Introduction

Plenary Speakers

Presentations

Schedule

Registration

Friday Seminars

Features

Travel & Hotels

CTA Home Page

CTA Seeks to be an Inclusive and Anti-Racist Community

We are very much aware that the membership and leadership of Call To Action, as with almost all institutions and organizations in this country, participate in systems of white privilege. However, we have begun the work of transformation: we have embarked on a long term anti-racism initiative and commissioned a new CTA anti-racism team. We have made some progress, but more is needed. We have to open our hearts and imaginations to creating incentives and interests on the part of persons of color to join us at conference and in our on-going efforts to be authentic church. We are One Body. Our gatherings must begin to reflect that oneness by becoming inclusive. Our sisters and brothers in diverse racial and ethnic communities bring unique gifts: different perspectives, cultures, ways of understanding the world and expressing the faith. We need those gifts to be a truly inclusive Church, the whole people of God. Please help us reach leaders and members of other racial and ethnic communities. How wonderful if each of us sought the participation of at least one newcomer person of color at conference. Also, please consider making a special donation to assist people of color to attend the conference. To do this see the registration form on page 7. Even if financial support is not possible, invite a person of color to join us. (As an added incentive, see page 7 about bringing two newcomers and getting a free registration for yourself.)

New To Confereence

We will offer an orientation to Call To Action's history and mission, as well as vital information on conference activities. Meet other newcomers and get help navigating the weekend program. This Welcome Session will be held on Friday at 2:30pm.

Children’s Program

There will be lots to keep children involved at conference this year. For younger children (3 to 7) there are stories, arts and crafts, music, games and other activities. Children 8 to 12 can join a special program exploring peace/justice themes. There are also opportunities for the children to tour the exhibits, see performing artists and take part in prayer experiences. Friday pre-conference activities for children (3-12) enable parents to participate in Friday Seminars or Days of Reflection. Register children on page 7. Children must be preregistered: there is no on-site registration for this program. Program details will be mailed to parents in October.

Teen Program

Do our teens know their Church is much bigger than their parish? Do they resist church, suggesting they won’t go once they’re of age? Is your parish leaving your teens spiritually undernourished? Are you concerned that we are losing our children from a faith that could sustain them through life? Bring your teens to the CTA Conference. We have programs to challenge them and expand their view of social justice. Issues are presented with historical perspective, yet with relevance to their experience. Teens have Q & A sessions with conference presenters, and opportunities to socialize with their peers in a thought-provoking way. Register teens on page 7. Teens must be preregistered: there is no on-site registration for this program. Program details will be mailed to parents in October.

Next Generation (20s & 30s) Events

Join us Friday night for the Next Generation Coffeehouse, our kick-off event! Meet other young progressive Catholics over great food and music. Saturday at 2:30 PM (9.10), attend a young adult workshop to learn the basics on how to begin a FaithSharing group in your area. Saturday at 5:15 PM, don’t miss the Next Generation Fishbowl for a chance to talk personally with one of the conference speakers and other young progressive Catholics on issues you care about. Be sure to mark your age on your conference registration (p. 7) to receive our pre-conference packet with tips about affordable housing, cheap eats and where to hang throughout the weekend. Also, check out the special registration rates for students. Can’t wait for conference? E-mail Nicole@cta-usa.org to get connected now to the growing nationwide movement of Next Generation Catholics.

Volunteer Choir

Join the volunteer choir for Sunday Eucharist. Three hours of rehearsal are
required during the weekend, including Saturday lunch hour. If you can
make the rehearsal commitment, sign up on your registration form (page 7).
To receive more information by mail, be sure to register by Oct. 15.

Volunteer Liturgical Dancers

Participate Friday morning from 9 AM to noon to explore anti-racism through music, movement, and dialogue. Leaders are Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe and Elli Haffey. We will rehearse for Friday evening opening session and Sunday closing Eucharist. Other rehearsals, including Friday afternoon, are required—times to be announced. Sign up on your registration form in the "Volunteers Needed" section. All are welcome. Register by Oct. 15 to receive additional information by mail/email.

You Should Organize a CTA Chapter!

Call To Action has 52 chapters, branches or affiliated organizations. If you’d like to start one, plan to speak with CTA staffers to share stories, swap strategies, plan more cooperative efforts and see how CTA can help. CTA’s chapter organizer, Lena Woltering, is offering a workshop, “A How-To Guide for organizing a CTA chapter,” Saturday, 2:30 PM (9.15). In addition, plan on attending one of the Saturday regional caucuses (Saturday noon or a dinner caucus Saturday evening) and be sure to network at the Friday evening plenary when you sit in your state area.

Prayer and Eucharist

Opportunities for prayer abound. In addition to ten concurrent prayer experiences scheduled at 7:30 AM Saturday and Sunday, there are other prayer opportunities available Friday and Saturday afternoons. Consult the schedule (page 3) and session descriptions (pp. 4-6). Many of these prayer sessions use music, chant, dance, art, or movement. Some are Eucharistic celebrations. There is a quiet meditation room for individual prayer. The conference will close with Sunday Eucharist.

2007 Wall of Prayer

So many people ask for the prayers of our powerful Call To Action community. We invite you to bring pictures, mass cards, mementos of your loved ones, so that we may pray for them and with them during the conference weekend. There will be a public display for announcements of births and deaths, illnesses and joys, burdens and blessings. We will call it Call To Action's 2007 Wall of Prayer. Caucuses Interaction and networking are just as important for building church as listening to speakers. Ample times and places are reserved for caucuses formed by conference participants. Contact CTA at (773) 404-0004, ext. 260 to obtain a caucus application. Caucus applications must be received by September 15, 2007 to ensure a listing in the conference program book, which will make it easier for people to find and connect with you.

Join the Lay Synod movement

POWERFUL PERSUASION: Creating a Church the Historical Jesus Would Recognize

Lena Woltering reports on the ever-growing Lay Synod Movement that began with church reformers in Southern Illinois and is being replicated across the country. Learn to recognize the power you already have and how to successfully exert it for positive change in our Church. Woltering was on the CTA National Board for many years and currently does local chapter and lay synod organizing for CTA throughout the country. Sat., 1 PM (8.15) & 4 PM (10.13)

Take Action Table

Conference attendees often are eager to act on behalf of justice and peace, but don’t know where to begin. The Take Action table (part of the CTA Booth) in the Exhibit Area is a place to start. Pick up materials that will help you take immediate action on justice and peace issues. Stop by and talk to the volunteers about issues that concern you, or bring action materials you wish to share.

Award to Dolores C. Huerta, nonviolent prophet for justice

Call To Action is honored to present its 2007 Leadership Award to Dolores C. Huerta, the co-founder with the late Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW). Born in 1930 in New Mexico and relocated to the farmworker community of Stockton, Calif., at age three when her parents divorced, she and her two brothers were raised by her mother, Alicia, to be community activists, caring for others, and outspoken for justice. Alicia worked two jobs as a cook, and eventually owned a restaurant and a small hotel that often put up farmworker families for free. Through grade and high school Dolores belonged to a Girl Scout Troop with African- Americans, Chinese, Filipinas, Latinas and Anglos, and never experienced racism until she won a national Girl Scout essay contest but, unlike Anglo winners, was denied school leave to take the winner's trip to New Mexico.

First in her family to finish college, she taught grammar school, but left teaching. “I couldn't stand seeing farm worker children come to class hungry and in need of shoes. I thought I could do more by organizing their parents.” She met Cesar Chávez when both were recruited and trained as community organizers by Fred Ross and the Community Service Organization. CSO championed Latino rights throughout California — but Award to Dolores C. Huerta, nonviolent prophet for justice refused to organize farm workers. So Dolores and Cesar resigned and did so on their own. By now Dolores was a divorced mother with seven children. They began the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the UFW. In 1965 NFWA joined Filipino workers in a grape strike of over 5,000 workers. Their first strike would last five years. In 1966, Dolores negotiated a contract with Schenley Wine, the first-ever collective bargaining agreement by farm workers. She directed the UFW’s national grape boycott, taking “La Causa” to the consumers. The boycott got the California table grape industry to sign a three-yearcollective bargaining agreement with the UFW.

Like Chavez, Huerta follows the nonviolent path of Jesus, Gandhi and Dr. King. She has been arrested 22 times for participating in non-violent civil disobedience. When grape contracts expired in 1973, Huerta and UFW were back on the picket lines. They also organized in the vegetable industry until workers started getting killed. So UFW again turned to consumer boycotts. Dolores directed the East Coast boycott of grapes, lettuce, and Gallo wines. The result was the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, which grants farm workers by law the right to organize and bargain collectively. Huerta worked with Chavez for over 30 years until his death in 1993. Together they founded the farmworkers' Medical Plan, Pension Fund, Credit Union, affordable housing, and nine radio stations. Dolores Huerta has 11 children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In 2002 she realized another dream: the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which trains organizers and leaders in low-income, under-represented communities.

Huerta will speak Saturday at 8 PM, and will receive CTA's award at the Sunday morning plenary session.