This summer, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed a memorial acknowledging the church’s role in the history of Indian Boarding Schools. For over 150 years, these schools separated Native children from their families, suppressed their languages and cultures, and inflicted lasting harm. Many were run by religious organizations, including ELCA predecessor denominations.

The ELCA’s first step is raising awareness. On September 30, the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools, we invite you to:

• Wear orange in solidarity
• Mark the day in worship
• Learn more through the ELCA’s Truth Seeking and Truth Telling Initiative

Here in Nevada, we honor the Indigenous peoples whose land we live on. The Stewart Indian School in Carson City stands as a reminder of this painful history. We encourage Lutherans across Nevada to visit the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum as part of this day of remembrance.

📖 Learn more: elca.org/IndianBoardingSchools

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it will no longer publish its annual Household Food Security Survey, a critical tool for tracking how many Americans struggle to access food. The USDA defended the decision by labeling the survey “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous.”

This decision comes at a time when hunger and food insecurity are deepening nationwide and in Nevada:

• In 2023, 15.1% of Nevadans—nearly half a million residents—faced food insecurity.
• Of those, 38% did not qualify for SNAP assistance, creating a “missing middle” of households who cannot afford groceries but are excluded from federal supports.
• Rural counties like Esmeralda, Nye, and Mineral report food insecurity rates around 20%, far above the state average.
• In Clark County, home to most of the state’s population, about 15% of households face food insecurity, concentrated in underserved communities.

A new report from the Guinn Center highlights Nevada’s structural challenges: the state lacks a central authority on food insecurity and is overly reliant on federal dollars and federal data. With the USDA cutting off this vital source of information, Nevada’s ability to respond to the growing hunger crisis will be severely hampered.

Starting September 27th Our Center will host quarterly gender-affirming voice workshops. Work with a professional vocal coach to develop your voice in a way that feels authentically you!

If you’ve ever witnessed a public confrontation, you may have felt a jolt, followed by the internal question: “Should I do something?” Or perhaps you’ve heard about something your congregation was showing up for and thought, “There might be trouble.”

Though situations like these can be tense, uncomfortable and stressful, we can think through our actions ahead of time—and our faith can guide our response.

Read about it in The Living Lutheran.

The Nevada Housing Justice Alliance (NHJA) is a coalition of grassroots organizers and community advocates who work with Nevada tenants to develop solutions and advocate for community investments that solve the root causes of housing insecurity.

Renters and community members passionate about housing justice are invited to a Know Your Rights training on Rental Fee Transparency and Habitability issues. Come learn about new rights renters have in our state and how to navigate the process of holding your landlord accountable to repair issues that affect your health and safety.

https://www.nvhousingjustice.org/

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