170 leaders pack the LSA Community Leaders 
Briefing Day at the White House
Lutheran health and human service colleagues from across the country gathered at the White House on October 28 for the White House Community Leaders Briefing for Lutheran Services in America (LSA). Jill Schumann's reflections are on the White House blog. LSA gathered for the day one of the most diverse and largest groups for this series of community leader conversations:
Throughout the day, participants heard from a wide range of Administration officials, many of whom also took questions and agreed to follow up with more information. Speakers included Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, OMB Director Jack Lew, and President Obama’s Chief of Staff Bill Daley. Afternoon breakout sessions included speakers from the Administration on Aging (AoA), the 
Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and the Administration on Children and Families (ACF).
The Community Leaders Briefing was an important chance to show the Obama Administration the vast reach of Lutheran health and human service organizations. White House officials told us this was the largest and most geographically diverse Community Leaders Briefing yet -- something of which LSA organizations can be proud. Participating in the day were a wide range of those from LSA organizations:
- Board and staff leaders from Lutheran health and human service organizations providing services in 44 states and DC, including two colleagues from Alaska.
- Leaders from regional and national offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) as well as area pastors, a group of young adults from the Metro DC Synod of the ELCA, and people serving in the Lutheran Volunteer Corps.
Also attending were:
- Leaders from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran World Relief, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and the Lutheran Theological Seminaries at Gettysburg and Philadelphia.
- Colleagues from the National Roundtable of Faith-Based Health and Human Service Organizations.
Last Friday’s event was just the beginning of a conversation LSA wants to have with you about the possibilities of our shared advocacy and policy work. Even if you did not join us in DC, we want you as part of the conversation. We would love to gather LSA members interested in policy and advocacy on a conference call to explore ideas for the future. To learn more, contact Bob Francis, 202-626-7932.
