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Action Reconciliation Service for Peace

1501 Cherry Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

 

 

 

 

 


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Homelessness in Philadelphia - One Step Away

"One Step Away is Philadelphia's first newspaper produced by those without homes for those with homes. The monthly tabloid includes news about homelessness and affordable housing as well as creative writing, photographs, illustrations and other content produced by those in temporary shelters operated by RHD and other nonprofits."

www.rhd.org

 

To find out more about One Step Away, click here!

 

Also, read an article published in the newspaper and written by Wayne Smith, a resident with one of our project partners, Project H.O.M.E.

 


 


picture on elca.org

ARSP Congratulates

ARSP congratulates Wolfgang Herz-Lane, former ARSP volunteer in Camden and board member of the American Friends of ARSP, who was elected as the new bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synode on June 12th. Read more here!

 

 

"I was in North Camden, the poorest neighborhood in the poorest city in America. I thought, 'Oh, my God, what have I gotten myself into?' " says Herz-Lane, 56.

"But I fell in love with the people. They were incredibly accepting and welcoming of me, a white German guy. And I fell in love with Grace Lutheran Church."

On Tues, July 29, The Philadelphia Inquirer also wrote about his experience in Camden.

 

Our current Projects in Camden are the New Visions Homeless Shelter and the Christus Lutheran Church and Academy

 


 

Germans, Survivors Confront Shoah Together


Photo by William Burgey


On April 14th the Jewish Daily Forward ran an article about the work that ARSP does in Pittsburgh, Boston, New York and Camden.

 

"I couldn't believe that people could be so cruel to one another until I heard Mr. Weinreb's story," Dean Hogdon said. Bachmann then told the teenagers about how she was forced to confront her country's history when she visited Auschwitz and Buchenwald. She said that until she visited the camps, she did not have a German identity. "The Holocaust defined me as a German," she told the teenagers. "For the first time, I felt responsible for what my ancestors did."

 

Bachmann said she was especially struck by the horror of the lingering scent of human hair that had been removed from the Jews and was on exhibit at Auschwitz. "I felt connected to the victims," she said.



During an interview, Bachmann related that while she wants to know what her grandfather did in the Waffen SS during the war, she is afraid of what she might discover. "I struggle with what to think of him," said Bachmann, who was 4 when her grandfather died...Read more

 

 

 

 


 





Spotlight on Camden

On Sunday, April 11th, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story on our volunteers in Camden, focusing on the work with the New Visions Homeless Shelter, Frank's Place.

 

"He gave me a black eye last night," says one woman. The 30-year-old mother of eight, who has no home, removes big sunglasses to reveal a bruised eye socket.

 

Another refers to physical abuse as a girl and declares she has decided to live life with love, not violence.

 

With a faint German accent, a small voice pipes in: "I was told once that when people grow up seeing stuff like that, they either do the same thing or they do the complete opposite. It looks like you've done the opposite, which is really amazing."

 

The simple statement of affirmation - perhaps the only positive words the women have heard all week - comes from 20-year-old Lucia "Lucy" Mair, the latest link in an unlikely, unheralded, 31/2-decade connection between Germany and Camden...

read more

 


 

News from our project partners

 

 


Interreligious TaskForce on Central America (IRTF)

Volunteers needed for IRTF fair trade outreach/sales:

 

August 28 - Medina Cultural Heritage Day

September 6 - Peace Show, downtown Cleveland

September 18-19: Tremont Arts Festival

If you can help at one of the tables, please email Sarah(at)irtfcleveland.org . Thank you!

 

 

Saturday, October 9th, 2010 - Ohio Fair Trade Expo

John Carroll University

 

Last year, 200 fair trade advocates- students, consumers, people from faith congregations, and business people - gathered to learn, take action, and grow in their commitment to socially conscious consumerism. This year, the Expo will offer 18 workshops to choose from and an even larger Fair Trade Marketplace.

For more information and to sign up, visit www.ohiofairtrade.com

 

 


Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Thursday, August 19th 2010 - "Know Thy Neighbor": Iftar in the Synagogue 2010

Anshe Shalom Bnai Israel Congregation, 540 W. Melrose, Chicago

5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

 

JCUA and Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation invite Muslim and Jewish community members to "Iftar in the Synagogue," a unique interfaith gathering during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish month of Elul.


The Program includes

    • Opening Remarks (Rabbi Asher Lopatin)
    • Remarks from participating Imam and Rabbi
    • Jewish Evening Prayer
    • Muslim Break of Fast & Prayer Maghrib Salat
    • Communal Dinner (Kosher), Film and Discussion
    • Program concludes (9:00 pm

 

To find out more and to RSVP, click here!

 

 


"Thomas has provided a meaningful additional relationship to these and many other needy, isolated clients. He comes to them personifying an ideal that none of them had ever expected in a young German. He gives them hope that the future may be good."

Lilian Sicular, Selfhelp Community Services, New York

 

Yarnall Fund award

ARSP was given the 2010 Yarnall Fund award by the Chestnut Hill Friends - we are very grateful for your appreciation of our work, and thank the Chestnut Hill Friends for their support!


Go Green!


Help ARSP and the environment by donating your Recycle Points! Click here for more! To donate your points, contact us!


ARSP Newsletter

Our latest e-Newsletter is out and is putting the spotlight on our work with people with special needs- find it here!




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