HPJC Member Groups



Member Groups American Friends Service Committee Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace Casa Juan Diego/Houston Catholic Worker Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston: Office of Justice and Peace Central City Co-op Civilians Down Code Pink Communities of St. Egidio Dominican Sisters Drug Policy Forum of Texas Fellowship of Reconciliation First Congregational Church: Board of Church in Society First Unitarian Universalist Church,Community Involvement Committee Globalization Forum Gray Panthers of Houston Houston Animal Rights Team Houston Area Committee on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities Houston Climate Protection Alliance Houston Mennonite Church Houston Non-Violent Action/War Resisters Houston Peace Forum KPFT Lamp of Hope Live Oak Friends Meeting Mahatma Gandhi Library Mamas Brigade Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Military Families Speak Out – TX Chapter Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) Pax Christi Peace Action, Greater Houston Chapter Progressive Action Alliance Sierra Club – Houston Branch Ten Thousand Villages Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty United Methodist Church: Peace With Justice Section, Board of Church in Society United Nations Association/USA Veterans for Peace Women Against Global Trafficking Women International League for Peace and Freedom American Friends Service Committee Primary Contact(s): Dick Steele Phone: 713-201-4569 Email: Dicksteelehouston@sbcglobal.net Address: 3132 University Houston TX 77005 Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace Web Site: http://www.dopcampaign.org Primary Contact(s): Kathy Kidd Phone: 713-443-9938 Teaching ourselves peace and campaigning for a U.S. Department of Peace. Putting into place a paradigm and structure to begin to move our country from the direction of a culture of violence toward a culture of peace. Casa Juan Diego/Houston Catholic Worker Web Site: http://www.cjd.org Primary Contact(s): Mark and Louise Zwick Phone: 713.869.7376 Email: info@cjd.org Address: P. O. Box 70113 Houston, TX 77270 Casa Juan Diego is part of the Catholic Worker movement founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. The movement emphasizes personalism, voluntary poverty, pacifism and hospitality. Mission: To do the works of mercy instead of the works of war, to alleviate oppression of the poorest of the poor. Current Issues of Concern: Creating alternative structures for undocumented immigrants and refugees. Close to 40,000 people have passed through our doors. Current Projects: Giving hospitality (a place to live) to new immigrants (men and women), immigrant battered women, immigrant pregnant women and immigrant families of prisoners. Providing supplemental food and clothing and medical clinics to help maintain independence of immigrant in the community. Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston: Office of Justice and Peace Web Site: http://www.diocese-gal-hou.org Central City Co-op Primary Contact(s): Christyna Rice Email: christynarice@earthlink.net Address: P.O. Box 540222 Houston TX 772540222 Civilians Down Primary Contact(s): Arlene Kelly Phone: 713-462-3808 Email: civiliansdown@hotmail.com Code Pink No Information available Communities of St. Egidio Web Site: http://www.santegidio.org/en Primary Contact(s): Ellen Burns Phone: 713-283-7076 Email: ellen-b@sbcglobal.net St. Egidio Community was founded in 1966 right after the Vatican Council in Roma...by two young men right out of high school. They saw their mission from the Council as serving the poor and working for world peace. For strength they prayed at a nearby chapel named St. Egidio...hence their name was arrived from this small church. The community is composed of lay people and was approved and encouraged by John Paul II. Unlike most religious communities, it is composed entirely of lay people, who give of their possessions for the poor and for peace. The Community grew and now the membership is over 50,000 members. Among their accomplishments: they effected peace in Mozambique and now work in that country and others in Africa to counter the AIDS epidemic. In Roma they have a lunch counter for the poor right outside the Vatican Museum and they do many other works for poor families, the sick and maimed, and provide legal services for those who cannot afford them. In Texas they have made friends with many on Death Row in Livingston and provide them with legal aid, letters, and visitation. Dominican Sisters Web Site: http://www.op.org/houstonop Primary Contact(s): Sr. Ceil Roeger, O.P. Phone: 713.747.3310 Email: croeger@domhou.org Address: 6501 Almeda Road Houston, Texas 77021-2095 The Houston congregation of The Dominican Sisters currently numbers 140 religious women, approximately one-third of whom minister in education. Others serve in parish ministry, religious education, social services, campus ministry, counseling, port chaplaincy, medical, legal, family and women's services, ministry with the aging, music and art, a Guatemala mission, retreat work, community organizing and refugee assistance. Mission: Our mission as Dominicans is to proclaim the Gospel Word through preaching and teaching. This mission is central to our community, and ministries are continually adapted to the current needs of the Church. We, the Houston Dominican Sisters, publicly commit ourselves to study and address the crucial justice issues of our time. We assume the risks inherent in preaching and teaching the gospel. We will work to transform social structures, which oppress the powerless, ministering with them in our common struggle to remain faithful to the Word of God. Current Issues of Concern: Our congregation sponsors two high schools in Houston--Saint Agnes Academy and St. Pius X High School--as well as a Guatemala mission. One of the community's sponsored projects is the Dominican Sisters' Community Garden, which supplies food pantries in the area. Current Projects: Our congregation has an active Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation office whose staff research, educate, and advocate on behalf of the current justice issues (human and environmental). We do this in collaboration with other community groups. Group Email: houstonop@stpiusx.org Drug Policy Forum of Texas Web Site: http://www.dpft.org Primary Contact(s): Tammera Halphen Phone: 713.784.3196 Meetings: Meets irregularly – call 713-784-3196 for further information Fellowship of Reconciliation Web Site: http://www.forusa.org Primary Contact(s): Alfred Molison Phone: 713.726-9009 Email: alfredm123@hotmail.com Address: 1844 Kipling St. Houston TX 77098 Mission: The Fellowship of Reconciliation seeks to replace violence, war, racism, and economic injustice with committed nonviolence, peace and justice. We are an interfaith organization, committed to active nonviolence as a transforming way of life and as a means of radical change. We educate, train, build coalitions, and engage in nonviolent and compassionate actions locally, nationally, and globally. Current Issues of Concern: Peace and social justice issues in the U.S. and worldwide. Nuclear disarmament. Reduction of military spending. Human rights. Current Projects: Monthly meeting with speakers on a current issue involving peace/social justice. Ending the sanctions against Iraq. Supporting the struggle of the people of Chiapas. Aid to victims of the war in Bosnia. Meetings: Meets Irregularly. First Congregational Church: Board of Church in Society Web Site: http://www.fcc-houston.org Primary Contact(s): Jan Wilbur Email: JanWilbur@houston.rr.com The Board is one of five constitutionally defined boards of First Congregational United Church of Christ. It concerns itself with Christian principles and social issues in the fields of international, governmental, civic, economic, intercultural, family and school affairs. It promotes the consideration of such issues throughout the whole life of the congregation. It encourages the distribution and use of publications of the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness office and similar materials. It takes leadership in programs seeking Christian solution to human problems. First Unitarian Universalist Church,Community Involvement Committee Web Site: http://www.firstuu.org Primary Contact(s): Deborah Rothschild Email: rothschilddeb@yahoo.com Globalization Forum Primary Contact(s): Joan Denkler Phone: 713-467-2996 Email: jndenkler@sbcglobal.net Globalization Forum, through its documentary films or a prominent speaker, plus lively discussions, opens doors on international and domestic justice, trade, history, culture, economics and sustainable environmental issues. Globalization Working Group is our partner. We take action through Action Alerts and reminders at our meetings. Meetings: We meet at the Olive Branch room, the rear apartment of the Maryknoll House at 2360 Rice Blvd. near the Rice Stadium on the 3rd Wednesdays in the fall, winter and spring at 7:30 pm. Gray Panthers of Houston Primary Contact(s): Aimee Turney and Loretta Smith Phone: 713-729-3130 Email: aimee.turney@earthlink.com Address: 5619 Portal Drive Houston, TX 77096 Current Issues of Concern: Issues Involved With: Elderly Education and Advocacy on Legislation Health Care Houston Animal Rights Team Web Site: http://www.houstonanimalrights.com Primary Contact(s): Nathalie Skipworth or Alma Williams Phone: 832-858-0851 Email: houstonanimalrights@yahoo.com Houston Area Committee on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities Phone: 713.661.9889 Email: hacynmo@msn.com Address: 850 Jaquet Bellaire, TX 77401 Since 1994, the Houston Area Committee on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities has maintained literature racks in most HISD high school libraries and counseling offices, which give young people accurate information about alternatives to the military for money for college and job training, and about the realities of war and military enlistment. Mission: The group also produces and distributes an elementary school lesson book, “Resolving Conflicts Creatively,” which includes conflict resolution techniques, noncompetitive games and profiles of famous peacemakers. HACYNMO periodically tables at high schools and offers speakers for classroom and other presentations. HACYNMO offers draft and military enlistment counseling and refers inquiries to the following national hotlines: • GI Rights Hotline www.liberty.net 800-394-9544 • War Resisters League www.warresisters.org 877-269-0138 (toll-free) • Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors www.objector.org 888-236-CCCO (toll-free) • American Friends Service Committee, Youth and Militarism Program www.afsc.org 215-241-7176 Meetings: Houston Area Committee on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities meets quarterly (Feb., May, August, Nov.) usually the first Saturday, 2-4 pm at a members home. We are always looking for volunteers to adopt schools and monitor our literature racks there. We are also hoping to find ways to inform parents of incoming ninth graders about their option to “opt out” of the school’s release of their child’s student information to military recruiters. Houston Climate Protection Alliance Web Site: http://www.Houstonclimateprotection.org Primary Contact(s): Nan Hildreth and Louis. Smith Phone: 713-842-6643 Email: Nanhildreth@Riseup.net Houston Climate Protection Alliance connects folks concerned about catastrophic climate disruption so we can learn and act together. Houston Mennonite Church Web Site: http://www.houstonmennonite.org Primary Contact(s): Ana Rosa Craig Email: arcraig43@yahoo.com Houston Non-Violent Action/War Resisters Web Site: http://www.nonviolence.org/wrl Primary Contact(s): Bonnie Ross Phone: 713-526-1936 Email: bonso5591@earthlink.net Mission: HNVA works towards a nonviolent and therefore just world internationally, nationally, locally, and in our meetings. We therefore value equality, solidarity, and friendship among peoples, and work towards it both in principle and in practice. Houston Nonviolent Action (HNVA) is an affiliate of The War Resisters League (WRL). WRL "affirms that all war is a crime against humanity. We therefore are determined not to support any kind of war, international or civil, and to strive nonviolently for the removal of all causes of war." Because we are a WRL affiliate, HNVA as a group generally supports this proposition. HNVA has no staff or offices. Current Issues of Concern: Activist Youth. In recent years, we have focused on the development of activist youth. For several years, we sponsored "great movie" discussion groups for teenage Social Responsibility Groups at high schools. In more recent years, we have sponsored Youth Peace Activities--an all day training once a year for area youth activists that exposes them to interactive presentations with activists. HNVA is a support group for its members. All of us are active in other peace & justice organizations, so we keep each other up-to-date on these organizations, and on how people can help them. Counter recruitment. Several HNVA members have been involved in producing and distributing brochures put in area high schools. These focus on alternatives to military careers. Meetings: Meets monthly, 7 p.m. Potluck and general discussion, 8-10 p.m. meeting. Call or email for location and date. Houston Peace Forum Primary Contact(s): Pat Nichols Phone: 713.681.6267 Email: nicholspat@awesomenet.net Address: First Unitarian Church, Room 302 5200 Fannin St., Houston 77004-5899 Founded in 1985, the Peace Forum presents public programs on a wide range of peace and justice issues. Held on the second Thursday of the month, they feature speakers or audio-visual resources. A sampling of past programs: "The Drug Dilemma: War or Peace?", "The Crisis in Immigration Rights," and "The Impact of Sanctions on the Public Health of Iraq." Mission: To inform and educate the public on peace and justice issues, and to encourage local activity. Meetings: All programs are held the second Thursday of each month at the First Unitarian Church, Room 302, and begin at 7:30 p.m. KPFT Primary Contact(s): Ernesto Aguilars Lamp of Hope Primary Contact(s): Karen Sebung Phone: 281-808-6929 Email: ksebung@houston.rr.com The Lamp of Hope Project was founded by Texas Death Row prisoners. The non-profit organization’s goals include: • To educate the public about the death penalty and alternatives; • To support victims’ families by promoting healing and reconciliation; and • To support prisoners’ families, thereby breaking the cycle of violence. Live Oak Friends Meeting Web Site: http://friendshouston.org Primary Contact(s): Lidney Molnari Phone: 713-302-6799 Email: lidneymolnari@yahoo.com Mahatma Gandhi Library Web Site: http://www.mahatmagandhi.org Primary Contact(s): Atul Kothari Phone: 713-785-3900 Email: akothari@abkcpa.com Mamas Brigade Web Site: http://www.mamasbrigade.org Primary Contact(s): Rosa Guerrero Phone: 713-923-7501 Email: rosaguerrero@houston.rr.cm Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Web Site: http://home.maryknoll.org Primary Contact(s): Awanda Whitworth Phone: 713-529-1912 Email: mklawandaw@aol.com Address: 2360 Rice Blvd. Houston TX 77005 Since 1911, Catholics in the United States have responded to the worldwide cry of the poor by becoming Maryknoll Missioners. Today, Maryknollers help people overseas build communities of faith. Some work in war zones with refugees, others minister to the sick, the elderly, orphans or people with AIDS. Through lives of service, Maryknollers translate the gospel of love into different languages and in different cultures. Locally, Maryknoll is involved in peace and justice issues. Maryknoll also educates parishes and people who want to go on foreign mission. Military Families Speak Out – TX Chapter Web Site: http://www.mfsotx.org Primary Contact(s): Sherry Glover Phone: 713-472-3711 Email: Sherrymfsotx@gmail.com Address: 1431 Mayweather Ln Richmond, TX 77469 Military Families Speak Out is an organization of people opposed to the war in Iraq who have relatives or loved ones in the military. Our membership currently includes over 3,000 military families, with new families joining daily. MFSOTX members strive for a family atmosphere, and military families will find acceptance and others who are committed to helping with your problems and needs, regardless of what situation you may be in. We share a common vision with other military families across the nation who also experience the war with their ‘flesh’ in the game. In particular we feel it’s important to highlight the need to bring the troops home now. Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) Web Site: http://www.Pflaghouston.org Primary Contact(s): Sue Null Phone: 713-664-1083 Email: suenull@rice.edu PFLAG has three missions: Support, Education and Advocacy. Mission: Support: PFLAG works to keep families in loving relationships by helping them understand and support their gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered members. Education: PFLAG seeks to dispel myths and misinformation by working with educators, commuity and religious groups, the media and the general public. Advocacy: PFLAG works to broaden the base of support for equal human and civil rights by mobilizing supporters from all political, economic and social sectors of society. Speakers Bureau: Sue Null and Jim Null can speak on the mission of PFLAG, the need for nondiscriminatory policies dealing with GLBTs, marriage equality and related subjects. Pax Christi Web Site: http://www.paxchristitexas.net Primary Contact(s): Frank Skeith Phone: 281.955.0342 Email: fskeith@sbcglobal.net Pax Christi Houston is a chapter of Pax Christi Texas which is region of Pax Christi USA, the Catholic peace movement. Pax Christi strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of society. Pax Christi rejects war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for creation. Mission: Pax Christi USA commits itself to peace education and, with the help of its bishop members, promotes the gospel imperative of peacemaking as a priority in the Catholic church in the United States. Through the efforts of all its members and in cooperation with other groups, Pax Christi USA works toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Current Issues of Concern: Pax Christi USA is concerned with a broad range of peace and justice issues implied by U.S. foreign and military policy, including military intervention abroad, military spending, weapons trafficking, nuclear arms and inequities in the global economy. In Texas, there has been a special emphasis on ending the death penalty. Current Projects: Ending the war with Iraq and preventing future wars; closing the School of the Americas; abolishing the death penalty; economic justice for all; personal nonviolence; stopping torture; combatting racism. Meetings: Meets at 7pm on the 3rd Thursday of the month in the Olive Branch Meeting Room of the Maryknoll House, 2360 Rice Blvd. Contact: Dave Atwood. 832-693-5710. Read History of Pax Christi here. Peace Action, Greater Houston Chapter Web Site: http://www.peace-action.org Primary Contact(s): Herb Rothschild Phone: 713.861.2494 Email: HRothschild@uh.edu Address: 849 Harvard St. #C. Houston TX 77007-1644 This is the local chapter of Peace Action and its state affiliate, Peace Action-Texas. Peace Action is the result of the merger in 1988 of SANE (Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, founded in 1957) and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign. Peace Action is the nation's largest grassroots peace organization, with more than 100,000 members. Mission: To shape public policies promoting global nuclear disarmament, a demilitarized economy and a demilitarized foreign policy based on justice and human rights. In addition to advocacy, Peace Action's state and local groups promote non-violent conflict resolution and educate for peace. Current Issues of Concern: The military occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, continuing U.S. nuclear weapons development, nuclear proliferation, and a bloated military budget. We have a special and continuing interest in justice for East Timor. Current Projects: We are working collaboratively to end the military occupations, cut military spending, and fund human needs. Meetings: chapter is not meeting regularly at this time. Progressive Action Alliance Web Site: www.paa-tx.org Primary Contact(s): Bill Crosier Phone: 713-641-4941 Email: paa@crosierbiomed.com The Progressive Action Alliance is a group of progressives in the southeast Texas area who work together on issues of common interest, although we want to work with individuals and groups in other areas, too. We are Democrats, Greens, independents and others. We welcome all who want to work for peaceful, progressive change, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof. Many of us are also active in our political parties, but the PAA is issue-oriented, and we don't mind supporting or criticizing candidates and office holders of any political party when they deserve it. Sierra Club – Houston Branch Primary Contact(s): George W. Batten, Jr. Phone: 713-665-1505 Email: gbatten@neosoft.com Ten Thousand Villages Primary Contact(s): Judy Hoffhein Phone: 713-863-8708 Email: judithhoffhien@sbcglobal.net Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Web Site: http://www.tcadp.org Primary Contact(s): David Atwood Phone: 713-529-3826 Email: dpatwood@igc.org Address: 1802 Kipling St. Houston TX 77098 The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) is a statewide group of organizations and individuals who work for the abolition of the death penalty. It is affiliated with the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. It works to educate the public about the injustice and barbarity of the death penalty, support individuals on death row and their families, and stop executions. Membership is encouraged. Mission: We are universally opposed to capital punishment. It is especially wrong for a state or other governmental entity to take the life of a human being as a means of punishment. Capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime. In actuality, capital punishment perpetuates violence. Current Issues of Concern: Texas is executing prisoners at a faster clip than any other state. It is also executes prisoners who are rehabilitated and those who are seriously mentally ill, mentally, retarded, and were minors at the time of their crimes. The guilt of some of the condemned is questionable. There is also gross discrimination in the imposition of the death penalty based on jurisdiction (Harris County is an especially death-oriented county, accounting for a disproportionate number of inmates on death row.) and the race, gender, an economic class of both victim and accused. This discrimination is endemic to the entire administration of criminal justice. Current Projects: Short term, promotes a moratorium on executions and exclusion of people who are seriously mentally ill from the death penalty. Long term, promotes total abolition of the death penalty. Makes presentations at churches, schools and organizations about problems with the criminal justice system in Texas and the need to stop executions. Meetings: Meets 4th Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Olive Branch Room at the Maryknoll House, 2360 Rice Blvd. Contact: Dave Atwood. 713.529.3826. United Methodist Church: Peace With Justice Section, Board of Church in Society Phone: 281-479-0416 Email: houstonpeacewithjustice-hpjc@yahoo.com Address: 10375 New Wehdem Rd. Brenham, TX 77833 The 1992 General Conference of the United Methodist Church made Peace with Justice a special program under the General Board of Church and Society. Mission: To ground Christians in Biblical foundations for shalom. Inform the faithful about current social justice concerns. Create a climate of caring dialogue on complex issues. Activate believers to pursue justice in their homes, communities, nation and world. Explore alternatives to violence. Current Issues of Concern: Sweatshops and child labor abuse. Nuclear disarmament. Reduction of military spending. Current Projects: Promote "Abolition 2000" to abolition nuclear weapons. Promote "Jubilee 2000" to bring debt relief to poor nations. A speakers bureau called Voices of Biblical Faith and Justice. Offerings include "Why Churches Should Support Public Schools", Problem Solving and Non-violent Conflict Resolution, Responsible Consumerism, Living and Working in Diversity, and the workshop "The Growing Divide-Economic Disparity in the U.S." United Nations Association/USA Web Site: http://www.unahouston.org Primary Contact(s): Lloyd Jacobson Phone: 713-667-7044 Email: nonprofitleader@mac.com Address: 2700 Post Oak Blvd. Houston, TX 77056 Veterans for Peace Primary Contact(s): Jim Rine Phone: 281-414-1386 Email: sanjacsec@yahoo.com Women Against Global Trafficking Phone: 281-531-7560 Email: caretigermoon@hotmail.com Works to abolish the trafficking of human beings. Meetings: To be announced Women International League for Peace and Freedom Primary Contact(s): Lynn Furay Phone: 713.726.1266 Address: 9700 Glenfield Ct, Houston, TX 77096 WILPF was first organized in 1915 by an international group of women who opposed WWI. The first president was Jane Addams, who later became a Nobel Peace award winner for her work for peace. Since women did not have the right to vote in 1915, the women were also suffragettes. Mission: WILPF works to achieve, through peaceful means; world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, and an end to all forms of violence; and to establish those political, social and psychological conditions which can assure peace, freedom and justice for all. Current Issues of Concern: In August 2005, the U.S. section, at its triennial Congress, adopted the following: • “Women Challenge U.S. Policies: Building Peace with Justice in the Middle East.” And • “Save the Water” for special emphasis during the triennium, until 2008. The Houston branch has formed a Water Study Group and is the sponsor of the Houston Peace Camp, which it also founded.