2nd Annual Faith & Justice Awards Dinner A Night to Remember! 11/12/2008 Cathy Thompson

The November 6th Dinner brought together Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians, clergy and lay to hear Rev. Carlton Veazey and to honor State Senator Judy Robson.

During the reception at the Libiamo Restaurant quests perused resource tables and action kits from Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (SYRF), the Black Church Initiative, Greater Milwaukee's United Way's Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

Rev. Carlton Veazey is the national President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. He is also an active Baptist Preacher in the D.C. area. He spoke of his ministry in the Black Church Community of "Breaking the Silence" on reproductive health issues. He is the founder of the annual series of "Breaking the Silence" Summits that offer a myriad of workshops on faith, sexuality education, reproductive health care and HIV/AIDS in the Black Community across this country. He shared a heart breaking story of a dear cousin faced with a tragic pregnancy early in life.

Rev. Veazey also outlined the various RCRC programs and encouraged the assembled crowd to get involved with the Wisconsin Affiliate. He praised the work of the Wisconsin Affiliate and sought to honor Rabbi Bonnie Margulis of the national staff from Madison, who recently left the organization after many years of devoted service.

Rev. Al Nichols, Convener of the Wisconsin RCRC Board, presented Senator Judy Robson with the Faith & Justice Award for 2008. Senator Robson graciously accepted the award.

The event was masterfully MC-ed by Dr. Maggi Cage, a long time advocate and activist for reproductive health care in Wisconsin.