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. Religious leaders represent houses of worship that are members of Interfaith Action or who work closely with our programs.
Program Horizons
Like every community organization, Interfaith Action has transformed since spring 2020. New initiatives and renewed partnerships have expanded our work in the areas of housing, education, and economic empowerment. Come hear from each of our program directors—in conversation with civic leaders—about the challenges and opportunities for families in our community, discuss your house of worship’s work in these areas, and together we can find common ground for community action!
Thursday, October 5, 8:30-9:30 am
Liberty Plaza, 290 Arundel St., St. Paul 55103
Coffee and pastries provided from Marc Heu Patisserie!
REGISTER
Ekta Prakash, Director of Public Engagement for the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and Abdiwahab Mohamed, Assistant Commissioner of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs will discuss DEED’s agenda for workforce development and poverty reduction. Together with OSP partners, we’ll discuss the important work of tutoring and workforce development agencies, and engage in dialogue with clergy/religious leaders about improving economic mobility in our community.
About Our Speakers
Ekta Prakash served at CAPI USA – Immigrant Opportunity Center as its CEO prior to her current position. She also served on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board and has significant cross-cultural expertise working with culturally based grassroots organizations. She has a deep commitment to the value of multiculturalism and has built bridges between and among numerous immigrant and refugee communities residing in the Twin Cities.
Abdiwahab Mohamed manages DEED’s Office of New Americans and coordinates with 17 other states agencies to include and integrate New Americans into the workforce and to reduce barriers to economic development. Prior to his current role, he was a manager with the Minnesota Trade Office leading trade relations with Africa, the Middle East and India before becoming a senior grants and performance specialist.
Thursday, December 7, 8:30-9:30 am
Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul 55105
Join a discussion with MN Rep. Dave Pinto. He represents the southwest part of St. Paul in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he chairs the Children and Families Finance & Policy Committee. He founded the state’s Prenatal to Three Policy Forums. Outside of the Legislature, he serves as a prosecutor in Ramsey County. He previously directed statewide training and protocol development for Minnesota’s Safe Harbor system to address the sexual exploitation of young people.
Building the Beloved Community Public Safety Project
People of faith are compelled to seek justice. In 2022, Interfaith Action invited faith leaders to a series of compelling conversations with then-Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety John Harrington about creating a better system of public safety and policing in Minnesota.
We walked 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 asked clergy and their congregations to respond as well. Our work together soon will culminate in a report of the collective feedback. Learn more and view the resources.
Contact
Contact Phil Romine
Director, Opportunity Saint Paul
651-661-9350
promine@interfaithaction.org
Previous Clergy Civic Engagements Conversations
October 2021: St. Paul City Planner Bill Dermody
May 2021: Mike Burbach, Editor and Vice President, St. Paul Pioneer Press
February 2021: Members of the Saint Paul School Board
November 2020: Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz
October 2020: John Harrington, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and MN Department of Health staff
June 2020: Rev. Darrin Goss: Lessons Learned from Charleston – Clergy’s Role in Community Healing after the Mother Emanuel Massacre
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
March 2020: Ramsey County Attorney John J. Choi
November 2019: Officer Anthony Brown, Saint Paul Police Department, and Rev. Darryl Spence, Community Action Partnership
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
July 2019: John Harrington, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner
April 2019: Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter