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Newsletter OSLC Faith & Justice

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THIS WEEK AND NEXT:
  • TODAY Sunday, February 1, 3-5 pm: The documentary “Refuge”, screening and discussion at OSLC. Watch a 2-minute film trailer HERE. The film follows the unlikely friendship of a Syrian refugee and a former klansman white supremacist as they challenge themselves to grow and truly “know each other.” OSLC youth staff will provide childcare (kids get to see their own movie!) Must register for childcare HERE. 
  • Monday, February 2, 11 am: Church World Service Roadmap: Refugee Resettlement, Asylum, and Humanitarian Protection Trends. This briefing is for everyone who refuses to stay silent while the Trump administration targets refugees and immigrants. Whether you are responding to crises, supporting families, or pushing for policy change,  the virtual briefing will help you understand the current situation, stay grounded in facts, and take meaningful action to protect our neighbors. The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be sent to all registrants afterward.   Register here.
  • Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4: Native Memory Project Cultural Event, hosted by Council Tree Covenant Church. Includes sunset and sunrise Native American ceremonies at the Chief Friday Council Tree site in Arapaho Bend Natural Area, Fort Collins. More info HERE
  • Thursday, February 5, 6-7 pm:  Eyes on ICE: Document and Record – Virtual training by No Kings/Indivisible. Register HERE
FUTURE EVENTS:  
  • Sunday, February 22nd, 2-5 pm:  “Being Me in Fort Collins” at The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.  Check out four human Books – community volunteers who have been subjected to prejudice, stigma, or discrimination because of their lifestyle, diagnosis, belief, social status, ethnic origin, or disability. The hope is that everyone, Readers and Books, gain new understandings that advance acceptance and inclusion among diverse groups. Details, including a link to pre-register: The Human Library  
  • Saturday, February 28, 3-5:30 pm: Love in Action ISAAC Annual Fundraiser “The Art of Resilience” at Foothills Unitarian Church. Save the date. Ticket Info soon!
  • Saturday, March 28 – No Kings 3  nationwide mass mobilization, including a flagship event in the Twin Cities. Mark your calendar. Stay tuned for local plans.
  • Saturday, April 18: Palestine Cultural Festival at Trinity Lutheran Church. An educational event, the festival will likely feature a museum, Bedouin tent, hands-on activities, Palestinian food, Henna table, art display, music, speakers and more. 
OSLC MEMBERS TAKING ACTION:
Many of us know that Pastor Chuck Hubbard is a tireless (and humble!) advocate for the unhoused in our community. He is active in groups like Together Colorado, Interfaith Council, and our own Faith & Justice Team. Recently, Chuck was quoted speaking truth to power. Take a look: Loveland Reporter-Herald Newspaper Article Well said, Pastor Chuck!! (Thanks to Jorie Kramer for sharing this)
 
EDUCATION & ADVOCACY: 
  • From Faithful America: Sign Petition and Fast from Shopping at Target Corporations can no longer stay silent while ICE terrorizes our communities.
  • Download the “5 Calls” app to your phone. The app has a script to follow and the phone numbers of our government representatives queued up and ready to go for whatever issue is important to you. You will usually leave a message, so don’t forget to leave your city and zip code to show that you are a constituent.
HANDS-ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: 
  • Shine a candle in your window in solidarity with MN (from the 50501 movement)
  • ISAAC monthly volunteer orientation: Interested in being a safety monitor and/or learning more about how we coordinate with CO Rapid Response Network (CORRN)?  Complete this ISAAC Volunteer Interest Form and you will be contacted with details.
  • Planning Team Needed for April 18 Palestine Cultural Festival (see details on calendar above) Contact Pastor Leta if you can help. 
WORTH SHARING:  This past week it was all about ICE, so this section is longer than usual with links shared by our readers. Thanks to all who are standing up in opposition.
  • Friday, January 30:
  • Saturday, January 31: In solidarity with MN, CO cyclists organized multiple rides through different communities to demonstrate against the killing of Alex Pretti who was shot by federal agents in Minneapolis. More than 1,000 cyclists participated in Fort Collins.
  • We called our Senators – 55 senators, including Bennet and Hickenlooper, voted NO to funding ICE. Response from Senator Bennet:  “I refuse to bankroll ICE’s cruel agenda. That is why I will be voting no on the Homeland Security funding bill and any piece of legislation that hands ICE a blank check without sufficient safeguards or accountability. Response from Senator Hickenlooper: Targeting community members and peaceful protestors does not bring us any closer to fixing our broken immigration system, it only deepens fear and division in our country. That’s why I voted NO on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill until meaningful reforms are adopted. 
  • From Religion News Service (RNS)- 1-23-26: Inside the Effort to Organize Clergy Nationwide to Resist ICE – 600 clergy from around the country gathered in Minneapolis to learn from Minnesota faith leaders how to protest against ICE enforcement. Then they took to the streets and helped block the city’s airport.
  • Word & Way- 1-30-26:  Maine Clergy Protect Immigrants from ICE
  • The Atlantic Magazine- 1-30-26:  The Word for What is Happening in Minneapolis  Those who oppose ICE in Minnesota are battling not for a political agenda but for the goal of dissidents throughout history: a normal life.
  • From Pastor Leta: Mary Campbell from ELCA AMMPARO shared “What We Saw in Chicago: Lessons from the CBP Surge.” Mary also noted that she trusts the source of this webinar: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Watch the full recorded webinar HERE
  • From Bill Gerdes & Sharon Petersen:  Field Notes for Cracking an Empire : How to stay alive when the fight arrives at your door.
  • From Melanie Reed: Close-Combat Weaponry Is on This Woman’s Doorstep (New York Times) and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman poem for Alex Pretti  
  • And for a dose of inspiration and hope: Minnesota Anthem
Let us  not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9