Discover the Washington Inter-faith Network (WIN)
As Western’s leadership considers partnering with organizations working to change policies that engender systemic racism in our communities, I’ve encouraged our Mission Ministry Team to consider the Washington Inter-Faith Network (WIN). As part of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), WIN is a broad-based, multi-racial, multi-faith, strictly non-partisan, District-wide citizens’ power organization, rooted in local congregations and associations. WIN is committed to training and developing neighborhood leaders, to addressing community issues, and to holding elected and corporate officials accountable in Washington, DC.
From my vantage point as pastor, WIN does thorough training of faith leaders to hold elected officials accountable. When I think of the District leaders of faith communities who are out in front leading justice, I’m never surprised to find out they are members of WIN. I’m interested in deepening my own connection and involvement, but not without the commitment and support of a larger group of Westerners.
Although some individual members of Western have connected with WIN, joining efforts at community organizing would be a new direction for our church. We would be in the same company as members from New York Ave. Presbyterian, Foundry United Methodist, and Calvary Baptist Churches, as well as representatives from Miriam’s Kitchen.
Historically WIN has been involved in efforts to keep affordable housing, support Metro employees, and keep community control over public safety. In the next few months, they are working to set priorities for the upcoming year in their Reimagine DC Campaign. Especially if you are a DC resident, but regardless of where you live, if you are interested in organizing around needs of District residents, I hope you will find out more about WIN and how they work through a Reimagine DC Organizing Session.
Each session will have similar content. Sign up for the session that works best for you by clicking on a date below and registering via Zoom:
Thursday, August 13, 6:45-8:15 p.m.
Tuesday August 25, 6:45-8:15 p.m.
Content of Sessions
Each of these interactive Zoom sessions will include:
A brief update on the status of our issue campaigns around the budget, policing/safety, jobs, public lands, and housing
A review of WIN’s proposed next steps for our upcoming 2020-2021 organizing strategy
45-60 minutes of facilitated small group breakout sessions to respond to proposed strategy and to identify the interests and energy that WIN leaders old and new bring to the table
Purpose of Sessions
WIN’s agenda grows out of the issues that are important to members of the community. for. It could include work on public land surrounding RFK, preserving affordable housing, advocacy for community safety issues other than policing, promoting jobs, or other issues important to you and our community.
Given the renewed interest in community change I’ve heard from some of you, it may be that WIN is our group. It may be that you participate in one of these sessions and discover that they’re doing good work, but it’s not a fit for us.
We won’t know unless we try. I hope you’ll join me and the Mission Ministry Team in signing up for one of the sessions and let me know if you, too, are excited about the potential for participation.