January 2023
Greetings!

Happy 2023!

Included in this issue of Peace & Justice:

  • Join us at the virtual Interfaith Legislative Forum on January 22
  • EMO applauds Gov. Kate Brown's decision to commute death sentences
  • 2023 legislation to support youth experiencing homelessness
  • EMO proudly joins the Just Crossing Alliance

Thank you for helping to make Oregon a better, more caring, and more welcoming place.

With gratitude,
Britt, Cherice, Lorena, Olivé, Kim, and Julia
Interfaith Legislative Forum on January 22
Join us for the (virtual) Interfaith Legislative Forum on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Listen to a panel of legislators discuss their priorities for the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session on topics of interest to the faith community. Legislators will discuss bills they support, must-do bills for the 2023 Session and prospects of passage. Following the panel discussion, the Zoom meeting will allow for a half-hour discussion with the legislators.

This event is sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Oregon Coalition of Christian Voices, Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, and Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice.

This Zoom event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register now.
EMO applauds Governor Brown's decision to commute death sentences in Oregon
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon applauds Governor Kate Brown’s decision to commute all 17 capital punishment sentences into life in prison without the possibility of parole. It is crucial to hear the exiting governor articulate the immorality of the death penalty and the reality that this punishment does not make communities safer, does not allow for correction and is a burden on taxpayer dollars.

"Justice is not advanced by taking a life and the state should not be in the business of executing people, even if a horrible, horrible crime or crimes placed them in prison. The death penalty also has never been administered fairly, consistently, or equitably in Oregon or frankly, across the United States." – Governor Kate Brown.

We now call on Governor-elect Tina Kotek to continue the efforts of abolishing the death penalty in Oregon and push for criminal justice reform.
Standing with Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Oregon Department of Human Services' Report to the Oregon Legislature

In November 2022, the Oregon Department of Human Services submitted a report to the Oregon State Legislature with recommendations to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness by at least 25% in 5 years. These recommendations include utilization of different programs - such as host home networks - investing more funding in housing and other services to build their capacity to serve more youth.

This report - the vision of our advocacy partner Oregon Alliance - was mandated by bipartisan legislation passed earlier this year, and should be used by legislators to dramatically increase supports for youth experiencing homelessness (see below!). You can read the report here.

2023 Legislation to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness

During the 2023 Legislative Session, EMO will co-lead advocacy efforts to provide more funding for housing and other services for youth experiencing homelessness. In addition, the proposed legislation would provide emergency funds to help prevent evictions and rapidly rehouse families and youth to stop homelessness in the first place.

You can read our one-pager for this bill here.
EMO joins the Just Crossing Alliance
We are proud to announce that Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is a member of the Just Crossing Alliance!

The Just Crossing Alliance is working on centering social, environmental, and climate justice as well as fiscal responsibility in the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project.

As a statewide organization, we know the ability of towns and cities across Oregon to build safe, economy-enhancing transportation networks depend on the Legislature investing in a Columbia River crossing that does not break the bank. To read how our legislators can center our climate reality and human safety as they debate this project, take a look at the Just Crossing Alliance's values here.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
503-221-1054 | emo@emoregon.org | emoregon.org