An Advent Poem

by Rev. Martin Eldred

My dog lives in perpetual hope

that we might go running

or throw the ball 

or that food might come her way.

She looks at me

with her, “is it now?” eyes and

waits.

She waits

with patience (mostly) 

and expectations

expressed 

and yet unspoken; 

with a trust that things will come

in time.

And she teaches me

with hope-filled 

wonder

how to live

in Advent.

Religious Perspective of Economic Justice

Christians for Equality is happy to work in partnership with the Better Together interfaith coalition to support raising the minimum wage in Alaska. Here is a video that Better Together produced that thoughtfully presents a faith perspective to support the minimum wage initiative.

People of Faith Support Alaska's Minimum Wage Increase

Christians for Equality Support Minimum Wage Initiative

Christians for Equality will be working with the Alaska Needs A Raise campaign for the Alaska general election ballot measure to raise the minimum wage by $1 in January 2015 and $1 in January 2016 and index the minimum wage to inflation.

"The Voice" Of Christianity

On Sunday, March 22, Christians for Equality steering committee member Rev. Matt Schultz of First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage published a Compass opinion piece in the Anchorage Daily News entitled Beware Of Any Who Claim to be The Voice of Christianity.

You're Not Welcome

One characteristic of this Homeless SNAP Challenge is finding a place to eat. With a commitment not to cook, refrigerate or eat at home, having a place to sit down and have a meal has created serious challenges and problems.

I work out of my home, meaning that I don’t have another place of business or an office. But I’m very unproductive if I stay home. Like many consultants and contractors, I grab a latte and a snack and settle down to work in a coffee shop. During this challenge, I can’t do that. Sure, I know that the manager and baristas of Kaladi Brothers Coffee would appreciate what I’m doing and welcome me even without a purchase. After all, I’m a regular customer. They start my soy latte with a half-shot of vanilla syrup when they see my car roll up. But how long would they tolerate a customer that doesn’t regularly spend $6 - $10 each time they walk in the door?

It’s winter in Alaska. Sometimes it’s tolerable to sit in a park to eat. Sometimes not. I’m working now in the public library, but they discourage food – and I am a rule follower. Most of the times, I find a place to park and eat in my car. After all, that’s where the food is stored. Even that is a constructed practice that a homeless person might not get to do. Gas is expensive and I burn more gas in a day than the SNAP allowance.

I’ll look into the places where anyone might be welcomed to get out of the cold and have a meal. Right now, it’s indeed a challenge.

Challenge & Privilege

by Nora Ortiz Fredrick

There has been much criticism of SNAP challenges and participants around the country. Each person that participates in some sort of poverty-type experience has their own motivations and intent. A common complaint is the effort to replicate “the hunger experience” is unrealistic and never representative of the true depth of hunger and lack of hope.

I am well aware of my own privilege. I am a nonprofit professional, self-employed Latina living in my own home. I over-eat, have a gym membership, am an outdoor recreation enthusiast, have health insurance, a car and travel frequently (by air) for work and pleasure. Both my parents are (retired) college-educated professionals. I have no personal experience of poverty, homelessness or food insecurity. I am a seminary-educated layperson, deeply entrenched in the church and see how we struggle to be a meaningful presence at the margins of our society. At least on Sundays.

Privilege is a reality. I have no illusion that I can duplicate the true experience of either hunger or homelessness. I don’t seek to glamorize or romanticize poverty, nor investigate the overblown claims of vast entitlements that are available to people living in poverty.

I hope to glimpse into the challenges and possibilities of what happens when people must rely on government assistance for food while struggling with homelessness. I hope to listen enough to hear about need and opportunity where I can use my privilege to advocate for change, and my influence to rally the communities where I am involved to consider ways to make a meaningful different in the lives of all God’s people.

Most of all, I hope this experience will shape my faith and compassion as I glimpse into the challenge that many of God’s people face each and every day. I hope to see, listen, reflect, pray, plan and act.

Taking the Homeless SNAP Challenge

By Nora Ortiz Fredrick

I’m taking the Homeless SNAP Challenge. During Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, I’ve committed to spend as many days as possible living on the Alaska allowance for a single person receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits – about $5.75 per day.

Why?

Roman Krznaric, in his groundbreaking work on building empathic cultures, reminds us that some form of experience of the people who are less fortunate helps you place yourself in their lives – even if only for a glimpse.  Christians for Equality, a group that I serve in a leadership position, is looking at the many complex issues around homelessness in Alaska. By participating in the Homeless SNAP Challenge during Lent, I seek a better understanding of the challenges facing homeless persons to eat healthily and adequately.

Here’s the way I’m participating:

• $5.75/day under the SNAP guidelines: fruit, veggies, grains, cereals, dairy, meat.
• With no cooking or food storage facilities, I’ll keep a bin in my car to store the food I purchase. No food consumed from the pantry at home. Freezing temps will play into my storage capabilities.
• I’ll not eat in my house. All my food will be consumed somewhere else. I work out of my home, in client offices or in local coffee shops, so this will be a challenge. Yes, and it’s winter in Alaska. Homelessness has no seasonal boundaries.
• I have work travel scheduled during this time, so will have to take days off. I’ll honor SNAP days and follow the rules, trying to maximize consecutive days.
• My complicated eating habits will play into this. I have a primary plant-based diet. I’m a pesce vegetarian, dairy and egg-free.
•  I’m committed to writing about this experience.

While this is a personal Lenten journey, I hope my experience helps others consider the many challenges facing our brothers and sisters, young and old, who struggle with homelessness and food insecurity. I invite you to join me on this journey.