December 5, 2009 Meeting Summary

DGAAN: DuPage Glocal AIDS Action Network

Parmalee Room of the Beamer Center, Wheaton College Campus

 

  1. Co-chair Dr. Sandra Joireman, Ph.D., Dept. of Politics and International Relations, Wheaton College.
    15 participants were present.
  2. Sandra led with the reflection, and then gave a brief overview of DGAAN.
  3. Zach Schmidt from Bread for the World discussed the progress of the foreign assistance Reform Act HR 2139-http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.2139: or http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h2139ih.txt.pdf  in the House of Representatives, progress on a similar bill in the Senate and what can be anticipated in terms of progress towards a new foreign assistance act.

 

 

DGAAN Members Actions as they relate to HIV/AIDS:

 

Sandra Joireman, Dept. of Politics and International Relations at Wheaton College

¯     Took students to meet with Rep. Peter Roskam to encourage his support of HR 2136

¯     Attended Mosaic’s World AIDS Day Breakfast

¯     Participated in the AIDS Task Force meeting

¯     Attended Bread for the World Board meeting

 

Ron Durbin, St. Joan of Arc-Social/Justice & Peace

¯     Letter to President Obama on his plan to prevent poverty, disease and create economic opportunity for the worse and poorest. (Bread for the World)

¯     Letter to Judy Biggert to support on HR 278-Global Security Priorities

-       Urge the President to continue negotiations to further refuse Nuclear Arms-savings and efforts from this would mean savings to enhance global survival

¯     Thanks to Nicole Austin on October 23 and December 2 with passing and co-sponsoring the Jubilee 2009 Act. She has met with Jubilee Representative on November 16. There were some changes that may have to happen before July Biggert co-sponsors. Jubilee wants to have Judy Biggert be a sponsor of HB 2931; apposing vulture funds.

-       Probating will not be fully address until after the first of the year

¯     St. Joan of Arc to plan for an effort for the Catholic Confronting Global Poverty becoming after the first of the year.

 

 

Tom Richardt, St. Joan of Ark

¯     Planning for “Catholics Confronting Global Poverty” campaign to start in January to foster awareness and to gather people to stay informed on the issues relative to Global Poverty

CM Mary Ellen Durbin, People Resource Center

¯     About 2700 and more turkeys dinners distributes to families in need in DuPage County during November. 32% increase over last year (and last year we broke all previous records of people in need)

-       One in every seven person in USA is food insecure.

Jason Brown/Abby Anderson-President, Wheaton College SGAC

¯     Lobby visit to Peter Roskam to advocate for the HR 2139 bill to update the US Foreign Assistance Bill of 1961 along with Sandra Joireman, Abby Anderson, Rachel Thorne and Adam Sawyer.

¯     October 3; around twenty people participated in the Chicago AIDS Foundation 5K walk/run, the $225 raised went to Canticle Ministries

¯     November 17; a prayer gathering through Bread for the World hosted here on the Campus- about twenty participants

-       Prayer for hunger (domestic and international) also in the context of complexities in confronting the AIDS crisis.

¯     Week of December 1st: World AIDS Week: the narrative of HIV/AIDS, focusing on the stories than the cold “facts’” of HIV/AIDS.

-       Events included: Tuesday participants by some members in the Mosaic Initiative WAD Breakfast, we also had Christopher Yuan speak that night about his experience accompanied by Steven Haas, VP of World Vision.

-       Wednesday night: viewed a short file, “Living with Slim” followed by a discussion with Dr. Gardner

-       Thursday: “Coffeehouse for hope” where students presented through song and music as well as Dr. Beal presenting some personal poetry to compliment our focus on AIDS as a personal issue and its dealing with sexuality and despair, but also hope.

-       Friday: four members of SGAC participated in a community dinner with Canticle Ministries, the Health Dept and those in the area living HIV+….. We are also partnering with Canticle Ministries to do an Angel Tree project to help kids with infected parents during the holiday season. Also on Friday December 4, Abby and I participated in a President’s Task Force and AIDS meeting.

Dr. Evvy Campbell, Wheaton College

¯     On November 30, spoke at World AIDS Day forum at University of Illinois at Chicago sponsored by the Student Nurses Association: “Encountering AIDS & Journey the Fight” A personal journey.

 

 

Tom Keefer, Willow Creek Community Church/DuPage

¯     About fifty-three of our congregation in West Chicago ran the Chicago Marathon in October for Team World Vision & raised $38,000 for communities in Africa. (Several hundred from all of our campuses)

 

Kristin Hartsaw, DuPage County Health Department

¯     Organized an HIV screening went as part of lead by example @ St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on November 14

¯     Planned a Holiday Dinner for people living w/HIV/AIDS

¯     Facilitated a training for Family Shelter Service Volunteers regarding HIV/AIDS

¯     Coordinated a resolution acknowledging World AIDS Day, which was adopted by the DuPage Country Board of Health.

 

S. Glenna Czachor, Wheaton Franciscan Sisters

¯     Worked with Jeana Stewart & David Allen of Canticle Ministries to plan and host the annual World AIDS Day Memorial Prayer Service on December 1st- approx 50 people attended the moving service.

¯     Sr. Theresa Langfield, chair of Upendo Village Board was also on hand at the WAD service to welcome guest and share about Upendo Village and to sell handcraft that supports the Village’s clients and their families.

 

 

 

The next meeting was schedule for February 20, 2010
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Wheaton Franciscan Campus.