Not Amos 'n Andy, Just AMOS...

I know I have spoken about AMOS before but Sunday evening AMOS marked its 6th Anniversary,  Celebrating a Harvest of Justice Advocacy.

AMOS is an "interfaith, congregation-based coalition working for a more just and com-passionate community."

AMOS started in '07 with 7 congregations and has grown to 11. After an initial year of identifying community concerns, focus has been task forces for reducing the stigma of mental health, food insecurity, health care, Hmong advocacy, immigration, restorative justice and circles of support.

About a 100 people gathered to listen to latin music by Banda El Buen Samaritano and Steve Laxton, a local lawyer who specializes in immigrant issues.

'Lots of latkes, lots of latkes. Let's all eat 'em up.'

Many of the congregations cooked for the fundraising dinner. Here's Carla coming back for seconds of those latkes we slaved over. (10 dozen, 4 worker bees= 3+ hours)

Besides potato pancakes there were fruit salads, casseroles of green beans, squashes and sweet potatoes, veggie spring rolls, chicken, bread and of course desserts.

We look happy to be here, right?

 For me the highlight of the evening was the presentation of the AMOS 2013 Seeds of Justice Award. A mechanical engineer turned farmer, Tom Ferguson left the corporate world of 3M to pursue his life's dream of being a farmer. While college shopping in the area for his daughter, he spied an apple orchard for sale. The rest is history and besides farming apples, he now educates the community regarding the importance of immigration reform, providing housing for his workers with ethical practices and teaches 3500 school age children yearly about where their food comes from.

What can be more important as we all work to become good stewards of both the land and community treating each with respect?

May the need for AMOS be lessened as the years go by.
          Meanwhile  Happy Anniversary AMOS!