An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research project
of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State University of New York.

New! Government and Faith Leaders Encourage Extended Service
in King's Memory

With the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination approaching, religious leaders and
government officials this year called for the civil rights champion's legacy to be remembered well beyond
the celebration of his birthday on January 21. Each January, public and private officials recognize Martin
Luther King Jr.'s birthday with memorial services and volunteer programs. This year, they also called for
sustained discussions and continued activism to fight racism, promote non-violence and carry out King's
message of social justice beyond this week.

On Monday, Catholic Charities USA - a religious agency that provides a vast array of services to the poor -
marked Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day by holding a morning mass in Detroit followed by a press conference
to release a 28-page report calling for a renewed commitment to address problems of racism and poverty that
it says betrays the nation's ideals of liberty, economic security, and justice. Meanwhile, the Corporation for
National and Community Service, a federal agency charged by Congress to promote volunteer service,
announced it was partnering with private non-profit organizations, including religious groups, to support a new
initiative that extends 40 days beyond MLK Day to promote King's message of non-violence.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community
Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through programs
administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Justice and
the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs may require specific technical expertise,
or experience with particular foreign countries.

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy promotes informed debate on the issue of publicly funded faith-based social service. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Roundtable provides independent, non-partisan research on the scope and scale of faith-based social services, their effectiveness, how public resources are being used in providing such services, and the legal and regulatory issues involved. The Roundtable's comprehensive web site makes this research and related information easily available. It can be accessed by clicking here:

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