Updates

JEREMIAH WRIGHT SPEAKER AT MICAH 25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Pastor Emeritus at Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago will be featured speaker at MICAH’s 25th anniversary gala, Friday, May 17, 6:00 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres reception at 5:15 p.m. The gala affair will take place at 1451 Renaissance Place, 1451 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee.

MICAH (Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope) will present the annual “To Do What is Just” award to an elected leader in the Milwaukee area, who has worked with MICAH to bring about important changes in Milwaukee County. In addition, the “Distinguished Leadership Award” will be presented to two MICAH leaders who have consistently worked with other members of a MICAH task force to address issues of poverty and joblessness in Milwaukee’s central city.

Known for his fiery, life-related, justice orientated sermons, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, during his long pastorate at Trinity UCC, developed many ministries that addressed the needs of youth, young adults, and families throughout Chicago. He built the congregation into the largest congregation of the United Church of Christ denomination. Rev. Wright is in high demand as a preacher and as a speaker on justice issues, especially in the area of public school education.

“As MICAH celebrates 25 years of continuing to do what is just,” Stated Rev. Willie Brisco, current president of MICAH, “ We are thankful to God for many past blessings-many faithful leaders, victories large and small, generous supporters, justice-minded congregations-but, above all we are looking forward to opportunities to be undertaken in the years ahead. We see the poverty, the mass incarceration, the high school dropout rate, the joblessness, the broken immigration policy. But we also see the possibilities, with commitment and hard work on the part of trained leaders, and with the blessing of God, to bring about the justice and the beloved community that God intends for all of us.

Starting with seven congregations in 1988, with Rev. James Leary, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, as the first president, MICAH has grown to include 40 congregations from 12 faith traditions, including Jewish, Islamic, Christian, and Unitarian.

One of the first major successful campaigns was the banking campaign in which 17 lending institutions agreed to loan over $500 million to first – time home buyers purchasing homes in an area that had previously been red – lined against home loans.

A current major campaign of MICAH is the expansion of Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) programs building on the TAD legislation that MICAH worked to get in 2005. The TAD expansion campaign is being waged in collaboration with the 10 other WISDOM affiliates in Wisconsin in an effort to reduce Wisconsin prison population to 11,000 by 2015 (11×15), for safer and healthier communities.

Tickets for the Anniversary Gala are available; please contact Sharon McMurray at 414–264–0805 or sharon@micahempowers.org.

The new 2013–14 Silver Anniversary yearbook will be available to each gala participant at the time of the celebration.

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Conference on Stigma of Mental Illness

Join us for the The Stigma of Mental Illness in the African-American Community: “Removing the Stigma and Mask of Shame 2013 Conference” on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm at the Milwaukee Area Technical College 1015 North 6th Street (M605- 6th Floor of the Main Building) Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223.

At this important conference you will have the opportunity to meet and hear from other Mental Health Care leaders from around Milwaukee who are also seeking to improve the health of our Mental Health affected communities. Please register today by filling out the enclosed registration document.

The African- American community within the city of Milwaukee as well as nationally has had a long history of feeling stigmatize because of mental illness. As a result of this, feelings of shame being seen as “crazy” has caused many individuals and families to be reluctant to access services or admit there is a problem of mental illness within their families and community.

The excellent work and continuing efforts of many Mental Health Care individuals and groups across the state have resulted in added infrastructure that allows us to more fully develop a common vision for those who people who are faced with mental health illness in Wisconsin.

Conference registration will begin at 9:00 AM and there will be a chance to network and have coffee.

There is no registration fee for the Conference and is open to ALL professionals as well as constituents/community members of the Greater Milwaukee Area.

This conference is made possible in part by: The Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation: Lisa A Cudahy Community Health Grant. For any questions regarding the conference logistics please contact VIA-Email Sheila7@att.net and she will answer all of your questions in a timely manner. Please email your completed registration forms to Sheila7@att.net or you may fax them to 414–263–2270

We very much look forward to greeting you on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Warm regards,

CEO & Founder: Mark S. Fossie
Director of Operations & Co-Founder: Sheila Fossie

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MICAH’s 25th Anniversary Gala

MICAH Celebrates 25 years of continuing to do what is just!

Friday, May 17, 2013 1451 Renaissance Place located at 1451 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee

Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Pastor Emeritus of Trinity UCC, Chicago, Illinois

A Hors d’oeuvres reception will be at 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Celebration and Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets go on sale April 1, 2013 Cost is $50.00 per person

For more information please contact Sharon@micahempowers.org 414–264–0805

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Great Opportunity for Middle and High School Teens

ARE YOU…

• A middle or high school student looking for a unique summer internship with an opportunity to live and study on a college campus?
• A high school student looking to improve your resume for college?
• A teacher looking for opportunities to expand your students’ view of agriculture?
• A parent looking for learning opportunities for your teen?

Look no further…

WHAT IS AGDISCOVERY?
AgDiscovery is an outreach program to help teenagers learn about careers in plant and animal science, wildlife management, and agribusiness. The program allows students to live on a college campus and learn about agriculture from university professors, scientists, and administrative professionals who work for the U.S. Government in a variety of fields. This 2- to 4-week summer boarding program for 2013 targets middle and high school students who are interested in learning more about plants, animals, and agribusiness.

Please note the deadline for applications is March 23, 2013.
To receive an application(s) and brochure for this great program opportunity, please stop by the church office or contact Montez Ashley by email @ mashley@fs.fed.us

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MICAH’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform

MICAH For a Humane Comprehensive Immigration Reform

MICAH welcomes the determination of President Obama and the effort of a bipartisan group of US senators to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

This reform must be humane and just not only for immigrants but for all citizens.

MICAH demands a path to citizenship for eleven million undocumented immigrants

• so that their families can be reunited,

• so that they work following the rules and benefiting from their rights as anyone else,

• so that their children have access to our modern world higher education,

• so that US security become more efficient in focusing on real criminals and making the borders safer places for all.

• so that they openly and freely build relationships with all, being able to share the richness of their cultures and traditions.

WHY is MICAH demanding a Humane Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

• Because we, MICAH, are diverse faith communities ignited by one Spirit: one religion without borders.

• Because we, MICAH, seek to build one Milwaukee. We all are sisters and brothers.

• Because we, MICAH, are one family from many cultures and traditions.

• Because we, MICAH, do what is just, in solidarity with everybody’s human and civil rights.

• Because we, MICAH, strive for the common good. We join hands, minds, skills, and sweat with all.

• Because we, MICAH, embrace hope against all odds.

What is MICAH going to DO?

1. Build relationships.
   • Promote the Hands Across the Viaduct project.

   • Join efforts with networks at local, state, and national levels, in particular with Voces de la Frontera and WISDOM.

2. Inform
   • Offer a workshop on immigration reform within the context of the current employment situation.

   • Develop an immigration educational packet for MICAH congregations.

   • Engage young people in the discussion and dissemination of immigration issues and actions.

3. Engage in Action Campaigns
   • Promote the Washington DC April 10 march for comprehensive immigration reform.

   • Invite people to participate in the Milwaukee May 1 march organized by Voces de la Frontera.

   • Train congregations to make visits to US senators and congressmen from Wisconsin to demand comprehensive immigration reform.

For information contact MICAH Immigration Task Force co-chairs

Paco Martorell pacomartorell2000@yahoo.com (414–607–8771) or (414–241–4894)

Lucy Friedrichs lnfriedrichs@wi.rr.com ( 414–355–6367) or (414–305–7961)

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Mural Project

Are you an artist?

Do you want your art­work pub­licly dis­played for every­body to see?

Join us for a 1-day mural project!

Your work will be per­ma­nently dis­played on the out­side wall of the Peace Action Center.

Sat­ur­day, Feb. 23, 12:00–4:00 pm

Peace Action (1001 E. Keefe Ave.)

Reg­is­tra­tion is Free — lunch included.

To reg­is­ter, please call 414–964–5158.

Ques­tion? Email info@peaceactionwi.org or call 414–964–5158.

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Protecting Children from Gun Violence - Faith Community Resources

The Children’s Defense Fund is partnering with a wide spectrum of faith communities to protect children from gun violence. During the weekend of January 18 – 20, we are encouraged to focus in our prayers, service, education programs, and advocacy activities on ending gun violence and keeping children safe.

Please visit their website for Faith Community Resources that will help you plan activities for this coming weekend or a later time, including:

• A menu of suggested activities from which to select or to serve as inspiration for your own ideas
• Educational materials to share with your members and incorporate into teachings
• A reproducible bulletin insert for your service
• Prayers that may be used in many worship contexts
• Sermon notes based on the designated texts for the weekend in the Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionaries. The Torah portion for January 19th, Bo, also lends itself to sermons on the topic.
• Outreach materials, including a sample Op-Ed and Letter to the Editor.

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Black Church Week of Prayer 2013

Dear Faith Leader/Community Partner:

From March 3rd −9th, 2013thousands churches across our nation will use the power of the Black pulpit to educate their communities about HIV/AIDS and to heal hearts and minds of denial, silence and the stigma that continues to block effective interventions for the prevention, treatment, and testing of HIV in the Black communities.

The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is a week of education and awareness that spotlights the role that churches play in addressing the AIDS crisis. It is modeled after the groundbreaking Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS established in 1989 by Pernessa C. Seele, Founder/CEO of Balm in Gilead. Now in its 24thyear, it is the largest AIDS awareness program in America targeting the Black community.

On Friday, March 1st 2013 the Black Health Coalition in collaboration with Faith Church Milwaukee will hold a kick - off event to start the week of activities.The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS will also be conducted at churches in Beloit, Madison, Racine and Kenosha. Remember no activity is too grand or small. Here is a list of suggestions on how you or your church can participate:

• Sermon/Prayer on HIV/AIDS on March 3rd , 2013

• Members of your church attend kick-off event on Friday March 1st, 2013

• Offer Prayer for those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS during the week of March 3rd −9th, 2013

• Distribute educational literature at your church

• Related ideas from your congregation…

Join us as we pray for the healing of all who are infected and affected by HIV. Please take time each day for remembrance and hope during the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS beginning March 3rd - March 9th, 2013.

You may reach me at the info below.

humbly,

Jim Addison, Coordinator
African American HIV/AIDS Program
Black Health Coalition of WI, Inc
3020 West Vliet Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414)933–0064 (414)933–0084 (fax)
www.bhcw.org

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Upcoming Events in the Community

Monday, December 10. AFL-CIO invite you to join them around the state as they participate in a Candlelight Campaign Against Cuts to lobby our Congressperson to do what is right for the American people during the lame duck congressional session.
MILWAUKEE: 10:00 a.m. carnation vigil at Sen. Kohl’s office, 310 W. Wisconsin Ave. Followed by a march to Sen. Johnson’s office.

Tuesday, December 11. Discovery World Holiday Open House: An opportunity to showcase their educational programs in action and to thank our community partners.
LOCATION: 500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
Times: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Tour and light snacks – 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Tour, lunch and brief presentation.
RSVP Carolyn Swabek at 414–765–8776 or cswabek@discoveryworld.org

Friday, December 14. AFL-CIO Holiday Open House
Location: Yatchak Hall, 633 South Hawley Road, Milwaukee
Time: 12 noon until 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 15. Bullying-Real Stories Through Student’s Eyes
Location: North Division High School, 1011 West Center Street, Room 335, Milwaukee.
Time: Registration 8:30 a.m., Session promptly begins at 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Free: Breakfast will be provided RSVP by December 10 with Monica Dickerson-Gordon at dickermd@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or 414- 773- 9824 or Pat Kirby at kirbypm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 414–773–9827
NOTE: Childcare provided for children 2–12 years of age. Spanish and Hmong Interpreters will be available upon request. Sponsors are DPI/MPS/MICAH/Safe Schools Healthy Students.

Saturday, December 15. A Posada Celebration: In solidarity with migrants. 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Gather at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1236 S. Layton Blvd. 4:00 p.m. sharp: Procession to Nativity Jesuit Middle School, 1515 S. 29th Street
All are WELCOME! Collaboration with Milwaukee New Sanctuary Movement, Voces de la Frontera, MICAH, Gesu Parish, Nativity Jesuit Middle School and Ascension Lutheran Church.

Sunday, December 30. Milwaukee Lights A Candle For Change: Candle Light Vigil for 2012 Homicide Victims—
Location: Ascension Lutheran Church, 1236 S. Layton Blvd, Milwaukee
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
Sponsor: Northcott Neighborhood House, Inc.

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MICAH’s 2013 Annual Prayer Breakfast and MLK Celebration

Theme: “Any time is the right time to do the right thing.” MLK

Please join us for our annual celebration on Saturday, January 12, 2013- 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

Bayshore Lutheran Church 1200 East Hampton Rd., Whitefish Bay, WI.

Rev. Norene Smith, Host Pastor

KEYNOTE Speaker: Rev. Louis E. Sibley III, Past President and 1 of 7 Founding Pastors of MICAH

Tickets are $20.00 in advance Doors open at 7:30 a.m.

Rev. Willie E. Brisco, President

Sharon McMurray
Office and Program Coordinator
sharon@micahempowers.org
414.264.0805 office
414.374.8841 ext. 36 desk

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A Posada Celebration “ In solidarity with migrants”

Saturday, December 15, 2012 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Instructions:
Gather at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1236 S. Layton Blvd. (4:00 p.m.)
Procession to Nativity Jesuit Middle School, 1515 S. 29th St.

This Posada is a collaboration of :

Milwaukee New Sanctuary Movement
Voces de la Frontera
MICAH (Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope)
Gesu Parish
Nativity Jesuit Middle School
Ascension Lutheran Church

Any questions or need more information please see attached or Paco can be reached pacomartorell2000@yahoo.com

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White house inauguration

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Employment education workshop

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MICAH Receives 2012 Best of Milwaukee Award

Milwaukee Award Program Honors the Achievement

MILWAUKEE November 7, 2012 — MICAH has been selected for the 2012 Best of Milwaukee Award in the Social Service Organizations category by the Milwaukee Award Program.

Each year, the Milwaukee Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Milwaukee area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2012 Milwaukee Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Milwaukee Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Milwaukee Award Program

The Milwaukee Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Milwaukee area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Milwaukee Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Milwaukee Award Program

CONTACT:
Milwaukee Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org
URL: http://www.awardprogram.org

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Urban Ministries and Arts… Enriching Lives through Congregation, Classroom, and Community Collaboration

On Wednesday, November 7, 2012 6:00 p.m. Cardinal Stritch , 6801 N. Yates Rd. President Brisco will participate in the Brother Booker Ashe November 2012 Program

Topic: Urban Ministries and Arts… Enriching Lives through Congregation, Classroom, and Community Collaboration
Purpose: Examine the efforts of various local urban ministry programs to build community through the arts from a faith-based perspective.

This event is scheduled 6–9:00 p.m. Rev. Brisco will open and close.

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REMINDER: 5 VERY IMPORTANT Upcoming Events….FINAL PUSH

Hello All:
Just sending a friendly reminder of the upcoming events that are going to be coming up over the next week.

1. Monday, November 5, 2012 - GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY, Hosted by MICAH.

Providence Baptist Church, 3865 N. 82nd Street, Milwaukee. Rev. Joe Games, Pastor
Doors Open at 5:00 p.m.
Press Conference 5:30 p.m.
Program begins at 6:00 p.m.

2. Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - Breakfast and Prayer Service, Hosted by MICAH.

Bethesda Baptist Church, 2909 N. 20th Street, Milwaukee. Rev. Robert Sims, Pastor
Doors open and breakfast is served at 6:00 a.m.
Service begins at 6:30 a.m.

3. Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - Volunteering for GET OUT THE VOTE shifts, Hosted by the African-American Roundtable

Urban Underground, 4850 W. Fond Du Lac Ave, Milwaukee
9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Come out and volunteer for the final day of getting the vote out.
(Opportunities to give rides to the polls, phone bank, canvass, and enter data)

4. Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - Election Night Party, Hosted by the African-American Roundtable and Wisconsin Jobs Now!

Comfort Zone Entertainment Lounge, 5526 W. Fond Du Lac Ave, Milwaukee

8:01 p.m. - Midnight
FREE FOOD, Cash Bar

5. Thursday, November 8, 2012 - MOVING FORWARD —Rally and Organizing Meeting,

Hosted by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable,Wisconsin Jobs Now, AFT Local 212, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, AFT Wisconsin, SEIU, MTEA, UnitedSteelworkers of America, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Voces de la Frontera, SEIU Local 150, All Black Everything (ABE), ATU Local 998, The Transit Riders Union, The League of Young Voters Education Fund, 9to5 Milwaukee, Urban Underground, True Skool, Reproductive Justice Coalition, MICAH,

NAACP Milwaukee Chapter, Afro World Enterprises, and the Center for Progressive Leadership.

Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vilet Street, Milwaukee

Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

On November 8, we’ll have a newly elected president and US Senator. But before their new terms start, current members of Congress head back Washington for few weeks of business before the end of the year. Some are determined to use this “lame-duck session” to slash benefits regular Americans depend on. They’re planning cuts to Social Security benefits, raising the retirement age for Social Security and Medicare, and cuts to Medicaid benefits just so they can give massive tax breaks to the richest 2% of Americans. We don’t have much time to fight back. We must mobilize now to make sure Congress knows that we won’t stand for more devastating cuts to our community

Join us as we plan our strategy to stop them before they slash again.

—

Sincerely, Mike Wilder
African-American Voter Engagement Table Director
Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund
414–339–3290

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MICAH AODA Treatment Task Force Action Alert: November 1, 2012

TO: ALL MICAH LEADERS & SUPPORTERS

FROM: Joseph Ellwanger & MICAH AODA Treatment Task Force

This is an action alert to MICAH leaders, asking you to contact your County Supervisor with the following message:

“ When the County Board finalizes the 2013 County budget on Monday, November 5, please support Supervisor Nikiya Harris’s amendment to move the administration of the House of Corrections from the Sheriff and assign it to a superintendent who would be accountable to the County Executive and the County Board of Supervisors.”

The main reason for making this bold move is because the current Sheriff has gutted the programs that would enable persons sentenced to the House of Corrections to get the help they need (AODA treatment, mental health care, job readiness, job placement, vocational training, library resources, etc.), to make a positive return to family and community. In addition, the Sheriff has reduced the number of persons on electronic monitoring and persons assigned to the Day Report Center by about 70 per cent. Supervisor Harris’s proposed amendment would make it possible for persons sentenced to the House of Corrections to get the help they need.

Supervisor Harris’s amendment was passed by the Finance Committee on a 5–4 vote on yesterday (October 31), but later in the session Supervisor Romo West reversed her original vote, and the committee rejected Harris’s amendment by a 5–4 vote. Now Supervisor Harris can bring up her amendment on November 5, at 8:30 a.m. Board meeting, but she needs to know that she has 10 votes.

Attached is the list of Supervisors. Please call your Supervisor by Friday of this week, November 2, 2012.

If you have any questions or to report how your supervisor responded to your request, please contact;
Sr. Rose Stietz, 263.4482 or 372.0356
Joseph Ellwanger, 736.2480

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GOTV Rally

Monday, November 5, 2012 Press Conference at City Hall - Rev. Brisco will be one of the speakers on behalf of MICAH and our nonpartisan efforts. 10:00 a.m.

Monday, November 5, 2012 Press Conference at Providence 3865 N. 82nd Street at 5:30 p.m. MICAH’s GOTV Rally at 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 Brother Booker Ashe Fall Event – 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Cardinal Stritch University Kliebban Conference Center

Purpose: Examining the efforts of urban ministry and arts

President Brisco will be speaking and participating on panel.

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Scam Alert

Good Afternoon,

We’ve received two reports of a new scam taking place right now in the Milwaukee area. The victim is called and told that Social Security is going to give them a new card. They are asked for their bank account number so Social Security can take money from their bank account to pay for the card. In both of these reported instances, the senior was willing to give this information over the phone. In one case, a Senior Companion intervened after her client had given the information. The client’s bank has been notified. In the other incident a West Central Interfaith staff member who was visiting a client intervened before the scammer got another bank account number.

Both of these incidents took place today in the West Allis area, but may going on elsewhere as well.

Please be aware that this is taking place.

Bill Meunier
SDC Senior Companion Program
(414) 906–2781

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MICAH Updates Archive

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