J-POG to host speaker

The United Nations hears voices from around the world. Vanessa Hershberger was one of these voices. She recently completed a term as program associate with Mennonite Central Committee?s (MCC) United Nations office. Hershberger focused on advocacy related to Haiti, food justice and the African Great Lakes region.

J-POG, Just Peace Outreach Group, welcomes Hershberger this coming Sunday, Jan. 11, to speak on her experiences.She  is a graduate of Goshen College with a degree in peace, justice, and conflict studies. She will soon be leaving for Congo to work as MCC?s Eastern Congo coordinator.

Hershberger was MCC?s primary representative on the NGO Working Group on Food and Hunger. She spoke on behalf of the Working Group at the U.N. for the International Day of Rural Women.

Hershberger co-authored "Haiti doesn?t need another occupation" for Mennonite World Review. The article points out that the ?machine gun-toting troops and roving armed vehicles run counter to Haiti?s true needs: the construction of durable and decentralized housing, community?based economic development, and water and sanitation infrastructure improvements.?

Join J-POG and Vanessa Hershberger at Wellman Mennonite Church, located at 1215 8th Ave., Wellman. Arrive at 6 p.m. for informal discussion and a finger-foods potluck (please bring your own table service). Hershberger?s presentation will begin at 7 p.m.

For more information call Roger Farmer at 319-653-2547 or e-mail Jane Yoder-Short at wilmajane17@gmail.com.