Almost 200 people attended a rally at Pioneer Square in Portland on Sunday, April 22 (Earth Day) entitled “For Every Child, A Better World.” The social justice awareness event was co-sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon and the Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Families learned about the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and what they could do to help accomplish them locally. The MDGs were adopted in 2000 by 191 nations with the vow to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015. The eight MDGs include: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and creating a global partnership for development.
Performing at the event were Takes the Fifth Choir from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, the St. Luke Lutheran Children’s Choir, the Combined Episcopal Children’s Joyful Noise Choir, Audrey Sackett and Patrick Sargent (soloists), and Kids on the Block Puppet Theater. Adding to the day were clowns and face painters and a walking labyrinth, where participants brought new pairs of shoes to donate to children through William Temple House, an Episcopal-associated agency that provides mental health counseling, emergency social services, and pastoral care to families, children and the working poor.
The Rev. Alcena Boozer, president of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and rector of St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church was the master of ceremonies. The Rt. Rev. Johncy Itty, Ph.D., bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, and Bishop Paul Swanson, Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, spoke along with Matt-Newell-Ching, Bread for the World; Dana Hepper, Stand for Children; Pat Rumer, Jubilee Oregon; Brian Heidel and Mike Wenrick, Medical Teams International; and David Maynard and LeRoy Patton, United Nations Association, Oregon Division.
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Resources:
Episcopal Diocese of Oregon: www.diocese-oregon.org
Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: www.oregonsynod.org
United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation: www.e4gr.org
William Temple House: www.williamtemple.org
