Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
- Proverbs 31:8-9

The Faith Based Partnerships Program

FPWA has partnered with Casey Family Programs and the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) for an innovative program that brings houses of worship together with seminarians to provide support to foster care families and educate parishioners about the foster care system. The Faith Based Partnerships Program in New York City was founded in 2009 and currently has placed twelve seminarian interns at twelve houses of worship in all five boroughs to host workshops and events to educate people of faith about ACS and the foster care system, coordinate family visits between foster children and their birth families, run mentoring programs for foster youth and provide other needed services. FPWA coordinates the seminarian interns, recruits houses of worship for the program and oversees program assessment and administration. A long-term goal of the program is to expand the scope of youth ministry to include serving foster children and their families.

Rev. Dr. C. Vernon Mason, Founder of Uth Turn and Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Wyatt, Founder Strategic Destiny: Designing Futures Through Faith And Facts provide the program with wisdom and support as Senior Consultants and Seminarian Coaches.

FPWA is planning to expand the number of houses of worship participating in the program; all faiths are welcome to join the partnerships. Contact Onleilove Alston, ph. (212) 801-1356, FPWA’s Faith Based Organizing Associate for more information about getting involved in the project.

Faith Based Partnerships Program Partner Churches

• Beulah Wesleyan Methodist Church, Manhattan


• Calvary Fellowship AME , Brooklyn


• Christ Church International, Queens


• Church of God of East Flatbush, Brooklyn


• Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church, Queens


• First Baptist Crown Heights, Brooklyn


• Fort Washington Collegiate Church, Manhattan


• Lenox Road Baptist Church, Brooklyn


• Mott Haven Reformed Church, Bronx


• St. Matthew's AME, Queens


• St. John Baptist Church, Manhattan


• St. Phillip's Baptist, Staten Island

Campaign for Children (C4C)

FPWA’s Rev. Joel Gibson spoke at the City Hall press conference opposing cuts to children’s services, including after-school and day care programs.

As an ally to the Campaign for Children (C4C), the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Jeremiah Leadership Council invites you to join us in taking action to oppose the Mayor’s plan to cut subsidized child care and after school programing for over 47,000 children. We are asking that you join us for the "Let the Children Come Weekend," March 15 to March 17, where houses of worship across the city will unite to lift up the educational needs of our children through preaching, testimony and postcard offerings.
Sign up now to defend early education and afterschool programs in your house of worship by contacting Onleilove Alston.

Download the "Let the Children Come" packet which includes:

If you have questions contact Onleilove Alston. For more information visit Campaign for Children.

Sojourners National Mobilizing Circle

In July 2011 FPWA became a member of the Sojourners National Mobilizing Circle which is a national ecumenical collective of faith-based organizers, advocates, service providers, educators and ministers who come together for training and economic justice advocacy efforts.

As a member of the National Mobilizing Circle on November 16, 2011 FPWA worked with Friendly Hands Ministries, Bread for the World, The Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary and other faith-based organizations in New York City to host a Circle of Protection around FPWA Member Friendly Hands Ministries to support social service agencies that were facing federal budget cuts.

For more information read:

Voices from Human Circles of Protection: New York City

Bread Organizers Create a Human Circle of Protection in New York

JLC Campaigns

As a council we focus on all justice issues that affect vulnerable New Yorkers, but especially those affecting our children. As a council we take actions to support the following campaigns:

• Children’s Defense Fund-NY Freedom Schools
  
• Children's Defense Fund-Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign
  
• Campaign for Children

  The Shepherding our Youth Campaign:
  We invite you to "shepherd our youth" along a continuum of efforts with the goal of nurturing their abilities and improving their prospects for economic mobility and independence. Many of our youth (between the ages of 16 and 24) are "disconnected", neither working nor in school – and lacking the core supports that young people need to grow into successful, independent adults. For more information about how you can advocate for disconnected youth visit our Workforce Development Page.

  Faith Based Advocacy 101 Workshops:
  These workshops introduce faith leaders and lay people to the basics of political advocacy, while highlighting the unique role people of faith can play in organizing for the common good.

  
  Photo:Participants in The Shepherding Our Youth Campaign attended FPWA’s 2011 Clergy Albany Lobby Day where they voiced the needs of the young people in their communities.