By Rita McInerney

Catholics in the archdiocese of Atlanta will demonstrate their convictions on social justice Nov. 24 when the annual collection for the Campaign for Human Development is held in churches and missions throughout North Georgia.

The campaign’s importance in carrying out the church’s teachings during this 100th anniversary year of Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on social justice issues, was cited at a recent awards ceremony in Chicago by Cardinal Joseph R. Bernardin.

“With its three-fold mission of empowering the poor, educating people about poverty and justice issues, and building solidarity between the poor and non-poor, CHD has become an integral part of the Church’s response to some of the most pressing social and economic problems facing our society,” the cardinal said.

The Campaign for Human Development, begun 20 years ago by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. Catholic Conference, in 1991 will award grants totaling more than $7.1 million to 210 community-based self-help projects.

In the past 20 years, more than $150 million has been given to nearly 3,000 projects by CHD, widely regarded as the Church’s anti-poverty program.

In the Atlanta archdiocese five groups working to improve the quality of life for diverse groups in the community have received local grants for 1991-92 year from the local phase of the Campaign for Human Development.

Awards range from $3,000 to $4,000 for a total of $17,808 and were made possible through last year’s CHD collection of $71,232. One quarter of the amount collected is allotted within the local diocese. The remainder is sent to the national CHD office for national grants.

An Atlanta based program also received a national CHD grant this year.

After reviewing 417 proposals submitted, the national advisory committee recommended funding for a project submitted by the archdiocese of Atlanta. A national grant of $30,000 was awarded to 9 to 5 Southeast Region, National Organization of Working Women, for one-year funding of a three-year project, “Organizing for Policy Change: Clericals and the New Work-force.” The organization of office workers, many in low paying jobs, advocates for family and medical leave, child care and civil rights.

The Southeast regional office of 9 to 5 through the project hopes to expand the multi-racial movement of low-income working women through the Southeast and help them develop leadership and organizing skills they can use in demanding fair employment conditions.

Groups seeking local grants from CHD are asked to contact Mrs. Pam Buckmaster, diocesan director, at Catholic Social Services before Jan. 15, 1992.

The following local groups were allocated CHD funds this year.

Project Open Hand in Atlanta received $3,600 to assist in the preparation and home delivery of freshly cooked daily meals to people with AIDS. About 270 people are receiving nourishing meals along with compassion and encouragement provided by the people involved.

The grant will enable Project Open Hand to purchase food and containers for one year for two additional persons suffering with AIDS. The organization is the first and only such groups providing this service in Atlanta.

Trinity Community Ministries, Inc. received $3,000 for operating expenses at Trinity House, a transitional program assisting homeless men. The goal at Trinity is to help them overcome the problems leading to their homelessness and to prepare them, over a four to six-month period, for independent living.

Men in the program are given a safe place to live, treatment support for alcohol and drug abusers, job counseling and training, and a supportive community which offers supervision and discipline.

Prison Ministries with Women (PMW) received a grant of $3,208. PMW helps prepare women to re-enter society after their release from prison. A new job training program, Project EMPOWER, will train the women in general office technology to equip them with such marketable job skills as typing, word processing, basic accounting, business English and math. Office space will be converted into a center for the eight computers needed in the program.

The CHD grant will be used for initial start-up costs and program services for Project EMPOWER. By giving former prisoners the advantages of such job skills it is expected they will gain financial stability and a positive support system.

Capitol Area Ministries received a $4,000 grant for its teen program with residents of the Capitol Homes Community. “A Different Approach” provides teens from 13 to 18 a chance to be involved with wholesome, positive activities. This year the program is expanding with a teen job program, a Saturday Academy offering math and reading tutoring, and SAT preparation.

The teen program meets twice each week and the ongoing program includes emphasis on goal setting, post-secondary training options and career development.

A scholarship fund is available for graduating seniors. At present two teen members are recipients of partial scholarships.

Southeastern Reinvestment Ventures, Inc., has received a grant for $4,000. This is a non-profit revolving loan fund established to provide a source of low interest, short-term capital to community based organizations. It helps such groups to manage capital for development projects.

SERV assists in identifying potential loan applicants, conducting seminars in churches, neighborhoods, civic groups and other forums.