Behukotay 5774: It's not enough to wish for change....

This past Wednesday our Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty in Rhode Island gathered for our 6th Annual "Fighting Poverty With Faith" Conference.  A clear consensus among us all, clarified and beautifully expressed by our keynote speaker, Sister Simone Campbell of "Nuns on the Bus", is that wishing, complaining, even sermonizing isn't enough.  We must act.

In that spirit, I bring you two resources.  The first is an introduction to being a proactive citizen:  how to communicate with your elected leaders to tell them what you want them to vote for.  The second is a link to the legislative agenda set by the Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty in Rhode Island.  We hope very much that you will use these materials to convey your concern for Rhode Island's most vulnerable residents and encourage our elected officials to fulfill their responsibilities as the elected officials of all Rhode Islanders.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Letting Your Legislators Know What You Want Them To Vote For*
*In other words, advocacy!

1: Familiarize yourself with the bills being proposed in the General Assembly (The Rhode Island State Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives.  Look below for an introduction to the issues and legislation of highest priority this year to the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty

2: Decide whether you want to a> phone your legislators, b> send a letter to your legislators, c> send an e-mail to your legislators.  We recommend you contact your State Senator and Representatives and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.  Click here to find out who all those people are and how to contact them.

3: Relax!  You don’t have to be an expert on these bills in order to voice your opinion (there are experts on these bills working in the Coalition and in our related organizations who know the issues in depth.  Click here for links to their websites).  You are a tax-paying, vote-bearing citizen voicing your opinion.  Yours is the most important voice.

4: Make those calls!  Send those letters!  Send those e-mails!  All you need to say is: 

1. I am a constituent of yours.
   
2. I am contacting you to tell you that I am in favor of the [fill in the name of the bill, not the number!].
   
3. Thank you for your service and thank you for taking this communication into account as you decide how to vote.
   
4. If you want more information on this legislation, please contact the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty. (www.endpovertyri.org)

The Legislative Agenda of the Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty in Rhode Island