Published: July 19, 2008 09:52 am         

Speaker to discuss peace and democracy

GAYLORD -- The Diocese of Gaylord Secretariat for Justice and Peace is offering a workshop, "Saving Democracy: Voting for the Common Good." The program will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary Cathedral Parish Hall in Gaylord and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at St. Francis Parish in Traverse City.

The presenter will be Sister Simone Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby. She is a religious leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In Washington, she lobbies on issues of peace building and economic justice. Around the country, she is a noted speaker and educator on public policy issues.

Simone discusses ways to face any despair in the country and world and to find hope that leads to the appropriate positive role for government and individuals. She will share her stories and poetry from Washington, D.C., the Middle East and around the United States, providing a new perspective that can offer renewed energy for the election process, and also for the post-election world.

The workshops are open to anyone.