( Español Abajo )The Latin@ Center of McCormick Seminary

and the

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

(CRLN) will host the

IFCO/Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan

for breakfast and conversation..

Gladys Abella

of the

Martin Luther King Center in Havana, Cuba

will talk about the effects of the U.S. blockade in Cuba and we will discuss grassroots efforts

to finally end the US blockade of Cuba

.

Please rsvp to Marilyn McKenna at

mmckenna@crln.org


.

McCormick Seminary

is at 5460 S University Ave, Chicago, IL 60615.

Gladys Abella (right) from the Martin Luther King Center in Havana, Cuba,

is assisted by translator Claudia De La Cruz of IFCO/Pastors for Peace.

Gladys Abella Bio

Gladys Abella (1954): One of the leaders of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Marianao (IBEM), Havana, was a key player in reorienting IBEM’s ecclesial, ecumenical and social mission in 1971 in light of the challenges of the Cuban reality in those years. In 1987 Ms. Abella played a key role in the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Center which was a product of the new mission at IBEM. Ms. Abella works at the Cuban Council of Churches and is currently part of the management team of the IBEM. She was active in the Student Worker Coordination Baptist Cuba (COEBAC).

—

El Centro Latinx del Seminario McCormick

y

la Red de Lideres Religiosos de Chicago para Latino América

(CRLN) acogerán a la Caravana de IFCO / Pastores por la Paz de Cuba para un desayuno y conversación. Gladys Abella del Centro Martin Luther King de La Habana, Cuba hablará sobre los efectos del bloqueo estadounidense a Cuba y discutiremos los esfuerzos de base para finalmente poner fin a dicho bloqueo. Por favor reservar puesto con Marilyn McKenna enviando un correo a

mmckenna@crln.org

. El Seminario McCormick está en 5460 S University Ave, Chicago, IL 60615.

Biografia de Gladys Abella

Gladys Abella (1954): Líder de la Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer en Marianao (IBEM), en la Habana, fue una participante clave en la reorientación de la misión eclesial, ecuménica y social del IBEM en 1971 a la luz de los retos de la realidad cubana en esos años. En 1987, la Sra. Abella desempeñó un papel clave en la creación del Centro Conmemorativo Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, producto de la nueva misión del IBEM. Gladys Abella trabaja en el Consejo Cubano de Iglesias y actualmente forma parte del equipo directivo del IBEM. Participó activamente en la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Estudiantiles Bautista de Cuba (COEBAC).

Fecha y Hora:

Lunes, 17 de Abril del 2017 – 09:30 to 11:00 am

09:30

to

11:00

The rights of all women in Cuba have changed dramatically since the 1959 Cuban Revolution.  What are the achievements as well as the ongoing campaigns? How does the U.S. blockade of Cuba affect women’s lives?  Join us to talk about these questions with Latina lesbian feminist Moon (Luna) Vázquez. (

See bio below

)

Saturday June 10

from 2:30-5:00 at

La Parada Café 2059 W. 21

^st

Street

, Chicago, IL 60608

This event is a fundraiser for the


IFCO/Pastors for Peace 28

^th

Friendshipment to Cuba


and we will ‘’pass the hat” at the event.  For more information email

MMcKenna@crln.org


.

This event was initiated by the

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

and

La Voz de los de Abajo

.  Thanks to many others for their help.

Moon (Luna) Vázquez:

Latina lesbian feminist Moon (Luna) Vázquez, is on the national steering committee of the U.S. Women & Cuba Collaboration and co-founder of the Cuba/US Lesbian and Allies project. She is also a member of the Cuba and Bolivarian Alliance Committee of the International Women’s League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Moon works on many social and gender justice issues with a focus on advancing leadership opportunities for women of color in the international lesbian and bi-sexual movement. Since 2001 Moon has led numerous women’s delegations to Cuba so delegates can see for themselves the advances of Cuban women since the revolution. Moon shares her knowledge of Cuba’s social programs and the current state of US-Cuba relations to build bridges and understanding across borders. Her specific area of expertise is on the role of lesbian and bi-women and the role of the LGBTQ community in Cuba.

14:30

to

17:00

Join us for an interfaith Lenten

series every Wednesday, March 1st-April 5th 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29 & 4/5

6:30-7 PM Prayer & Faith-Rooting

7-8 PM Skills-Building Workshops on Community Organizing

All are welcome to attend EITHER or BOTH parts of each session!

WHERE:

Berry United Methodist Church, 4754 N Leavitt St

PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS: Community Renewal Society, Chicago Religious Leadership Network, and more!

to

Wednesday, April 5, 2017 – 20:00

Take part in various activities to encourage Members of Congress to co-sponsor HR 1299, the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act, to suspend military and police assistance to Honduras until their human rights abuses cease and perpetrators are brought to justice. CRLN will send out alerts daily with links to action opportunities.

to

Friday, June 30, 2017 – 17:00

St. Nick’s in Evanston is hosting a Know Your Rights this Sunday ( February 26th) after 1:00 pm mass in Spanish!

CRLN will provide Chicago area venues for the annual NISGUA (Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala) Fall Speaking Tour. This year’s tour features Alex Escobar Prado, activist, educator, and member of the Guatemalan environmental justice organization Youth Organized in Defense of Life (JODVID). Born out of the struggle for community self-determination and resistance to Tahoe Resources’ Escobal silver mine in southeastern Guatemala, JODVID uses the arts and popular education to mobilize youth in local and regional movements to protect the environment and defend territory. The group was founded in 2015 following the murder of 16-year-old Topacio Reynoso, a local artist and vocal opponent to mining activities in the area.

The tour will be a unique opportunity to learn about the essential role that Guatemalan youth play in building movements for social justice and liberation, and to hear firsthand accounts of the environmental and community impacts of mining in Guatemala. The tour will also create an opportunity for direct exchange with youth activists in the U.S. fighting for social justice in their communities.

Here is a schedule of his speaking engagements (all are open to the public):

to

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 – 21:00

Share and come out to

SURJ’s workshop series

in March and April! Trainings are important and include: racism in Chicago, organizing 101, bystander intervention, copwatching, etc.

to

Thursday, May 4, 2017 – 08:00

What are the ways that make for peace? The Colombia Peace Accords, while an important step forward, have been accompanied by renewed violence against women and against social movement leaders and members. Join us and learn directly from

Carol Rojas

about popular education and intersectional organizing in the context of escalating violence in post-Peace Accords Colombia. Carol is an

organizer with the


Feminist Antimilitarist Network,

a grassroots organization in Colombia, recognized for its popular education model that supports demilitarization and eradication of systems of oppression based on sex, class and race.

Date & time: Tuesday, October 24, 12noon – 2pm

Location: Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Hall

700 W. Adams

Chicago, IL  60661

12:00

to

14:00

Mark your calendars for the 30th Anniversary of Pedal for Peace! Bike with us to raise funds for groups supporting health, education, and community organizing in Latin America and in Chicago. This is a great way to make a positive contribution to our global community!

To make this special anniversary year even more successful, there are a few changes in the event:

1) All bikers must pre-register online

here

!

This will facilitate the process on the day of the event and help us better plan for the fiesta. There will be an option for those who want to mail in a check to CRLN rather than pay online.

2) There will be a late fee if you register after September 9, so register soon!

All Pedal for Peace expenses are paid before the event, and this will help provide income to offset these costs. Even with a late fee, this is the least expensive event fee in town!

Main fiesta, program and north starting point:

Lincoln Park, Grove 13 — grassy area west of the Barry Ave. underpass to the Lakefront Bike Path. Look for the Pedal for Peace tables and flag banner by the path near the underpass.

Alternate starting point:

Dog Water Fountain at east side of the 55th St. underpass to the Lakefront Bike Path

Time:

1:00-5:00pm

See the attached project descriptions and information and pledge sheet to start collecting donors to support your ride, or click

here

for an online fundraising tool you can use to invite people to donate using social media.

For the second year, the School of the Americas Watch will convene an

encuentro

on the border at Nogales, Mexico and Sonora, Arizona. CRLN has reserved hotel rooms to take a delegation to this bi-national Convergence on the Border to

·    highlight US intervention in Latin America as one of the root causes of migration, and

·    stage protests, cultural events, and nonviolent direct action against racism, xenophobia and US militarization at home and abroad.

Contact Cinthya at

crodriguez@crln.org

if you would like to be part of this event as a CRLN member.

to

Sunday, November 12, 2017 – 18:00