The  Episcopal Urban Caucus meets this week,  February 25 - 28,  in the Diocese of Connecticut at the Four Points by Sheraton, in Meriden.  The theme of the annual meeting is: 

As is traditional,  EPF will host the luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 26.  Our speaker will be the  Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell, who served for many years at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT. Her ministry was shaped by a dedication to addressing youth violence in the community surrounding the parish.  "In July of 2008, Reverend Johnson Russell became the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Your Place Youth Center, a youth outreach ministry of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Your Place Youth Center strives to give youth of the City a positive alternative to engaging in gang violence. The initiative came from the prayers and tireless work of Empowering Neighborhoods United in Faith (against) Violence (later known as Partner4Peace), made up of a small group of dedicated parishioners of St. Andrew's who wanted to make an impact on youth violence in Newhallville and greater New Haven."  Tracy Johnson Russell currently serves as priest-in-charge of St. Monica's, Hartford.

EPF's Member Services Coordinator, Shannon Berndt, will offer a table display of EPF educational materials and resources for peacemaking, including EPF's Gun Violence Prevention Curriculum.

Shannon and Bill Exner, our two EPF representatives on The Consultation, will participate in an onsite meeting of that group on February 24. The Consul- tation is a collaboration of progressive organizations within the Episcopal Church that partner to work for social justice. Before every triennial General Convention, member groups come together to develop a platform that will guide shared advocacy and goals.