Riverside Weekly Actions | July 30, 2026
Faith in Action: Join Our Lobby Trainin
“Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)
The prophet Isaiah reminds us that faith is never meant to remain private. Love of God finds its fullest expression when it becomes love of neighbor, especially those whose dignity and well-being are threatened. Seeking justice is not simply an act of charity. It is participating in God’s work of reshaping our communities so that everyone can flourish.
One of the most effective ways we can live out this calling is by advocating for policies that protect and uplift our neighbors. Lobbying gives ordinary people the opportunity to influence the decisions that affect housing, healthcare, immigration, climate, wages, and so much more. It is a meaningful way for those with access, privilege, and influence to stand alongside communities whose voices are too often overlooked.
Whether you have years of advocacy experience or are taking your first step, we invite you to join our upcoming Lobby Training. You’ll learn practical skills for meeting with elected officials, telling compelling stories, and advocating with confidence and compassion.
Let’s become faithful witnesses who not only pray for justice but help shape it.
Advocacy and Lobby Training
Join Members of NIAC Action New York, Peace Action New York State, Just Foreign Policy and Action Corps Saturday, August 1st at 1:00pm ET for an interactive training session on the Upper West Side of Manhattan covering how to earn direct meetings with your politicians to advocate against war, in support of peace/diplomacy, civil rights, and immigration.
The training will cover the basics of how to
- Beat AIPAC at their own game – Get in the rooms of power & build relationships with your lawmakers.
- Schedule, prepare, run meetings with your lawmakers
- Follow up on meetings with your elected officials and hold elected officials accountable after the meeting
- Escalate your pressure strategy if they continue to fail to listen and act.
KEEPING THE RECORD ALIVE: A Tribute to Anas al-Sharif and Gaza’s Journalists
August 14, 6:30PM, Assembly Hall, The Riverside Church
On August 14, Writers Against the War on Gaza, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and the Palestinian Feminist Collective will honor the life and struggle of Anas al-Sharif, to mourn his martyrdom and that of his colleagues, and to understand explicitly how it is that mainstream western media enabled their deaths to occur unabated.
Beginning before the onset of the genocide, we will hear from Anas’s colleagues, mentors, and friends, across all sectors and ages to learn how Gaza’s journalists grew and transformed as the genocide accelerated.
Central to this event will be the launch of Writers Against the War On Gaza’s “The Living Record,” an oral archive composed of more than 50 eulogies delivered by journalists across the Gaza Strip. These eulogies document the ever-growing loss that Gaza’s journalists and reporters have had to endure, and, more importantly, why it is they have continued onwards.
We will also be honoring the martyred children of Gaza by inviting attendees to write their names on a shroud as part of the Shroud Project. This project is led by Justice For All, Priests Against Genocide, Doctors Against Genocide and other allies in creating a powerful visual memorial that will display the names of thousands of children who have lost their lives in Gaza. This project has already gained participation from faith communities, interfaith organizations, and advocacy groups across the country and internationally. The completed shroud will be displayed in Washington, DC, in September, with additional events planned in New York City during the UN General Assembly
Info and registration here: Keeping the Record Alive
Do you have an Instagram account? You can now subscribe to the Mission, Social Justice & Change Instagram Channel for real-time action alerts, advocacy opportunities, and ways to put your faith into action. You’ll receive updates on rallies, vigils, legislative campaigns, petitions, volunteer opportunities, and urgent moments when your voice can make a difference.
Click here to subscribe: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbbYy2vMBEePsmtE/