January 30, 2019 Earlier this month, the Center for Religious Wisdom & World Affairs partnered with the University of Washington Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies to sponsor a presentation and discussion entitled “Wounds of Love: Faith-Based Responses to Homelessness in Seattle.” The event was moderated by James Wellman, Chair of the Jackson School’s Comparative Religion Program and Global Christianity project, and featured a presentation by Center scholar Paul Blankenship, followed by reflections from a panel of community partners, and concluding remarks from Center Director Manuel Mejido, who also led a general discussion with attendees. The Center for Religious Wisdom & World Affairs, which seeks to integrate [...]

January 25, 2019 Earlier this month, the Center for Religious Wisdom & World Affairs’ (CRWWA) thematic working groups met for the fourth time to continue their collective problem-solving efforts. These working groups, made up of practitioners from over 20 faith-based and community organizations from across Puget Sound, are organized around responses to homelessness where faith-based organizations (FBOs) have played a particularly important role. At the January meetings, members of the encampments group and the tiny houses group presented their organizational puzzles around responding to homelessness. This was followed by problem-solving sessions within each group that focused on the implementation of innovative solutions. [...]

This past year, the Center for Religious Wisdom & World Affairs rolled out a series of courses around faith-based responses to homelessness and the affordable housing crisis.   The three-course sequence brought together a cohort of practitioners from key local faith-based organizations (FBOs), including Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army, Bridge Care Center, and Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, in a rich exchange around how FBOs can more effectively address our most pressing social issues. The Center is pleased to offer another professional development opportunity in June 2019. Taught by Center Director Dr. Manuel Mejido, with support from Center Community Engagement Manager, Rev. Maggie [...]