The Arc: Washington State

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 The Arc mobilizes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families to amplify their stories, call for recognition of their human dignity and persistent day to day challenges they face; affirm their abilities and contribution, and work toward policy changes. The Arc, since 1936, has advocated for the rights and full participation of people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They support and empower individuals and families, connect and inform, improve support and service systems, increase pubic awareness, and inspire inclusive communities. SBC for the first time has directed its April contribution to The Arc and its Parent to Parent work through the Thurston County Developmental Disabilities Coalition, a local affiliation of The Arc, which supports and mobilizes community members to advocate for families and individuals with IDD. Michelle O'Dell, coordinator for this Coalition, says families stories need to be told and services better connected!  I'd like to invite Michelle to attend a SBC Sunday at 9:30 if enough folks are interested (minimum 7-8?) Let me know.

Kbfriedt@comcast.net      

https://arcwa.org/parent-to-parent/  

Interfaith Works Update

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Interfaith Relations Program Coordinator Corey Passons has won the 2024 Evan Ferber Peacemaker Leadership Award 

The Evan Ferber Peacemaker Leadership Award is named after and established in honor of the founding Executive Director of the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center.  This annual award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in strengthening civil discourse, and promoting peaceful dispute resolution and civility. Corey we are so proud of you and all the compassionate work you do. This award is well deserved! 
Corey Passons is the director with whom we work at our monthly Interfaith Works Program Council.  I was one of the two who nominated him for this award.

—Kathy Baros Friedt

St. Benedict will be supporting GRub during the month of March

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Since 2001, GRuB, Garden Raised Bounty, has been a community nonprofit which works at the intersection of food, education, and health systems to grow healthy food, people, and communities. Each year, they directly engage approximately 1,500 Thurston County residents of all ages in relationship-based programming around growing & cooking food. We primarily work with marginalized young people with low incomes and/or behavioral and disciplinary indicators of high ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) scores, low-income families, students, seniors experiencing hunger, tribal communities, and veterans. Recipients in March of SBC Outreach funds.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IS ALSO LEARNING ABOUT OTHER FAITHS

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As we enter March, it's important to acknowledge that Ramadan 2024 is on the horizon, with potential commencement dates falling between March 11th or March 12th and concluding either on April 9th or April 10th. Ramadan, a sacred month for over two billion Muslims worldwide, entails fasting from dawn to dusk for 29 to 30 days as one of the five obligatory acts of worship in Islam. Ramadan is a time for spiritual cleansing, personal growth, community building, and acts of charity.

During Ramadan, Muslims wake up around 3AM to 4AM before dawn to eat, and after sundown, they engage in additional acts of prayer late into the night. It's essential to understand that due to the lunar calendar's nature, the start and end dates of Ramadan fluctuate annually, contingent upon the sighting of the crescent moon. Ramadan is followed by the Muslim holiday Eid-al-Fitr which celebrates the end of Ramadan.  If you know someone who is Muslim, a proper greeting would be--“May every year find you in good health.” is a common one.  

MONARCH CHILDREN'S JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY CENTER

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Children's advocacy centers offer a new way of responding to child abuse & neglect by bringing all of the partners together in a coordinated, child-focused, child-friendly effort.

  • Monarch Children's Justice & Advocacy Center, in conjunction with their partner agencies, offers a wide range of services at no cost to child victims and their families.

  • There are many ways you can help us continue to reach out to children in need in this community. 

  • Child Sexual Abuse is not just something that happens to other people in other places. Find out more: from Kathy Baros Friedt