JOAN ORSO LEGACY

We're reminded this season of the many ways we can all give.  As a life-long Christian educator and wife of a Lutheran Bishop, Joan Orso has been an integral part of numerous communities. Joan and Paul moved to Augsburg Lutheran Village in 2002 where they formed strong community ties which continued until her passing on April 2, 2022. Joan left a legacy gift to Lutheran Volunteer Corps, one of the many communities Joan supported, and we're thankful for this blessing. You can read more about Joan in the obituary provided by her family HERE.

LUNCHTIME CHURCH ZOOMS: for donor churches, and churches considering support

JOIN our Zoom for churches in November for program updates, and to learn how your church can adopt LVC as your community mission for next year's May 2023 hike-a-thon. (Luther Place, founded LVC over 40 years ago and is still a support congregation.)

• Zoom for donor churches (churches already supporting LVC financially): Wednesday, November 16 at 1:00pm (eastern). Register HERE.
• Zoom for interested churches: Wednesday, November 16 at 12:00pm (eastern). Register HERE.

A GIFT TO YOURSELF: Public Service Loan Forgiveness

This is a final reminder for you, your program staff, corps members, and recent alums with federal student loans to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)! Today is the last day to take advantage of the recent flexibilities, including counting your service term and other forbearance and deferment periods towards the 10 year PSLF requirement. The process requires two simple steps: first, complete the PSLF Help Tool on the Dept. of Education’s website, and second, consolidate your loans if necessary. These flexibilities expire on Monday, October 31, so apply today!

GIVING TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 29TH

Last year we raised three times as much as the year before on Giving Tuesday.  Let's do that again, and more. Look for LVC activity on social media; and our alerts to remind you of the day to make a special gift. 

SAVE THE DATE: 2023 HIKE-A-THON NATIONWIDE

Does it seem like we just hiked? Great! Let's do it again for the second annual hike the weekend of May 19-21, 2023. Save the date.

SIMUNYE, BON, and WINONA HOUSES

This year's Volunteers are practicing how LVC community has no boundaries. Simunye in Baltimore took a trip to visit Bon House in DC in October; and Winona House Volunteers in Twin Cities have been invited to join Our Saviour's church for retreat weekend in November. As a support congregation, Our Saviour's is pulling together a program of activities for our two Twin Cities Volunteers for their spiritual exploration, demonstrating how engagement, outside of LVC programming, can add to the LVC experience.

WILMINGTON EXPLORATION UNDERWAY

Several Wilmington alumni and supporters had a first meeting with LVC to consider the many trends impacting LVC's program nationwide. Supporters will consider Wilmington's ability to confront those same trends and the feasibility of creating a viable program in the region. Wilmington supporters can join the next "future exploration" with LVC on December 6 at 7:00pm and sign-up HERE. 

SUPREME COURT ACTION THIS WEEK

Two anti-affirmative action cases — SFFA v. Harvard University and SFFA v. University of North Carolina — will be heard in oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court on Monday, October 31st. 

The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) describes what's at stake: "Forty years of legal precedent in support of college admissions policies that allow a limited consideration of race as one factor of many in a holistic, individualized process could be upended by a Court that has already overturned Roe. Data from the trials and from states with bans on race-conscious admissions indicates that a nationwide affirmative action ban could lead to large drops in Black, Latinx, and Native American enrollment at selective private and public colleges and universities."

You can listen to the oral arguments live stream here.

AAPF invites supporters to change your profile pic on social media to this graphic to show support.

ICWA

As we close out Indigenous Peoples Month, we're watching an Act passed in 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which protects Native children by keeping them connected to their families. Read about what's at stake for the November 9 Supreme Court hearings related to ICWA. And also consider an alternative perspective on why, as we seek ways to repair past harm and genocide, our new practice of land acknowledgement is not enough.

NEEDED: ADVOCATES FOR $10/MO

Want to help LVC sign up alumni donors for the $10/mo campaign? Like reaching out to ask people to support your favorite charity during the giving season? Let us know, and we'll put you to work. Never been a donor? Join now at just $10 a month to start advocating where you are.

NEEDED: TWIN CITIES ALUMNI TO HOST VOLUNTEER GET TOGETHERS

Alumni that can host our two Twin Cities Volunteers for a meal, a sporting event (park, ice skating...), a get together with other young alumni, a meal you cook for them at their house, pizza and conversation you deliver, etc., please let us know so we can help coordinate.

NEEDED: PROGRAM DAY SPEAKERS

Let us know if you can present or have a conversation with this year's Volunteers on a topic below:

December -- mental health, resilience, intersection with service

January -- women's rights after Roe v. Wade

February -- health disparities and race

March -- law, legal, intersection with racial justice

April -- restorative justice

May -- immigration

June -- LGBTQIA+ "don't say gay" and justice

July -- end of year reflections on service and community

NEEDED: RENTER FOR DC HOUSE 

IT'S STILL AVAILABLE. LVC has a $2900/month, 4BR/2BA 1620sf house in Washington, DC at 1323 Staples St NE 20002, that we will not be able to rent for the last year of our two-year lease. View pictures and details HERE, and contact Deirdre Bagley if interested.