{"id":745,"date":"2016-01-16T20:39:46","date_gmt":"2016-01-16T20:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/?page_id=745"},"modified":"2016-07-16T18:22:26","modified_gmt":"2016-07-16T18:22:26","slug":"july-2016-minutes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/?page_id=745","title":{"rendered":"July 2016 Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

EASTSIDE INTERFAITH SOCIAL CONCERNS COUNCIL MINUTES<\/strong>
\nP.O. BOX 662, Bellevue, WA 98009-0662, July 12, 2016<\/strong>
\nThe meeting was held in Bristol Hall of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church beginning at 12:00 noon.<\/p>\n

WELCOME:<\/strong> The meeting was called to order and conducted by EISCC President Tony Copes.<\/p>\n

OPENING PRAYER: <\/strong>Sandy Lewis provided the opening prayer.
\nSELF-INTRODUCTIONS<\/strong> were made by 24 representatives and guests.
\nMINUTES<\/strong> of the June 14, 2016, meeting were approved as submitted.
\nPRESIDENT\u2019S REPORT: <\/strong>Board members are dividing up a list of current, past, and potential members for follow-up.\u00a0 They will be encouraging membership for those who have lapsed or have not yet joined and more active participation from representatives of current members where they are not currently active.
\nTREASURER\u2019S REPORT: <\/strong>J.C. provided a financial report which was presented by Dick Jacke.\u00a0 Records indicate that we currently have $90,128.04 \u2013 $78,424.31 of which is dedicated to Backpack Meals and Congregations for Kids and the balance of which is unrestricted.\u00a0 J.C. also reminds everyone that he has volunteered as our interim<\/u> treasurer, and that he is looking forward to being relieved by another volunteer treasurer!\u00a0 If you or someone you know might be willing to serve in this role, please let him know.
\nREFRESHMENT COORDINATOR: <\/strong>Farida Hakim, Sandy Henderson, Diane Richards, Trish Rogers, and Betty Spohn provided the food for today\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n

REPORTS:<\/strong>
\nBackpack Meals: <\/strong>Jan Starr was not present and had not provided a written report.<\/p>\n

Congregations for Kids:\u00a0 <\/strong>Nancy Jacobs reported that the drives will be starting in the next week or so.\u00a0 They are still accepting new congregations who might wish to participate.\u00a0 For unknown reasons, the number of kids signed up has dropped from a projected 1700 to a projected 1525 for the year ahead.\u00a0 Part of that may be due to a change in procedure for high school students \u2013 who were required to sign up themselves this year rather than being signed up by a parent (some high school students did not appreciate that their parents had signed them up for the program).\u00a0 That likely would not account for all of the difference, so they are investigating.\u00a0 For more information on the program, visit their website at\u00a0www.congregations4kids.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Legislative Coordinator:\u00a0 <\/strong>Jean Harris reported that initiative campaign I-1515, which would repeal protections for transgender persons in our state, has failed to gather enough signatures to get on this year\u2019s ballot.\u00a0 Initiative I-1491, which would limit the accessibility of firearms to the mentally ill on the initiative of family members or the police, collected more than enough signatures to get on the ballot.\u00a0 Support is urged for this measure.\u00a0 Endorsements from congregations and other organizations as well as individuals are welcomed.\u00a0 For more information, contact them at Emily@wagunresponsibility.org<\/a>.\u00a0A meeting is being planned to provide more social\/emotional education in our schools.\u00a0 More information on this as available.<\/p>\n

Emergency Services Fund\/Hopelink: <\/strong>See spotlight below.<\/p>\n

MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHTS:<\/strong>
\nKids 4 Peace:<\/strong> This project was started in 2002 by an Episcopal priest in Jerusalem.\u00a0 It tries to bring together Jewish, Christian, and Muslim youth in grades 6 through 12 to receive advocacy training and learn leadership skills with the goal of building peace.\u00a0 There are now 8 chapters across the US and some internationally.\u00a0 They are especially concerned to heal the social divisions between Israelis and Palestinians but also divisions more local and national.\u00a0 They will sponsor a Peace Camp for grades 6 through 8 in the Seattle area August 8 \u2013 12<\/span> at St. Mark\u2019s Episcopal Cathedral.\u00a0 This is an opportunity to practice skills to be Peace Leaders who stand up for equality, respect and understanding and work to make a difference in our community.\u00a0 They are looking for additional participants.\u00a0 They are also looking for groups or individuals who might be able to sponsor students for this program at $300 each.\u00a0 Cost is never a barrier to participants.\u00a0 There will also be some public events planned August 4 \u2013 8<\/span>.\u00a0 For more information, visit their website at k4p.org\/summer2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hopelink\/Emergency Services Fund:\u00a0 <\/strong>Brittany Holmes wanted to put a human face on the people that they serve.\u00a0 She told the story of \u2018Tami\u2019 (not her real name) and her son who were recent clients.\u00a0 Tami had lost her job and could not get enough hours in new jobs to support them.\u00a0 They were living in her car, although her son continued to attend his school.\u00a0When Tami got a new job and received notice that she would be eligible to receive a Section 8 voucher for housing, she was not able to afford the moving and move in costs.\u00a0 She was able to get move-in assistance from Hopelink for their first month\u2019s rent.\u00a0 They are also receiving help from the Hopelink food bank.<\/p>\n

Hopelink\u2019s End Summer Hunger project for students out of school for the summer has started up, run through their food bank.\u00a0 They are also still processing applications for Federal grants for energy assistance \u2013 the new season starts in September.\u00a0 For more information on Hopelink and the Emergency Services Fund visit their website at www.hope-link.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

PROGRAM: Community Response to Panhandling \u00a0<\/strong>
\nEmily Leslie, City of Bellevue Human Services, Sara Baker, City of Kirkland Human Services, and Brooke Buckingham, City of Redmond Human Services spoke about what their cities were doing to address panhandling in their cities.\u00a0 Their efforts began with a meeting in Redmond which brought together human services departments and police chiefs to look at their community responses to panhandling.\u00a0 At the time, a proposed ordinance that would have posted signs around Redmond forbidding panhandling was pending.\u00a0 The group sought to reduce panhandling, protect the public safety, and determine what resources were available to those that were panhandling.\u00a0 That summer, with the help of Congregations for the Homeless, a survey was completed which looked at those issues.\u00a0 Sara conducted a survey of communities around the country as to how they were dealing with panhandling issues.\u00a0 They were hoping to develop a community-wide approach that could deal with the issue on a regional basis.<\/p>\n

Based on their work, they began a pilot project with Congregations for the Homeless that put a full-time outreach worker\/community educator on the job (your local cities know how to get in touch with the outreach worker if you have a referral).\u00a0 They have been trying to determine why people give to panhandlers and what it would take to get folks to donate to service providers that could address the needs of panhandlers.\u00a0 Sara passed out a survey for our members and invited their responses on several questions related to panhandling:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Do you give to panhandlers? Why or why not?<\/li>\n
  2. In your view, why do people panhandle?<\/li>\n
  3. Is panhandling a problem on the Eastside?<\/li>\n
  4. Should cities take steps to reduce panhandling? How would you feel if your city did?<\/li>\n
  5. Should citizens take steps to reduce panhandling?If so, what?<\/li>\n
  6. Questions or comments you have about panhandling?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There is hope that they can convince individuals to stop giving directly to panhandlers in favor of institutional support for the panhandlers.\u00a0 A task force meeting of approximately 100 people representing business, faith groups, and the community at large held last summer to look into the matter found that their primary criterion was safety of the community.\u00a0 The most popular approach suggested was a community engagement campaign.\u00a0 For more information on what is being done about this issue, visit the website at Redmond.gov\/homelessness.<\/p>\n

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:<\/strong>
    \nElizabeth Maupin <\/strong>wanted to alert us to the launch of the MAPS-MCRC Community Clinic<\/strong> (in collaboration with the Rainier Valley Community Clinic), which will provide culturally competent healthcare for individuals and families who lack access to basic health services.\u00a0 They will provide continuous aid to low-income and underserved groups regardless of their ability to pay.\u00a0 The grand launch will be held on July 17<\/span>.\u00a0 For more information, go to    http:\/\/www.wherevent.com\/detail\/MCRC-Seattle-MAPS-MCRC-Community-Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Farida Hakim <\/strong>promoted the South Bellevue Neighbors Gathering<\/strong> on Saturday, July 16, from 3 to 6 pm<\/span>, at the Orchard at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4315 129th<\/sup> Pl SE, Bellevue.\u00a0 It is a barbeque with fixins provided.\u00a0 It\u2019s a potluck, so bring a dish to share, your own beverages, and a blanket or chair. You will be invited to share a 3 minute story.\u00a0 Bring a non-perishable food item for the food drive, which will benefit Hopelink.\u00a0 Children are welcome, bring games!\u00a0 For more information, call 425-746-4848<\/a>.\u00a0 RSVP at EVENTBRITE, search South Bellevue. See attached flyer.<\/p>\n

    Brian Anderson<\/strong>, our former EISCC Secretary, alerted us (through Dick Jacke) to performances of James Baldwin\u2019s Blues for Mister Charlie<\/strong>, a searing response to the murders of Emmett Till and Medgar Evers that explores racial violence with honesty, music, dark humor, and compassion.\u00a0 The performances will be held at four different churches in Seattle during the first week of August.\u00a0 Although there is no charge, a donation of $25 is suggested.\u00a0 A conversation will follow each performance, moderated by members of the Wiilams Project (thewilliamsproject.org<\/a>).\u00a0 See attached flyer<\/p>\n

    Karen Studders<\/strong> alerted us to a situation in Bellevue where current affordable housing units may be destroyed to make room for a new development, Highland Village<\/strong>.\u00a0 See the attached file for more information (available from secretary below.) \u00a0She also provided us with a King5 link providing more background on the story:\u00a0http:\/\/www.king5.com\/news\/local\/redevelopment-plans-put-bellevue-families-in-limbo\/271307673<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    CLOSING: <\/strong>\u00a0Tony Copes provided the closing prayer by Vaclav Havel.
    \nTHE NEXT EISCC MEETING will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 12:00 \u2013 1:30 pm<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nPROGRAM: Congregations for the Homeless<\/strong>
    \nLOCATION: BRISTOL HALL, ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 4228 FACTORIA BOULEVARD SE, BELLEVUE (ACROSS FROM NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL)
    \nDick Jacke, EISCC Secretary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    EASTSIDE INTERFAITH SOCIAL CONCERNS COUNCIL MINUTES P.O. BOX 662, Bellevue, WA 98009-0662, July 12, 2016 The meeting was held in Bristol Hall of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church beginning at 12:00 noon. WELCOME: The meeting was called to order and conducted by EISCC President Tony Copes. OPENING PRAYER: Sandy Lewis provided the opening prayer. SELF-INTRODUCTIONS were … Continue reading July 2016 Minutes<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":720,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-745","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4dwA2-c1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=745"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":792,"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/745\/revisions\/792"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eiscc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}