Advocacy News from LMM
#RentersRightsDay1 Teach-In
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry is thrilled to be partnering with other advocates to host a virtual Renters’ Right Teach-In on Wednesday, February 9 from 5:30PM-7:00PM. This program is open to all renters, and those who want to learn more about ongoing advocacy in Cleveland. Visit NEOCH.org to learn more about the program or click here to RSVP for the virtual event!

In the meantime, learn a bit more about ongoing advocacy by reading these articles published in The Land and signing a petition to support Renter Rights in Cleveland!
LMM Advocacy Priorities for 2022
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Advocacy Department publishes an updated advocacy mission and vision, and priority document each January. These documents guide the work of the advocacy department for the upcoming year. Learn more about LMM’s commitment to ending homelessness, reforming the criminal justice system and advancing racial equality here
New Year, New Elections
Thanks to Cleveland’s use of off-year election cycles, every year tends to be a key election year. In 2022, all state-wide offices are in-cycle including Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General as are all Ohio House of Representative districts and half of Ohio State Senate districts.

At the federal level, Ohioans will be voting to replace a U.S. Senate seat vacated by U.S. Senator Rob Portman and all U.S. House of Representative seats are up for reelection. The first key deadline to register to vote in the May primary is April 4! Here is a link to all key 2022 deadlines.

Mark your calendars, and continue to read LMM’s advocacy publications to stay on top of necessary information related to these elections. 
Founder's Day 2022
In 1969, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry was founded by an amazing, young minister named Rev. Richard Sering. His birthday is February 4. As the pandemic continues to impact our ability to gather together and celebrate Dick Sering’s legacy, we invite you to join the LMM Family as we celebrate our late founder next week, with a special media campaign about our history and a video tribute to the man himself. Stay tuned!
On Writing with Students from John Carroll University
Advocacy Director Margie Glick and Community Engagement Coordinator Gloria Craig
presenting to JCU's Writing in the Professions course
LMM’s Advocacy Department is excited to partner on a semester-long project with students in a Writing in the Professions course, taught by Associate Professor of English, Tom Pace. The partnership officially launched on Tuesday, January 25 with a presentation to students by Advocacy Director Margie Glick and Community Engagement Coordinator Gloria Craig on LMM’s history, direct service and advocacy.

The project, which will continue to take place throughout the semester, involves the students mocking up a draft LMM Advocacy Newsletter to demonstrate their writing and communication skills. At the end of the semester, the students will present their newsletter to the class. LMM Advocacy is excited to support these budding communications professionals and looks forward to sharing more about the project as the semester continues.  
Advocacy 101 Presentation
On August 26, the LMM Advocacy Office hosted an Advocacy 101 presentation to staff as part of a Lunch & Learn program. The purpose of this program is to provide LMM staff partners with an understanding of the 2022 advocacy priorities, how the advocacy department advances these priorities, and ways they can engage in these efforts. We were grateful that 16 LMM staff partners were able to join us for this conversation, as it helps to create a culture of advocacy across LMM! The Advocacy Department will hold another conversation in July, for anyone who missed this program, and for new staff partners who join us during the year. 
ICYMI: LMM Advocacy Hosts MLK Day Celebration
On Friday, January 14, LMM’s Advocacy Department hosted 'Soup for the Soul' - a program in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Gloria Craig, Community Engagement Coordinator, facilitated the conversation, which focused on the people closest to Dr. King, or in other words, his village. Many of these individuals like activists Bayard Rustin and Claudette Colvin were central to Dr. King’s fight, but are too often forgotten in the history books. Following the program, soup was dropped off to each of our four main locations for staff, along with an inspirational quote.

Read more about the importance of having a village in Gloria’s A Push Towards Justice blog post.