Get Involved

Opening Message

Rev. David Beckmann, president, Bread for the World

Introduction of Clergy

• Rev. Nancy Neal, director of Church Relations, Bread for the World
• Marco Grimaldo, deputy director, Church Relations, Bread for the World

Reflection and Prayer

Healing the Divide

This workshop will highlight the origins of our political divide and will offer Christian principles and practices to build bridges with people who hold differing political views. Some ideas will be drawn from “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion” by Jonathan Haidt. Participants will be challenged to think differently about their neighbors—especially those on “the other side of the aisle”—and to pursue advocacy in a more unifying way.

Moderators:

• Zach Schmidt and Clark Hansen, senior regional organizers, Bread for the World

Advocating Alone Together

Get ready to make the most of your time while advocating! Join Mariam Mengistie, executive director of Missions at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando, Florida and a native of Ethiopia, as she walks you through the basics of advocacy from storytelling to advocacy challenges during the pandemic. Afterward, we will discuss how to advocate virtually using various engagement tools such as phone calls, emails, social media and/or video conferencing with members of Congress and their staff.

Speakers:

• Margaret Tran, senior regional organizer, Bread for the World
• Florence French Fagan, Florida senior state organizer, Bread for the World
• Lupe Conchas, regional organizer, Bread for the World

Latino Leaders Convening (LIVE)

The Latino Leaders Live Convening offers leaders from churches, denominations, schools, organizations and partner networks the opportunity to connect and advocate to end hunger and poverty. The session will explore the intersectionality of hunger, migration, and resilience among Latino communities in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speakers:

• Dulce Gamboa, senior Catholic Latino associate, Bread for the World
• Rev. Lori Tapia, National Hispanic pastor, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Marco Grimaldo, deputy director of Church Relations, Bread for the World
• U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (Texas-29)
• Sindy M. Benavides, chief executive officer, League of United Latin American Citizens
• Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, president and founder, National Latino Evangelical Coalition

Pan African Consultation (LIVE)

The Pan African Live Consultation offers intergenerational African American/Pan African leaders from churches, denominations, schools, organizations, and partner networks the opportunity to connect and advocate to end hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad. The session will focus on economic justice as a hunger issue in this season of COVID-19 and its implications for engaging in the 2020 elections and 2020 census.

Speakers:

• Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church engagement, Bread for the World (Moderator)
• Marlysa D. Gamblin, senior domestic policy advisor, Racial and Gender Divides, Bread for the World Institute
• Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, National African American Clergy Network and Circle of Protection
• Dr. Menna Demessie, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
• Wubshet Loha, senior global nutrition policy analyst, Bread for the World
• Min. David Street, deputy director of organizing, Bread for the World

Closing Message

Michele Sumilas, executive director, Bread for the World

Opening Message

Heather Taylor, director of strategic communications and campaigns, Bread for the World

Introduction of Clergy

• Rev. Nancy Neal, director of Church Relations, Bread for the World
• Marco Grimaldo, deputy director, Church Relations, Bread for the World

Reflection and Prayer

Legislative Briefing and Q&A (LIVE)

Hear from Bread for the World policy experts about the key issues that affect hunger amid the coronavirus pandemic and proposed legislation that could help meet the needs of those who are most vulnerable. Chonya Johnson, senior domestic policy analyst, will discuss food assistance programs in the U.S. and Ryan Quinn, deputy director of government relations, will speak about vital global response efforts. The director of government relations at Bread for the World, Heather Valentine, will give a congressional forecast and senior organizer, Zach Schmidt will discuss how to strategically engage in virtual advocacy actions to make an impact. The session will be followed with a special video message from Bread's president-elect, Rev. Eugene Cho.

Closing Message and Send Off

Rev. Eugene Cho, president-elect, Bread for the World

Virtual Congressional Advocacy Action

We aim to mobilize thousands of voices from across the country urging their members of Congress to invest in nutrition programs in the U.S. and abroad. Fallout from COVID-19—a hunger and a health crisis—has made boosting nutrition critical as part of the response both domestically and globally.

Screening of Rick Steves’ documentary Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala (LIVE)

In this new hour-long special, noted guidebook author, travel TV host, and longtime Bread for the World member and supporter Rick Steves travels through Ethiopia and Guatemala to learn about extreme poverty. Working closely with experts and locals, Steves unpacks the important role that clean water, education, nutrition, and empowered women play in ending hunger.

Q&A with Rick Steves (LIVE)