Sunday, September 12
“Stepping Stones, Old and New,”
the Reverend Covell, preaching.
If pressed, you might be able to recite some of the UU "Principles and Purposes" posted in our Concourse. Decades ago, the influential UU theologian James Luther Adams thought the "Principles" needed definition, and wrote an essay listing the "five smooth stones," or bedrock beliefs, of liberal religion. As a generation of UU ministers have done before him, Brian will consider and re-interpret the "stones" for our use at Third Church. Don't know much about UU theology? This sermon could be for you!
10am Forum
"Current Status of Affordable Housing" Hannah Willage, Stephanie Hooker, and Gloria Evans from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, speaking
Since 1980, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has had a clear mission: "We organize and advocate to prevent and end homelessness because we believe housing is a human right in a just society." CCH leads strategic campaigns, community outreach, and public policy initiatives that target the lack of affordable housing in metropolitan Chicago and Illinois. It also presses for access to jobs, training, and public schools. Its policy specialists, public interest attorneys, and community organizers work with people hurt by homelessness - mothers with children, unaccompanied youth, ex-offenders, prostitution survivors, and low wage workers. Sweet Home Chicago is a related affordable housing campaign, led by a coalition of nine community organizations and three labor unions, which advocates that a share of Chicago's tax increment financing (TIF) funds be dedicated to affordable housing. This housing would be created for average residents of the city who pay their tax dollars into the TIFs and deserve the benefits. (TIF dollars are property tax dollars that the city uses to develop certain neighborhoods. They can be used to build affordable housing, including the rehab of foreclosed houses and multi-unit buildings. By 2008, there was nearly $1.3 billion built up in Chicago's TIF accounts.) Stephanie Hooker lives at Deborah's Place, a supportive housing program for low-income women. A leader with CCH for four years, she was honored during the 2009 Annual Meeting for extensive public speaking about the need to include affordable housing in the state's capital budget. She has taken groups around Springfield to educate legislators about homelessness, and has met with Chicago aldermen. She formerly worked at the Chicago Hilton, and is proud to report that her daughter is now a successful attorney. Hannah Willage is a community organizer with CCH. She has been a community organizer for over seven years, for four years with Jane Addams Senior Caucus and for three years with CCH. In addition to organizing the speakers bureau, Hannah works with community teams at more than ten institutions to help people advocate to prevent and end homelessness. ext 239 www.chicagohomeless.org Ron Chew will facilitate.
