Faith Letter
To the Members of Congress:
People of faith live in the present and for the future, developing the gifts we have received for the greater good. Now is the time to recognize the gifts that our children bring and the ways we can support them as they and we move toward a better future for all of us.
Head Start is a major force for good in the lives of 1.1 million poor children and their families. Years of research shows us that for every dollar spent on Head Start, society earns back $7 through increased earnings, employment, and family stability; and decreased welfare dependency, crime costs, grade repetition, and special education.
As people of faith we are taught to love our neighbors as ourselves—and to give a helping hand to those in need. Today one in four children is born into poverty, into environments that suppress a child’s innocent spirit and limit the prospects for success. Faith communities have long been early educators, but it is every American citizen’s duty to utilize our collective advantages and strengths to set these children on a path to healthy, lifelong learning. We should view programs like Head Start as an opportunity to shape the face of our world for a generation.
We, the undersigned, speak as leaders of our faith communities, though not for them. We endeavor to build a society comprised of members that work together to seek harmony in the present and promote hope for the future. We offer you our partnership toward that goal. We respectfully urge the Administration and Congress to hold firm on their commitment to Head Start as it is clearly an investment for the future.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Weiner
Senior Minister
Union Congregational Church
Montclair, NJ
Jane Cheema
Deacon
First United Methodist Church
Evanston, IL
Dean Francis
Reverend
First United Methodist Church
Evanston, IL
Chuck Sackett
Preaching Minister
Madison Park Christian Church
Quincy, IL
Sister Paulett Kuta
Pastoral Minister
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Ravenna, NE
Harold Anderson
Reverend
United Methodist Church
Brush, CO
John Morton
Reverend
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
St. Louis, MO
William C. Simpson, III
Senior Pastor/Bishop
Kingdom Harvest Church
Chattanooga, TN
Jeanette Odame
Associate Pastor
New Hope Community Worship Center
Columbus, OH
Chere Herring-Chambers
Youth Director
Historic Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Miami, FL
Dr. Tuvulsiea Chambers
Minister
Historic Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Miami, FL
Claudia Dunemann
Conference Missionary President
AME Church 10th District
Dallas, TX
Dana Carroll
President, Board of Directors
Lighthouse Child and Family Development Center
Springfield, MO
Helen Davis
Pastor
Kingdom Impact Min., Intl.
Goshen, NY
Fr. Fred Risard
Executive Director
St. Francis Merced Respite, Inc
Merced, CA
Virginia Reck
Love in Action Community Outreach
Center for Positive Living
Sarasota, FL
Davis Gill
Deacon
Walnut Grove Baptist Church
Walnut Grove, MS
Denise Andersen
Reverend
Clackamas United Church of Christ
Milwaukie, OR
James McGowan
Deacon
Little Rock MB Church
Foxworth, MS
Sonja Phillips
Minister
Celebration Christian Ministries
Daytona Beach, FL
David Phillips
Paster/CEO
Celebration Christian Ministries
Daytona Beach, FL
Maria Fernandez
Director of Children's Ministry
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Live Oak, CA
Jonathan Fernandez
Head Deacon
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Live Oak, CA
Laura Strong
Executive Director
St. Peter's Christian Community Church
Yonkers, NY
Sharon Bailey
Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader
Celebrate Recovery
Red Bluff, CA