Protecting and Expanding Democracy in New York
Protecting and Expanding Democracy in New York: How to Faithfully Engage in a Time of Threat and Opportunity
Democracy is under threat in the United States. In addition to the troubling rise of authoritarian Christian nationalism, the influence of corporate donors and lobbyists continues to distort our elections and politics. But as has always been the case, democracy can be protected and expanded when people of conscience take action together. On Sept. 24 Rev. West McNeill will lead a presentation and conversation about the state of democracy in New York and how we can take action at the local and state level to strengthen it, opening up political possibilities for greater justice and equity throughout our state.
BIO:Rev. West McNeill (they/them) is the Executive Director of Labor-Religion Coalition and former co-chair of the NYS Poor People’s Campaign, where they continue to serve on the Coordinating Committee. They are ordained in the United Church of Christ and have over a decade of experience organizing with community, faith, and labor organizations. They are a graduate of the Union Leadership Institute of the NYS AFL-CIO and Cornell and hold an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where they were a Fellow with the Kairos Center for Rights, Religions and Social Justice. Prior to joining LRC, West served as a parish minister in Tacoma, WA. They have a B.A. in journalism from Ithaca College.
