Conference looks at ‘Raising Prophetic Voices’

“Raising Prophetic Voices: Faith Communities Advocate for Justice” will be the theme for the 2015 Eastern Washington Legislative Conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 316 E. 24th Ave.

Workshops will address issues related to coal and oil transport, Avista moving from 20 percent coal generation, and climate change; Columbia River Treaty and watershed policy issues; and wealth inequality related to bills on wage theft and minimum wage.

Sarah Ahmed of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, will discuss interfaith reconciliation in Iraq.  Hosted in Spokane by Pax Christi, she will speak at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 29, at Gonzaga’s Jepson Hall.

The Rev. Paul Benz of the Faith Action Network of Washington and a representative of the Washington State Catholic Conference will bring legislative updates on the state budget, food and hunger programs, farmers’ market nutrition, repealing tax exemptions, housing and homelessness, and environmental issues that are coming before the 2015 Washington State legislature.

Roberta Wilburn, associate dean of graduate studies in education at Whitworth University, will speak on proposals related to K-12 education, the school-to-prison pipeline, the need for more faculty of color and other education issues.

The Fig Tree, Catholic Charities of Spokane and the Faith Action Network are organizing the event.

For information, call 535-4112 or email kaye@thefigtree.org.

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