Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People

06/04/2026

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Save the date! The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People is excited to announce the return of its "The Struggle is Real" webinar series this September.

Join us on the first Thursday of each month from September through November to engage with experts, make connections, and foster awareness on issues surrounding affordability. We will feature partners and specialists who will offer resources, guidance, and support as you navigate your next steps.

Stay tuned for more information!

06/01/2026

Grants are available for Community Grassroots Groups!
Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People
If you want to learn more, attend a FREE Community Grant Workshop on Friday, July 24, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Eastern Time at YA-YA-Network. Address: 135 W 36th St. PH, New York, NY 10018.
Light refreshments will be served, don't miss it!
To register: [email protected] (Please indicate your name, organization & number of people in your party)

Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Offerings Presbytery of New York City Alonzo Johnson Margaret Mwale Clara Nunez Teresa Bidart Julia Hill Rachel Sawan White

05/28/2026

Below earlier today with Presbyterian Hunger Program colleagues & their Advisory Committee Members on a visit to the Common Earth Gardens Incubator Farm.

The network of community-led gardens empowers families in working towards food security & to supplement their income from selling some of their produce. In 2025 SDOP awarded a similar type group La Minga Community Farm a grant. Its member growers cultivate 7 acres & equally share in the labor and harvest.

05/18/2026

Thanks to a team of PCUSA colleagues & community partners, the screening of the documentary “Evicting the American Dream” a joint project of Counter Stories Productions & Presbyterian Disaster Assistance & the follow up panel discussion last Thursday went great! Panelists included Clare Wallace & Jonet Wright both from South Louisville Community Ministries, George Wallace from Coalition for the Homeless and Heather Ford from Americana World Community Center. Rev. Dr. Angela Johnson pastor of Smoketown’s Grace Presbyterian Church moderated the panel. Kudos to all involved in helping make this event a success including St. John Vianney Catholic Church who hosted the event. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance; Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Alonzo Johnson; Nina Demers; Clara Nunez; Teresa Bidart; Mark Davis; Delores Adams; Americana Community Center, Inc.; Mid-Kentucky Presbytery;

05/08/2026

You're invited to a free screening of "Evicting the American Dream" on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 7:00pm in Louisville, KY.

"Evicting the American Dream," a documentary produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Counter Stories Productions, amplifies the voices and stories of children and families confronting eviction and homelessness. Through additional interviews with pediatric psychologists, social workers, tenant rights organizations, housing authority officials, and eviction lawyers, this film explores the root causes and systemic issues that perpetuate this epidemic.

The screening will include a panel discussion and light refreshments will be served.

Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04frGmK0

04/22/2026

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You're invited to a free screening of "Evicting the American Dream" on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 7:00pm in Louisville, KY.

"Evicting the American Dream," a documentary produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Counter Stories Productions, amplifies the voices and stories of children and families confronting eviction and homelessness. Through additional interviews with pediatric psychologists, social workers, tenant rights organizations, housing authority officials, and eviction lawyers, this film explores the root causes and systemic issues that perpetuate this epidemic.

The screening will include a panel discussion and light refreshments will be served.

Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04d4Swq0

03/13/2026

As our time as part of the Presbyterian delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women begins to wind down, we had opportunity to break bread together today with the NY City Presbytery Transitional Presbyter Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern Williams and the presbytery’s Self Development of People Committee. Alonzo Johnson; Nina Demers; Clara Nunez; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Offerings; Teresa Bidart; Dave Brown; Sharon L. Ware; Presbytery of Chicago; Presbytery of Philadelphia; Presbytery of the James; Carolyn Grice; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Special Offerings: Promoting Presbyterian Mission Together; Presbytery of Ny City

03/12/2026

The Presbyterian delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women today hosted an event titled “Solidarity & Visioning in Times of Trepidation & Lament”. As part of the closing, I shared how PCUSA through Self-Development of People continues to actively work to ensure & strengthen access to justice for all women & girls by forming grant partnerships with grassroots groups such as the Damayan Immigrant group. The group works with trafficked women. This video

shares more about Damayan’s work told through the personal experience of one of its members Sherile. Alonzo Johnson; Nina Demers; Clara Nunez; Teresa Bidart; Dave Brown; Sharon L. Ware; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Offerings; Presbytery of Philadelphia; Presbytery of Chicago; Presbytery of the James; Mark Davis; Phyllis Edwards; @

“Sherile” is a 16-minute short film detailing the story of Sherile Pahagas, a Damayan member and labor trafficking survivor, trafficked by her German diploma...

03/08/2026

The Presbyterian delegation to this year’s UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) held its orientation at Church of the Covenant.
Picture: Rev. CeCe Armstrong Co-Moderator of the 226 General Assembly, Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern Williams Transitional Presbyter of NY City, Carolyn Grice, Vice Chair SDOP National Committee, Margaret Mwale and Clara Nunez.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Offerings

03/07/2026

Earlier today, Lopa Banerjee Director of the Civil Society Division, UN Women spoke to us at the Ecumenical Women orientation about some of the critical issues facing women & girls. With this year’s priority theme for the UN Commission on the Status of Women centered on ensuring & strengthening access to justice for all women & girls, Lopa reminded us that access to justice can be a transformative force. She talked about ways we can work with communities, families, & women on how we address the injustice impacting women & girls. Alonzo Johnson; Clara Nunez; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Offerings; Teresa Bidart; Dave Brown; Presbytery of Philadelphia; Nina Demers; Carolyn Grice; Presbytery of the James; Sharon L. Ware; Mark Davis; Presbytery of Chicago; Special Offerings: Promoting Presbyterian Mission Together; Phyllis Edwards; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.);