2007 News

June - Wichita, KS chapter started - MESJ in the Heartland
Richard Lange began a MESJ chapter in Wichita, with a special interest in our deeply broken prison system and with new ideas for restorative justice and reconciliation. A promising chapter with a promising theme that will no doubt resonate throughout the general membership of MESJ.

June 14 - Washington DC - a New Chapter for MESJ.
On June 14th, 2007, sixteen people attended the first meeting of the Washington DC Chapter of MESJ held near DuPont circle in the heart of our Nation's Capital. The group discussed the history of the organization, the unique role of MESJ in Washington, and possible initiatives for the group to undertake. In a discussion of issues important to group members, poverty, homelessness, politics, the environment, healthcare, and equality topped the list.

May 16 - Reorganization of the Utah County Chapter
Jason Brown and Elisa Bushman, as new chapter contact persons, reorganized the Utah County chapter, bringing together many of those that were involved with the organization of the BYU Alternative Commencement 2007.
The chapter decided to devote several saturdays over the next few months to raising residential recycling from around 10% to 50%, going door to door, missionary style, to raise awareness of the economic and ecological benefits of recyling. Chapter members will be distributing flyers door to door.

May - BYU Alternative Commencement
BYU students, faculty, alumni, and friends determined to make their voices count, were marching to an alternative commencement following the official graduation ceremony where vice-president Dick Cheney was an invited guest and speaker.
MESJ members were actively supporting the events and were instrumental in bringing many organizing individuals together in the Utah County chapter of MESJ.

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March 1 - Promoting Sojourners Magazine
As of March 2007, MESJ on her homepage, started promoting the highly succesfull social justice magazine 'Sojourners, with the standard text:

Latter Day Saints and Evangelicals are on a spiritual journey, well beyond an Evening of Friendship, embracing each other and those of other faith traditions. MESJ introduces Sojourners as an excellent source of information for progressive Latter Day Saints and reports each month on the latest edition of Sojourners Magazine.