IFCO – Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization * 212-926-5757 * www.ifconews.org * ifco@igc.org

Dear Caravan Hosts,

Many, many thanks to all of you for the part you played in our successful 22nd Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba!!!  Without your organizing and support this act of solidarity and love would not be possible.

This year we once again broke through the immoral, illegal, and unjust US blockade agains Cuba, delivering 7 buses, a car, and four 20-ft containters of humanitarian aid, adding up to well over 100 tons.  We also took over 100 people from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe to see Cuba for themselves – and enjoyed an enriching, exciting, dynamic, and informative program.  One of the highlights included a memorial to our founder, Rev. Lucius Walker Jr., in which the Caravan gathered alongside Cuban religious leaders and members of the revolutionary Cuban leadership for a program of music and reflection.

But it is clear that the blockade is not yet over and our work must increase!  Now is the time to build for the 23rd Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba!

Report Backs!  This year’s caravanistas are eager to do report backs wherever they can.  If your group would like to organize a report back event but don’t have any local caravanista, please let us know and we will put you in touch with the nearest person.  And tell us if it is a public event so we can post it on our website.

Fundraisers.  Invite an IFCO speaker to your community and organize and event with your house of worship, school, union, or organization.  As well as continuing to share information and creating conscience, the proceeds of the event can go towards the work of IFCO and building next year’s caravan.

Campaign Materials.  At your caravan event we had many Cuba/caravan resources that IFCO stocks.  If there was something you wanted but didn’t get a the time, get in contact with us.

We will be sending you email updates about issues and actions that we can work on together – for example, actions for the Cuban Five, against the US blockade on Cuba as well as speaking events.  We also encourage you to check our website www.pastorsforpeace.org regularly.  It will be frequently updated with new information and resources – about the Latin American School of Medicine, the Cuban Five, the Blockade, and other IFCO projects.

Thanks again for making this 22nd caravan to Cuba a successful one.  In solidarity with the Cuban people, we will end this blockade!

Sincerely,

Gail Walker

Fr. Luis Barrios

Co-Executive Directors

On behalf of everyone at IFCO/Pastors for Peace