WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER SAINT PAUL
Clergy involved with Interfaith Action’s work in the community gather periodically throughout the year for conversations with civic leaders about how to build economic mobility in Greater Saint Paul. Clergy represent houses of worship that are members of Interfaith Action or who work with the organization’s Project Home, Opportunity Saint Paul, and Community Power-Up programs. Questions? Contact Sarah Peterka, Director of Opportunity Saint Paul & Congregational Engagement, 651-661-7736.
Building the Beloved Community Public Safety Project:
Conversations with Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety John Harrington
We know that people of faith are compelled to seek justice. Interfaith Action invites interfaith leaders to a series of compelling conversations about creating a better system of public safety and policing in Minnesota.
Together with Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety John Harrington and several state public safety leaders, we will walk through real-life scenarios that police officers face on the job. What do we want our public safety officers to do in these situations? We’ll ask clergy and their congregations to respond as well. Our work together will culminate in a report of the collective feedback.
Project Toolkit
- Video of intro session (watch below)
- Project FAQs
- PowerPoint from intro session (11/23/21)
- Congregational Engagement Leader job description
- Learning Coordinator job description
Recent Clergy Civic Engagement Discussions
October 21, 2021
A conversation with St. Paul City Planner Bill Dermody about the City of St. Paul Planning Commission’s proposed Zoning Code amendments for “Religious Accessory Uses” (how houses of worship can use their space).
May 20, 2021
A Conversation with Mike Burbach, Editor and Vice President, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Mike has been in the news business for 40 years, the past 15 of those here in St. Paul. He shared how the news media choose to craft their coverage of race, poverty, and the role of religious institutions.
February 25, 2021
A Conversation with Members of the Saint Paul School Board
Members of the Saint Paul School Board shared how they are working with students during the COVID-19 pandemic, including issues of distance learning, academic slippage, out of school time issues, and what changes might we expect in schools.
November 19, 2020
Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz
First Lady Gwen Walz is passionate about education for all people, from infants to senior citizens to those who are incarcerated. She also spoke about the intersectionality of education, faith and justice reform. Watch and listen to the conversation.
Contact
Sarah Peterka
Director, Opportunity Saint Paul & Congregational Engagement
651-661-7736
speterka@interfaithaction.org
2020 Roundtables
October 2020: John Harrington, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Public Safety and a staff member from the MN Department of Health shared an update on COVID-19 procedures for the faith community.
June 2020: Rev. Darrin Goss: Lessons Learned from Charleston – Clergy’s 
Role in Community Healing after the Mother Emanuel Massacre, with opening remarks from Governor Tim Walz
Rev. Darrin Goss is the president of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina who has been a leader in community healing in the aftermath of the Mother Emanuel church massacre in 2015. Read more and watch the video of the discussion.
May 2020: John Harrington, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner, and Maureen Ramirez, Office of Economic Opportunity at the MN Department Employment and Economic Development, provided updates on the state’s plans related to COVID-19, including financial opportunities.
March 2020: Ramsey County Attorney John J. Choi met with interfaith clergy for a candid, far-reaching discussion about the criminal justice system in Ramsey County and Minnesota. Attorney Choi has been on the cutting edge of many issues that affect our congregations and communities.
2019 Roundtables
November 2019: Officer Anthony Brown from the Saint Paul Police Department and Rev. Darryl Spence from Community Action Partnership addressed gun violence.
September 2019: Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough; Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, St. Paul City Council Ward 2; and Cathy ten Broeke, Director of MN Interagency Council on Homelessness discussed family homelessness.
July 2019: John Harrington, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner, shared ideas about how to heal our community and encouraged us to learn more about the effects of trauma and about trauma-informed care.
April 2019: Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter met with the group to discuss issues ranging from homeless to affordable legal services.