Interfaith Advocacy Day

Interfaith Advocacy Day 2022

Interfaith Advocacy Day (IFAD) 2022 was held remotely on Zoom February 10. From Bellingham, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Ellensburg, Vancouver, the Olympic Peninsula, and across the Puget Sound region, nearly 150 advocates representing 39 legislative districts joined us for FAN’s virtual Interfaith Advocacy Day. Advocates attended more than 80 meetings with legislators and their aides, in Zoom rooms and Teams windows.

Rev. Shalom Agtarap from First United Methodist Church in Tacoma and Rabbi Avi Fine from Temple De Hirsch Sinai opened our day with faith reflections on advocacy (read remarks on our Blog). Kristin Ang welcomed Sen. Claire Wilson to help provide an overview of what’s at stake this legislative session and why our advocacy is important. Attendees met their neighbors in legislative district meetings to plan their appointments.

Workshops were offered by our wonderful coalition partners: Claire Lane and Christina Wong, Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition; Jessica Zimmerle and Lindsay Bell, Earth Ministry; Michele Thomas, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Tremayne Edwards, Alliance for Gun Responsibility; Brenda Rodriguez Lopez, WA Immigrant Solidarity Network; Roxana Gomez, ACLU; Fernando Mejia, Communities for Our Colleges; Carolyn Brotherton, Economic Opportunity Institute; FAN volunteers Steve Clagett and Bob Beekman, Economic Justice Working Group, and Ronnie Shure, Health Care for All – Washington; and FAN staff Kristin Ang.

As the morning closed and advocates moved on to their legislative appointments, Rep. Brandy Donaghy from the 44th district took time to field questions and talk about her priorities. We are so grateful each year for those who make this day possible. Next year, in person in Olympia!