Photo by Hap Rhodehamel

The animating core of the Interfaith MDG Coalition is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our goal is to foster interfaith collaboration, networking, action, and education for the benefit of the 1.4 billion people living on less than US$1.25 per day. Our widest, long-term focus is on aid, trade, and debt. We use the Millennium Development Goals as a framework for this work.

We encourage faith communities across the country to join together in metropolitan, and regional, “hubs” for advocacy in support of congressional legislation, and presidential action, which benefits the poor. We began, and will continue, as a San Francisco hub advocating with local representatives and our senators.

To faciliate agreement and forward movement among traditions who may have significant differences on social issues, we focus narrowly on legislation we can all agree upon. Currently we support a re-design of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act. HR 2139 and Senate Bill 1524 are the beginning steps of this work. Our focus will evolve as the legislative landscape changes.

Conference Planning Team

Back row:

• Hafsa Arain, Faiths Act Fellow, Tony Blair Faith Foundation
• Tim Brauhn, Faiths Act Fellow, Tony Blair Faith Foundation
• Mike Duffy, Executive Director, Lane Center, University of San Francisco
• Sam Ruben, United Religions Initiative, Communications/Development
• George Wesolek, Director of Public Policy and Social Concerns, Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Michael Glandon, Global Marshall Plan
• Herb Behrstock, Board President, East Bay United Nations Association
• Paul Chaffee, Executive Director, Interfaith Center at the Presidio
• Mick Smith, Fair Trade Ambassador, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Margee Churchon, Program Associate, Intergroup Relations and Legislative Affairs, Jewish Community Relations Council, San Francisco
• Mehri Pirooz, Society of Volunteer Women for Humanity
• Julia Dowd, Associate Director, Lane Center, University of San Francisco
• Joel Rubinstein, San Francisco Chapter Leader, RESULTS
• The Rev. Shari Young, Chair, MDG Taskforce, Episcopal Diocese of California
• Rita Semel, Executive Vice-Chair, San Francisco Interfaith Council
• Michael Pappas, Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council

Not pictured:

• Monica Landeros, Associate Director, Office of Public Policy & Social Concerns, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Joseph Symkowick, Partnerships & Advocacy Officer, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), West
• Anand Venkatkrishnan, Stanford University student and founder Faiths Acting in Togetherness and Hope (FAITH)
• Jessica Trubowitch, Director of Legislative Affairs and Intergroup Relations, Jewish Community Relations Council
• Chantal McGill, Program Associate, Interfaith Youth Core
• Iftehkar Hai, Executive Director, United Muslims of America
• David Gist, California Regional Organizer, Bread for the World
• Sr. Gail Young, Program Director, Justice and Peace Commission, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
• Tony Fadale, Vice-Chair, Justice and Peace Commission, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles