This piece originally appeared in The Hill, published December 17, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. at http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/227476-a-new-found-hope-for-the-cuban-people. President Obama is to be strongly commended for the breakthrough effort to restore U.S. diplomatic ties with Cuba. It is a bold but necessary move and one that, based on my experience talking with members of Congress and the administration, many have long supported …

Photos available for press usage at: http://tiny.cc/McConnell-Sanctuary Clergy and family members from Sanctuary congregations are available for interviews in Washington, D.C. through Thursday midday. WASHINGTON – As House Republicans vote overwhelmingly to deport immigrant families, clergy and family members of those living in sanctuary held a prayer vigil on Wednesday in the office of incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. …

The worldwide issues of mass incarceration, exploitation and forced labor will be addressed at the 13th Annual National Gathering of Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice, to be held April 17-20, 2015, in Washington, D.C. More than 1,000 Christian advocates are expected to meet under the theme “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation.” Their goal: …

TOMS RIVER, N.J. – A mid-November forum for leaders of New Jersey long-term recovery groups provided an opportunity for Church World Service to check in with them on how far their Superstorm Sandy recovery has come in the state – and how far it has to go. These community-based groups have helped hundreds of Sandy-affected households access the resources they …

Thousands of householders in Southeastern Michigan still need help following last August’s devastating flooding.  About one in five of them is a senior citizen. An estimated 900 households still need volunteers to muck out their basements, and that’s just the first step in the long-term recovery process.  After the muck-out there will certainly be a need for mold remediation, replacement …

Editor’s note:  Sue Marticek, Executive Director of the Ocean County Long-Term Recovery Group, says that just as Church World Service and other national partners have provided the LTRGs with options, knowledge and tools to apply to their local context, LTRGs in turn provide options, knowledge and tools to help their clients make the best decisions about their recovery. The Ocean …

Last Wednesday, CWS celebrated another year of working toward a more just world for refugees and immigrants by honoring three recipients with the John Backer Champion 4 Change Award. Among the recipients was United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, a long-time advocate for immigrant rights. While Bishop Carcaño was unable to attend the Benefit 4 Change in person, she recorded …

“We never needed help before.  We didn’t know where to turn for help.” Volunteers heard that a lot recently as they delivered CWS Kits and Blankets to survivors of destructive flooding in hard-to-reach rural areas of Floyd County, Ky. Many residents said they had never been flooded before heavy rains in late summer caused flash flooding and overflowing creeks.  Many …

As communities along the U.S. East Coast mark the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Church World Service continues to support the long-term recovery. Currently CWS is preparing a major presentation to a Nov. 13 forum for an expected 50 to 60 leaders from 14 long-term recovery groups for counties and cities across New Jersey.  The event will be held in …

Can a CWS Kit really make a difference in the wake of an overwhelming loss? Washitha Hunter, survivor of a recent catastrophic fire in her Chicago apartment complex, answered that question with a resounding “Yes!” Hunter, her husband, Anthony Barr, their two teen-aged children and 10-month-old grandson made it out of their apartment unharmed, but four neighbor children perished in …