There will be two workshop sessions the morning of Lutheran Day. See below for the many options that will be available for you to choose from to inform your learning and advocacy! We’ll email you with a request to name your preferences once you register!

In an age of ecological breakdown, democratic spaces for advocacy and action are both shrinking and opening through new creative channels. This workshop with Rev. Dr. Chad Rimmer and Christine Mangale of Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) will explore the model of faith-based action in the public sphere that is grounded in the Lutheran World Federation study document, “Church in the Public Space.” We will explore the ground and tactics and share stories of creative ways that Christians can live out our baptismal vocation around the world.

First-time meeting with a legislator? Just want a refresher? Join this workshop where a veteran advocate will walk you through the process of meeting with a lawmaker or their staff. Learn what to say, what not to say, and – most importantly – how to listen to the responses you get to further our collective effectiveness as we continue to advocate as church together.

Hear from our first two Isaiah 58:12 fellows as they present their projects and advocacy findings furthering racial reconciliation in PA. Anna Oslikova has made a short video documenting the experience of immigrant orchard workers in Pennsylvania, and Liliyana Beck has begun small support groups for those re-entering community from the criminal justice system. Both will reflect on the process of learning, building relationships, and then using that foundation to strengthen their personal and communal advocacy for policy change.

As Pennsylvanians face increased costs on everything from gas to groceries to housing, many are struggling to afford the increasing costs of healthcare. We’ll discuss the current legislative threats and potential progress on making healthcare more affordable and accessible for families across the Commonwealth and how you can help advocate to protect and expand access to high quality affordable healthcare in Pennsylvania.

Food is a basic human right. The Pennsylvania Food Policy Council grows out of the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to strengthening our food system. It is also a direct response to calls from LAMPa and other food systems leaders across the state to deepen collaboration and impact on critical food systems challenges impacting PA residents, communities, and businesses.

The council coordinates interagency and stakeholder group leaders around communication and action needed to support healthy, equitable, sustainable, and fair food systems for all Pennsylvanians. Together, these efforts aim to support food sovereignty, which is defined as the right of Pennsylvania residents to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agricultural system. Learn more about the work of the council and our shared goals.

In this workshop, led by Flora Cardoni, Deputy Director at PennEnvironment, you will learn about climate, clean energy, and energy efficiency legislation being considered in Harrisburg as well as strategies for how we can help move them forward together toward a just and livable future for all Pennsylvanians. What do you want your policymakers to do now in response to our duty to act as good stewards and good neighbors? What do our future children want us to say today?

LAMPa is part of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. Join us for a session that will provide practical strategies for engaging elected officials, building bipartisan support, and advancing housing policy priorities. Participants will also gain insight into current legislative opportunities and how to add your voice to help advance policies to ensure homes within reach of every Pennsylvanian.  Whether you’re new to legislative outreach or looking to refine your approach, this discussion will equip you with tools to make a lasting impact.

Energy prices are increasing for Pennsylvanians this summer and may climb even higher next year. We hear that growth in data centers, artificial intelligence, and crypto mining are to blame, and more generation is needed, but is that true? In this session, we will explore the current state of our grid and what a sustainable future might look like.

Every life is sacred. Yet last year, more than 1,600 Pennsylvanians died from gun violence across Pennsylvania. While gun homicides dropped by 38% thanks to investments in violence prevention, we lost too many lives of our friends, neighbors and family members. CeaseFirePA’s Executive Director will discuss key policies awaiting action in Harrisburg to help prevent firearm suicide, gun trafficking and shootings, including investments in violence prevention programs.

As food prices continue to rise and federal agricultural programs and anti-hunger funding are threatened, more Pennsylvanians are struggling to put nutritious food on their tables. Hear from Katie Kerr, Government Relations Coordinator at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, as she presents an overview of the state of food insecurity in Pennsylvania and discusses the significance of the state’s major anti-hunger programs. The State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), PA Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), and PA Senior Food Box home delivery are funded annually through the Commonwealth budget. Learn how these programs keep Pennsylvania’s charitable food network, including our congregational and community pantries, stocked with local, nutritious foods that help our neighbors thrive. In this session, you will learn how to be an effective advocate, how to navigate meetings with skeptical members, and other tips for successful meetings with your lawmakers.

Stephanie Wein, Clean Water & Conservation Advocate at PennEnvironment, will give an overview of threats to Pennsylvania’s waters – from our rivers and streams to what comes out of the tap – with a focus on PFAS and microplastics, emerging contaminants whose impact on our health and environment are only beginning to be understood. In light of changing federal landscape, you will learn about opportunities to fight for safe, clean water at the state and local level.

Join Jason Landau Goodman of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress for an overview of the legislative landscape in promoting policies that end discrimination, support inclusion, and promote the civil rights of all God’s children, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community.

In today’s polarized climate, faith leaders face immense challenges in guiding politically diverse congregations while living out the values of their faith. Led by Common Ground USA, this training presents clergy and faith-based leaders with some initial tools to engage political differences in their own congregations in ways that strengthen both them and the broader community.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Engage leaders in their own congregations and the community using the Common Ground Approach
  • Navigate difficult conversations in winsome and respectful ways
  • Identify shared values that unite people across political perspectives
  • Mobilize diverse groups to work together on common community concerns

Through practical strategies, real-world case studies, and interactive discussion, faith leaders will be better prepared to lead with courage, empathy, and effectiveness. Participants will be prepared to engage political divisions in ways that reveal shared vision and build community resilience.