Justice Journeys

 

2007 Spring Break Trip Leader Openings!

Washington, DC--2 student leaders, 1 faculty/staff Leader Needed

 

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico--1 faculty/staff Leader Needed

 

Spanishtown, Jamaica--1 student leader Needed

 

Trip Leader Information and Responsibilities

Faculty/Staff Trip Leader Application

Student Trip Leader Application

 

2007 Spring Break Trip Summaries

Spanishtown, Jamaica  Feb. 24-March 3, 2007

The Host for our Justice Journeys team is the Sunbeam Association for Mission. Sunbeam’s main purpose is to provide a Christian environment including proper nutrition, education and social skills enabling the boys to become productive adults.  Our Justice Journey Team spends time with the boys at the Sunbeam Children’s Home, as well as with organizations such as Food for the Poor, exploring the effects and causes of poverty in Jamaican society.  Teams stay at the guesthouse on the grounds of Sunbeam Children’s Home.  

Sunbeam Association for Mission (SAM) purchased Sunbeam Children’s Home in Jamaica in 2001. SAM provides an opportunity to serve on a mission team to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to be a part of the lives of the boys at the home and the people in the surrounding area. SAM is a non-profit organization comprised of ELCA congregations and individuals from several denominations.

  

Sunbeam Children’s Home houses 38 boys, ages 7-17.  The SAM organization has also launched an outreach ministry to Island Farm, a squatter’s area close to Sunbeam, working with the community to establish a better life for themselves and their children.  The organization also works closely with Food for the Poor in Jamaica, and the ELCA.

 

Washington, DC  Feb. 24-March 2, 2007

   A Ministry of Luther Place and N Street Village, Inc.

 

The Steinbruck Center for Urban Studies offers opportunities for college students to serve in an urban context while learning about the complex causes of homelessness.  Located in Washington, DC, the Steinbruck Center is a ministry of Luther Place Memorial Church and a partner with N Street Village, Inc., an interfaith program for homeless and formerly homeless women.

The Center’s objective is to educate and equip persons to make a positive difference in their communities by addressing the root causes of homelessness and poverty.  It does this in part by offering service projects at a variety of agencies in D.C., introducing students to the model of Luther Place and N Street Village, and providing opportunities to hear the women of N Street Village share their stories.  At the end of the program, students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences to discover what they have learned, and how they can apply their experiences once they return home. 

The week will include, activities such as:

• Service at N Street Village, learning directly from the women who are served there.
• Meetings with organizations working on behalf of the homeless and poor such as Bread for the World, Washington Interfaith Network, Affordable Housing Activists Network, Capital Area Food bank, or Lutheran Volunteer Corps.
• Trips to Capitol Hill to speak with your representatives about homelessness
• Free time to explore the sites of Washington D.C. such as the Smithsonian Institute, Arlington National Cemetery, National Monuments, and much more.

 The Justice Journey team will stay at the youth hostel at Luther Place Church, located within walking distance of the White House and the National Mall.

 

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico   February 24-March 3, 2007

 

The host for our Justice Journeys team will be Accion Ministries. This ministry was founded by Rev. Oscar Dorantes, a native Mayan pastor born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Accion's major concerns are social projects, medical, agricultural and church-related projects.

Accion is currently involved with a Boys' Shelter for young people located in the downtown area of the city of Merida. Accion is also involved in self-developed home industries (cottage industries) such as pig and turkey farms, hammock weaving, etc... Accion is interested in recruiting volunteers to assist the poor of the Yucatan Peninsula. ACCION offers a fantastic experience due to its experienced staff, the provision of safe transportation, accommodations in the city of Merida or in the remote Mayan village, and the preciseness of setting up projects to suit the visiting individuals or groups.

The service projects that our Justice Journeys team will participate in will be determined by the interests of the group and the needs of the community. The team will stay in volunteer housing in a village outside of Merida.

 

Spring Break Information Sessions

Nov. 13 & 14, 8 pm in Ivers 386

 

Trip Registration

Nov 20, 9 am -5 pm in Knutson Center

 

For more information, contact CMC Representatives Kera Halvorson (kmhalvos@cord.edu) or Danielle Allmaras (dlallmar@cord.edu) or Advisor Beth Anderson (beanders@cord.edu).