The Voice bi-annual newsletter February 2015 Report from the Executive Director John Erickson FOSNA is on the move! The Board of Trustees has authorized the hiring of crucial additional staff: two professional National Organizers to support the work of Rev. Don Wagner, our Na- tional Program Director, and one Program Assistant/Data Specialist to work with the organiz- ers and Sr. Elaine Kelley, our Development and Administrative Coordinator. The new hires -- for now part-timers because of budgetary constraints -- are a big step forward towards our goal of becoming the most effective Christian organization in North America working for a just peace in Palestine-Israel. The National Organizers will work with local groups and individuals to guide our national cam- paigns, to build action-oriented coalitions with allied organizations, to reach out to new po- tential allies, and to assure that well-supported and effective advocacy grows out of our con- ferences. We will continue to focus on supporting the BDS movement. It is one of the best tools we have to send our grassroots Christian message to the Israeli and U.S. governments. The failure of the governments in North America to push for justice in Palestine-Israel continues to hinder our progress. Now we are faced with the prospect of Benjamin Netanyahu speaking to both Houses of Congress on the invitation of Speaker John Boehner. There appears to be some opposition to the speech mounting on Capitol Hill, but John Boehner’s invitation alone demonstrates what peace seekers are up against. The Congressional adulation of Netanyahu simply strengthens our resolve to bring our message of justice and reconciliation to a broader North American audience. Pro-Israel activists are also throwing more millions into the fight against what they call “delegitimization” – the growing sup- port for Palestinian human rights and opposition to Israeli Apartheid. A recent gathering in Tel Aviv organized by the Israeli think tank Reut Institute brought together developers, cyber experts, Israel activists, and marketing and PR professionals from Israel, the U.S, Canada, the UK, South America and elsewhere to strategize on how to use the internet and social media to undermine the global movement for Palestinian rights. FOSNA fully understands the importance of the internet and social media in the struggle to bring justice to Palestine. With our limited budget, it is an effective and low-cost way to bring our message to a larger audience. We have built the begin- nings of an amazing electronic media team of volunteers and part-timers, but we need your financial help to bring new strength, expertise and permanence to the effort. As you browse this newsletter and read more about our new hires, our New Growth group of young activists, our national No Way to Treat a Child/Drop G4S campaign, and our local group activities, you will see FOSNA is indeed on the move. And your generous contributions will enable us to become even more effective in North America as well as continue our substan- tial financial assistance to Sabeel Jerusalem. Please keep them coming! Thank you so much for your continued support. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome. You can reach me at [email protected]. Friends of Sabeel North America, PO Box 9186, Portland, OR 97207 fosna.org Report from the Chair of the Board Wini Wolff FOSNA has a compelling mission: to amplify the voice of Pales- tinian Christians and to work for a just peace in Palestine- Israel. The Board of Trustees, well aware of FOSNA’s leader- ship role in North America, takes this mission seriously. Throughout the organization and across the continent we have been engaged in important strategic work. Strategic Plan Implementation In the September newsletter I wrote of FOSNA’s significant milestone in completing an eight- month strategic planning process. Since then, we have been hard at work pursuing goals we set for ourselves in three key areas. Our most pressing tasks focused on strengthening FOSNA’s infrastructure. We have three new highly-skilled Board members, we are actively hiring new professional staff, we are making better use of online resources, and we are de- voting more time and talent to fundraising. These internal tasks are not glamorous, but they build vital capacity that en- "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" ables FOSNA to carry out its work. A second area of focus is increasing the effectiveness of FOSNA’s programs. FOSNA Special Offer for Sabeel Members has many programs that are well-aligned with its mission. A newly formed team is thoughtfully evaluating these education The compelling and controversial play My Name Is Ra- and advocacy efforts to ensure they are impactful instruments chel Corrie returns for an Off-Broadway run in New York of real change. And third, we are broadening FOSNA’s out- City for the first time in nine years for 10 performances reach to North American Christians. Plans are underway to co at Culture Project's Lynn Redgrave Theater. The play is -host both a leadership seminar and a major conference taken from the writings of Rachel Corrie and edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner. Performances will geared specifically to evangelical Christians. As we move for- be April 2-5 and April 9-12, 2015. Friday April 10, Rachel ward in our work, the goals of our Strategic Plan will continue Corrie's birthday, will be a special benefit for the Rachel to be guideposts along our path. Corrie Foundation. Refreshments will be served and New Board Members Three new talented professionals have Craig and Cindy Corrie, Rachel's parents, will speak after been elected to the Board. Lynn Martin is a certified public the performance. accountant from Pleasanton, CA and will serve as FOSNA’s Special offer to members of Sabeel: admission tickets Treasurer. Leila Richards is a retired public health physician will be reduced to $35 if purchased by March 1. Just from Pittsburgh, PA who has travelled extensively throughout enter the code RCSabeel35 when purchasing tickets the Middle East and authored a book on her experiences. She before March 1, 2015 for any performance except for brings important writing and fundraising skills. Doug Thorpe is April 10 when all tickets will be $100. a professor of literature in Seattle, WA. He has extensive con- nections in the evangelical community and is thoroughly in- For all ticket information call Ovation Tix at volved in FOSNA’s theology and outreach efforts. 1.866.811.4111 or visit Culture Project's website at cultureproject.org Support for Sabeel-Jerusalem In all we do, FOSNA is steadfast in our support for Sabeel. As FOSNA labors in North America, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sabeel in its work. Our geographic focuses are distinct, but our purpose is the same: to bring about justice, peace and reconciliation in Palestine-Israel. There is renewed energy within FOSNA. As the primary ecu- menical Christian organization within a growing movement in America, FOSNA is becoming stronger, broader and more im- pactful every day. The Board is dedicated to the work ahead and we are deeply grateful to you for your continued generous support of FOSNA through your time, talent and treasure. Peace to All! Like a Mustard Seed: FOSNA’s New Growth FOSNA’s next generation is growing right before our eyes. Over the past year, FOSNA has recruited the talent and energy of a wonderful team that spans three continents and myriad backgrounds. And we have only begun: in January, we launched our first internship program to engage college campus activists, and we started a “What is Liberation Theology” training for all our New Growth staff and interns. Support our momentum by helping to fund FOSNA’s New Growth. Seeking Leadership As We Grow. Seeking 2 National Organizers to direct our national organizing campaigns! Please Share this Job Description http://fosna.org/seeking-part-time-national-organizer FOSNA’s New Growth Staff Share Their Visions of the Future “When I think of FOSNA's future, I see a robust domestic organization supported by strong local groups, united together by a vision for a just peace in Palestine. I see FOSNA as part of a larger movement for cross -community awareness and empowerment. This is not solely in the realm of Pal- estine but extends to many communities in North America who face daily and systematic inequalities.” - Nadya Tannous “I see FOSNA’s future as one of dynamic intergenerational exchange. I see people from different eras of social struggle sharing stories and strategies. I see us collaborating over new and revived ideas, building on a patchwork of diverse philosophies to achieve our common goal, which is the end of Israeli occupation.” - Kali Rubaii “I envision FOSNA being a leader in effective Palestinian advocacy work taking place in churches and communities across the U.S.” - Ariel Gold “My desire for FOSNA is that we become effective partner of the wider US movement pushing for the end of the occupation of Palestine. We can do this best by using our Christian voice to own the mistakes of US Christians, subvert the narratives that lead to displacement, and support Palestinians’ call to iso- late economic systems that support the status quo.” - Jay Visbal Kali Rubaii is a PhD candidate in Anthropology at University of California, Santa Cruz. She lives and works in Palestine, Iraq, Jordan and California, studying counterinsurgency regimes and the ethics of death. Kali is interested in strategic thinking, intergenerational activism, and perceptions about the boundaries of nonviolence. She is co-founder of the Islah Reparations Project, and served on the board of Rebuilding Alliance. Ariel Gold grew up in the American peace and justice activist community and works for Palestinian human rights through Judaism.