained that their mission is to make Wheaton College a holistic environment engaging the HIV/AIDS pandemic though awareness, advocacy and service. Erik said that they through relationships and dialogue with churches it’s an opportunity for them to find out what they are doing locally and internationally. SGAC has been politically active though the ONE Campaign, introducing proposals to congressmen and senators. One of the proposed bill was the provisions between the US and Africa that affects people living with AIDS. Part of SGAC’s goals is to make the Wheaton College campus more aware of the issues by holding awareness events; showing videos related to HIV/AIDS.  Book group(s) at the moment they are thinking about reading The Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Lalberton. Upcoming World AIDS Day with Canticle Ministries which will be held on December 1st. Over the summer SGAC was involved with numerous events; ONE Campaign meeting with Rep. Peter Roskam, which led to discussions about the JubileeAct, Education for all, Growth Act, and Child Survival Act. They were also involved in the Chicago AIDS Walk which was co-sponsored by Canticle Ministries, about 40 students’ participated and 2 Wheaton faculties. They visited and toured AIDS Testing Centers with Mosaic, together with (TPAN) Test positive Aware Network, Core Center and Lawndale Community Health Center which deals more with relations and differences with diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Erik mentioned the on-going interests to further develop SGAC’s relations with being the College of One and as a ONE partner. The group will be starting it’s groundwork for next year’s Cabinet agenda.

 

 

DGAAN Members Actions:

 

Shayne Moore, One Member, Upendo Village Board Member

  • Joined JustFaith, a weekly book discussion on faith and advocacy meeting at Franciscans Sister’s Campus.
  • Met with Pastor Chris Castaldo, culture impact Pastor at College Church, who have no local HIV/AIDS outreach. Discussed the political advocacy piece.
  • Met with David Allen and Jeanna Stewart c/o Canticle Ministries and Chris Castaldo to explore a partnership with Canticle Ministries and College Church.
  • Preparing to speak at North Central College Prep High School in Chicago on October 17th in conjunction with Stand Up Against Poverty day. They are having a colloquium on Global Poverty.
  • Attended HIV/AIDS & Morality-panel discussion at Wheaton College.
  • One Campaign came to Wheaton with a film crew. I participated in filming and gave and interview on why my faith motivates advocacy, for an upcoming faith Toolkit.
  • Participating as a DGAAN representative on the committee for the December 1st AIDS Day Memorial Service with Canticle Ministries

Sheila Kinsey, OSF, JPIC Office-Wheaton Franciscans

  • Continued advocacy efforts for Darfur in the areas of Human Rights, Hybrid forces and U.S. divestment of funds
  • Taped Youtube video on Darfur-to be shown 9/16 at U.N. and sent to Rep. Roskam.
  • Participated in PSA taping to promote the ONE Campaign.
  • Involved with Debt Cancellation Efforts-Fast and Legislative advocacy. Will be traveling to D.C with JubileeUSA gathering 10/16-10/18 and will visit with our ILL legislators to gain support for House and Senate legislations.
  • Environment presentations included the impact on developing countries and the struggle against HIV/AIDS programs.
  • Signed petition for Farm Bill which is to include nutritional needs and farming concerns in developing countries.

Lisa Menich, St. Matthew Parish in Schaumburg and Loyola University Chicago

  • Recently presented to 50 parishioners on Catholic Social teaching, AIDS & Poverty after a recent trip to Kenya. (Raised money/donations going to Upendo Village).
  • Looking for other opportunities to present.
  • Attended Darfur information evening @ St. James in Arlington Heights.
  • Reflection on Fr. Bryan Massingale’s presentation on fears to dealing AIDS, or NCAN Org published (after attending National AIDS network conference end of July).

Dr. Sandra Joireman, Wheaton College

  • ONE Campaign Faith leaders PSA
  • Upendo Village Board meeting
  • Working on the Farm Bill in teaching, writing letters (still) to Senator Durbin.
  • Attended Bread for the World meeting downtown w/ David Beckman
  • Posted some research on two papers on the CARE website after the HIV/AIDS morality panel. You are can access then online. www.wheaton.edu Then center for applied Christian ethics

1.      HIV/AIDS in Africa about network Senate

2.      The Unholy trinity, AIDS, poverty women’s property rights in Africa

·        Showing 2 movies on campus “Agenda Picking up the Pieces”, Blanchard room 339 @ 3:30pm Wheaton College, about the Peace Agreement.

Ann Piasecki, JPIC Office-Wheaton Franciscans

  • Participated on a JubilesUSA conference call updating us on legislations
  • Participated in the Rolling Fast on September 19th together with the Wheaton Franciscans Sisters
  • Attended a conference for intergenerational communications

·        Attended a Bread for the World conference

  • Global Solidarity Meeting-letter writing campaign to push legislation @ Diocese of Joliet

·        Attended a Steering Committee meeting for DuPage Housing

·        Called Senators Durbin’s office on Immigration

·        Involved with Project Irene

  • Attended Oktoberfest fund raiser event for Upendo village @ St. Joan of Arc Parish.

Ron Durbin, Sr. Joan of Arc

·        Meeting with David Beckman on 10/5 with the End Extreme Poverty Committee.

·        Had a second meeting with David and other interested people from Diocese

·        October 20th, there will be a fund raiser for Upendo Village. An Oktoberfest celebration. It will be at St. Joan of Arc Parish.

·        Called Rep. Judy Biggert office regarding the Schip program and HR 2895: National Housing Trust Fund

·        Called Senator Durbin’s on HR 2634: Jubilee ACT, asking for his support.
Dr. Evvy Campbell, Wheaton College HIV/AIDS Tasks Force

·        Saddleback Global HIV/AIDS conference Wheaton College Grad Christopher Yuan will be giving his testimony as an HIV positive person.

·        On November 30th will be speaking at Taylor University in Indiana Chapel on HIV/AIDS.

Dan Driscroll –Shaw, JubileeUSA

·        Participated in the Jubilee Fast

·        Sent plates that were collected to Jubilee

·        Fasted on October 11th

·        Called Senators Durbin and Obama and Representative Manzulo

·        Shared Campaign with Maryknoll affiliates

·        Assisted Erik Hadland in preparing his visit with Rep. Peter Roskam

Catherine Albers, Wheaton Franciscans

  • Attended the Franciscan Peace Event on October 6th in Frankfort, IL. John Dear Pastor & Peace activists-presenter with break out sessions. The effects of climate change and the needs of the poor were mentioned. There were about 200 participants.

Suzie Broomes, Wheaton Franciscans

·        Updating our DGAAN Website with current information

·        Attended an Oktoberfest fund raiser for Upendo Village, hosted by St. Joan of Arc Parish

·        Keeping on top of all Legislative and Darfur news and updates through the JPIC Office.

 

The next meeting, will be on December 1st is World AIDS Day. Dgaan will co-sponsor the memorial service with Canticle Ministries. The service will be in the Wheaton Franciscan’s chapel from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm with a reception to follow in the promenade/auditorium. DGAAN will also honor the five year anniversary of the network.