ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Gathered and Sent
On an unseasonably warm morning in early February in
Cincinnati, Ohio, more than 30 new and long-time Bread
for the World members from around the region gathered
at St. Monica-St. George Catholic Church to renew and recharge their efforts to build the political will to end hunger
and to address the realities of hunger and poverty in their
community and around the world.
Rev. Dr. K. Nicholas Yoda, pastor of Pleasant Ridge Bread for the World activists come together at local and national
Presbyterian Church and professor at Xavier University, gatherings for inspiration and to be equipped for service.
rallied those in attendance: “Call it a career move for the
human race, but we are facing a goal worthy of our genera- local legislators on hunger-related issues, coordinate Offertion, of our country, of our religion, and Jesus is leading ings of Letters across the region, and engage new partners
the way. It is the defeat of humanity’s oldest enemies: pov- and congregations in this work.
erty, hunger.”
The activities of the members in this region are only
Bread for the World has had a long and vibrant histo- one example of the similar good work by activists that is
ry in Southwest Ohio, serving as a prophetic voice to the going on across the country. Bread organizers have been
area’s legislators for more than three deconducting relational campaigns that
cades. Local Bread members hoped to
have so far seen more than 600 one-on“We are facing a goal worthy
broaden the table at which they gather
one meetings with members and citizens
for fellowship and their work together. of our generation…It is the
working to engage and reinvigorate our
defeat of humanity’s oldest
The Bread team in Cincinnati also celwork in local communities. From these
ebrated new relationships, like the one enemies: poverty, hunger.”
conversations, events like this one in
with the HELP program, which is feaCincinnati have sprung up.
– Rev. Dr. K. Nicholas Yoda
tured in Bread for the World Institute’s
Pastor Yoda left those gathered that
2014 Hunger Report: Ending Hunger in
day with a charge to carry with them,
America, and deepened connections to long-time partners which stands for all of us: “We stand at a crossroads where
like Comboni Missionaries, both local organizations that we need to stop giving excuses and offer solutions. We
work to end hunger.
need to stop the dance of the one step forward and then
In the coming year, Bread members hope to organize two steps back and start marching with Christ, who has
educational events in the area, continue to meet and lobby had his boots on for over 2,000 years!”
www.bread.org 3
Rick Reinhard for Bread for the World
Cincinnati-area Bread
Members Examples of
Animated Activism