New Covenant Community • 210 West Mulberry Street • Normal, IL • 61761 • 309.454.7362

The Social Justice Group at New Covenant Community

Updated: 4.12.10

The Social Justice group comprises eight to 10 members and friends who meet monthly to discuss and promote various activities involving social justice at NCC and in the broader community. These activities have included the following

Illinois People’s Action  (formerly CIOP):  We send members of the group to represent NCC at the meetings of this statewide organization. The group as a whole has participated in rallies and circulated petitions designed to heighten public awareness of problems associated with predatory lending, the foreclosure crisis, and the lack of a living wage in Bloomington.  I.P.A. has organized and hosted region meetings with representatives of the Federal Reserve and the

U.S. Treasury regarding the foreclosure crisis and continues to work with both of these federal agencies. See more at www.ciop.org

Social Justice Network:  We meet quarterly with representative from other local churches to share ideas and work on common projects

Adopt-a-school:   We have “adopted” Irving School in Bloomington and recruited NCC members to run a Great Books program, a speech program, help in the classroom, and help with materials preparation and landscaping.

Socially responsible investing:  We urged the investment of half of the NCC Endowment fund in a mutual fund dedicated to socially responsible investment.  In the past, several members went to Nicaragua on an informational tour conducted by the Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN).  The group is available to give presentations to groups or organizations on micro credit and fair trade.

Block Party:  As we have for the past four years, we will be a participating congregation in the August 14, 2010 Block Party hosted by First Christian Church, Bloomington.  Contact Pam Lubeck for more information.

Sound the Alarm 2010:  Our congregation participates in the Illinois Healthcare Justice Campaign "Sound the Alarm" by clanging a bell 18 times to commemorate those Illinoisans affected by the health care crisis.  Kim Tingley and daughter Sierra rang our bell last year, and a picture of them made the website: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:3144.274449/rid:

Book groups:  We sponsor book/discussion groups on social justice topics.  We plan to sponsor movie/discussions also.

We are currently working to advocate for a local Congolese group and exploring options for helping people avoid payday loans.

Here are some photos of NCC'ers at the April 10th I.P.A meeting with the U.S. Treasury and action taken against Advance America Payday lenders in Peoria.

Here are some photos from NCC's "Adopt a School" program at Irving School: