The Legislative Advocacy Partners Working Group

Working for Systemic Change   

The LAP Working Group promotes collective actions for justice especially through our Action Alert email list members, called “LAPartners.”   

See some highlights of our collective work together with our active list-serve LAPartners and CSJ Community throughout the 2021-2022 year including:  

9 LAP alerts with some very positive out-comes this past year. 

 41.8% over-all engagement rate of our LAPartners in our advocacy alerts. 

5 LAP advocacy trainings sessions throughout 2021-2022. 

4 LAP living room conversations at Carondelet Village. 

29 new LAPartners trained and joining our 276 member strong alert network. 

1,500+ notes sent to our legislators through different grassroots postcard/letter writing campaigns. 

5 circle conversations with elected officials.  

6 Opportunities of Raising our Voice through several public statements/sign on letters (see page 7, section 2).  

Advocating with our elected officials in all levels of government. 

Participating and leading monthly prayer vigils for immigrants with the CSJ Immigration Working Group and Interfaith Coalition On Immigration (ICOM).

Thank you to all our Action Alert “LAPartners” for our amazing collective direct advocacy and other successful work together.  LAPartners watch for our upcoming action alert or check out the CSJ Take Action page. If you are interested in becoming a LAPartner to receive the LAP Action Alert emails, contact the CSJ Justice Office at mroers@csjstpaul.org to find out more and attend one of our LAP Legislative Advocacy Living Room Conversations.  

Collaborating with the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition for Systemic Change

The LAP Working Group supported and participated in Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC)’s Day on the Hill virtually this year.  This year’s inspiring and practical advocacy program can be seen on the JRLC’s  YouTube Page.   
 
The LAP Working Group co-hosted with Lumen Christi Catholic Community’s Justice Committee a legislative visit in conjunction with the JRLC’s Day on the Hill and their legislative priorities.  Constituents from MN Legislative District 64 from twelve faith communities engaged MN Senator Erin Murphy and Representatives Kaohly Her (64A) and Dave Pinto (64B) in a “townhall” style meeting in which we discussed the need for increased funding for Affordable Housing & Emergency Shelter, support for increases to Child Care Assistance, and advocating for sacred communities/tiny house legislation.    
 
Watch for LAP action alerts or check out the CSJ Take Action page in order to participate in on-going advocacy opportunities. We thank everyone that put their faith into action and are working collectively for systemic change. 

“Lawrence D. Gibson” Interfaith Social Justice Award

Congratulations to CSJ Consociate and LAP member, Joan Wittman, for receiving the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) 2019 “Lawrence D. Gibson” Interfaith Social Justice Award.

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Mission and Goals

The Legislative Advocacy Partners Working Group promotes action for justice through civic engagement.  We partner with the below groups.

• Our LAPartners email action alert list members
• CSJ Justice Commission and Working and Task Groups 
• CSJ Sisters and Consociates, as well as the broader CSJ community  
• Spirit of St. Stephen’s Catholic Community 
• Carondelet Village especially the Justice Seekers
• St. Catherine University (students, staff and faculty)

Our goals are to:

• Provide education, training, tools and opportunities to engage in legislative advocacy on federal and state levels. 
• Compile and distribute action alerts (particularly through LAP alerts).
• Provide opportunities to engage in municipal elections as well as state and federal elections.

For more information contact Marty Roers at 651-690-7054 or mroers@csjstpaul.org.