Seventeen people from the Bay Area Jewish community are planning to join dozens of other activists from around the country next week to lobby Congress on behalf of women, girls and LGBT people worldwide.
The lobbying effort is part of American Jewish World Service’s annual policy summit and lobby day, a three-day gathering starting Sunday, May 11. More than 130 activists are expecting to join the group in asking Congress to do all it can to end violence against women, girls and LGBT people.
Among the scheduled Bay Area participants are Rabbi Marvin Goodman, executive director of the Northern California Board of Rabbis and rabbi-in-residence of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation; Lauren Greenberg of Oakland, coordinator of the Teen Outreach Program for the JCC of San Francisco; San Francisco attorney Leah Price; and educational consultant Ellen Greenblatt of Berkeley.
AJWS is a Jewish organization committed to international development and human rights. The gathering in Washington is part of AJWS’ national advocacy campaign, “We Believe,” which aims to help end violence against women and girls, stop hate crimes against LGBT people and empower girls to end child marriage. The lobbying day on Tuesday, May 13, will include visits to more than 50 Capitol Hill offices, according to an AJWS press release.