2009 AnnuAl RepoRt - Jewish Community Relations Council ...

a Mn witHout PoveRtY and
inteRfaitH dialogue
This year Justice Squared dedicated resources to the
anti-poverty campaign, A Minnesota Without Poverty,
which is a statewide interfaith effort to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020. This
agency was founded as a result of the bipartisan commission “The Legislative
Commission to End Poverty”, which outlined in its report the actions necessary
to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020. Once the Commission finished the report
A Minnesota Without Poverty was created by the faith community to continue
the work to end poverty in Minnesota. Other groups dedicated to this cause
are: Minnesota Council of Churches, Minnesota Catholic Conference, Catholic
Charities, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, Lutheran Coalition for Public
Policy, and the St. Paul Area Synod ELCA.
Justice Squared continued its work with the Muslim community through the
Bet Shalom / Dar Al-Hijrah community dialogue and service project. Over 70
teens and adults from both congregations gathered six times to learn about each
other’s religion, traditions, culture, and history, while at the same time learning
about social justice issues in Minnesota and providing services to people in need.
Activities included learning about Operation Solomon (rescue of Ethiopian
Jews from Ethiopia to Israel in 1991) from Senator Rudy Boschwitz, as well as
cleaning and helping at shelters during the Global Day of Service.
2008-2009 PRogRaM aCCoMPlisHMents:
� 40 Literacy tutors worked 2-4 hours per week at 14 school and
after–school programs throughout the Twin Cities;
� 22 new mentors committed 2-6 hours per week with individuals and
families from Mexico, Liberia, Laos, Somalia, and Cambodia;
� 14 active Justice Squared Commission volunteers met once a month
for 2 hours to review and discuss social justice policy, legislation and
programming;
� 12 Habitat for Humanity crew volunteers met every Friday to give over
2,500 combined service hours for the year;
� Donated over 300 jackets, sweaters, hats and mittens during our winter
clothing drive to local clothing shelves;
� Donated over 1,800 pounds of food to local food shelves;
� 15 teens from across different faiths and backgrounds joined together to
create the Interfaith Youth Leadership Council sponsored by the Jewish
Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas and the
Saint Paul Area Council of Churches;
� Recruited over 250 volunteers for the Interfaith Teen Day of Service and
the Global Day of Service to provide over 1,000 hours of community
service;
� 70 teens and adults from Bet Shalom Congregation and Dar Al-Hijrah
Islamic Resource Center joined together for 6 dialogue and service events
to provide over 850 combined service hours at local shelters and agencies;
and
� Justice Squared recruited over 650 volunteers for short and long term
community service and advocacy programs to volunteer 3,600 combined
hours serving over 2,800 people throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas.
JCRC Annual Report 2009 12