SouthWest

VIP Triumphs in Restoring $6 Million in Services to City Budget

cgarcia — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:55:45 +0000

“Earlier this year, a faith-based political-action group began putting pressure on Phoenix officials to reinstate some services after noting there was no additional funding planned for after-school programs in the initial version of the city’s budget proposal.

The Valley Interfaith Project, comprised of 40 church, school and neighborhood groups, applauded the council and city officials for agreeing Wednesday to restore nine after-school programs, and to extend swimming pool and library hours….”

Phoenix Budget Reinstates 9 After-School Programs, The Republic

Austin Interfaith GOTV Efforts Yield Increases up to 131% in Traditionally Low Turnout Areas

cgarcia — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:38:57 +0000

“On April 29th, Austin Interfaith held the largest assembly in the city with 500+ organization members at Mount Olive Baptist Church; the church is located in Precinct 124 in East Austin. Early voter turnout increased by 65% compared to 2011 council election turnout and by 9:30pm Saturday night had recorded an 85% increase over final election day turnout from 2011. These increases in raw numbers of voters were the result of coordinated efforts by Austin Interfaith member congregations in East Austin. Efforts included pulpit announcements to vote in congregations, GOTV walks held by 24 leaders over two weekends and phone banking involving a team of 9 additional leaders from downtown congregations…”

[Photo: Austin Interfaith leader Ofelia Zapata on KXAN]

Increased Voter Turnout in Traditionally Low Voting Precincts, Austin Interfaith

Austin Interfaith Election Day Efforts, KXAN

EPISO Leverages Commitments from Candidates on Education, Immigration and Workforce Development

cgarcia — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:06:47 +0000

“About 450 people gathered Sunday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church to listen to candidates vying to represent Precincts 1 and 3 on County Commissioners Court, Districts 75 and 77 in the Texas House of Representatives, and the 16th and 23rd Congressional Districts in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The event was organized by El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization, a non-partisan group…”

[Photo: Mark Lambie, El Paso Times]

Election 2012: 450 Hear Candidates at El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization Session, El Paso Times

Working Together Jackson Launches House Meeting Campaign

cgarcia — Sun, 06 May 2012 21:51:45 +0000

“Jerry Jones wants a decent place to take his wife to eat where they live in south Jackson. Bill Osborne, a retiree, says abandoned homes are ruining Jackson neighborhoods and wants to work on revitalizing them. They were among small groups of 10 at a church in south Jackson last week where they were asked to name the one thing they’d be willing to do to improve Jackson….

Working Together Jackson, a new coalition of churches, non-profits and other institutions, plans to hold around a dozen more similar meetings at New Horizon over the next month…”

Diverse Coalition Steps Up: Group Has Worked More than Two Years To Prepare for Action, Clarion Ledger

COPS / Metro Alliance Highlights Impact of Anti-Immigrant Laws in Wake of US Supreme Court Hearings

cgarcia — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:37:52 +0000

“The archdiocesan Office of Life, Justice and Peace in partnership with Sacred Heart Church, Catholic Relief Services, Mexican American Catholic College and COPS / Metro, celebrated a Mass for Justice on April 25 renewing their commitment in raising awareness of the impact of Arizona immigration law SB1070….

After mass, Sacred Heart Parish sponsored an assembly on immigration to highlight the impact of anti-immigrant laws on families that create fear, vulnerable citizens and concerns of violations of human rights.”

Archdiocese Joins in Nationwide Prayer for Justice at Sacred Heart, Today’s Catholic

Northern AZ Interfaith Council Teaches Students to Organize

cgarcia — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:26:25 +0000

“CRAFTS at Northern Arizona University, developed in partnership with Northern Arizona Interfaith Council …trains hundreds of students in skills of cross-partisan broad-based community organizing that make their education far more relevant…” Building Democracy Colleges: A Different Kind of Politics, Huffington … Continue reading →

Austin Interfaith Leverages Commitments on Electricity & Incentive Deals

cgarcia — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:42:12 +0000

At an assembly with 504 Austin Interfaith delegates, candidates for City Council and Mayor committed to raising electricity rates no higher than 20% for congregations and to broaden assistance to people with limited incomes.

Candidates were also challenged about publicly funded incentives, as Austin has been the center of high-profile incentive deals in recent years. Austin Interfaith got all candidates to commit to setting a wage standard for permanent (and construction) workers ranging between $11-20 per hour. Candidates also agreed to a community study and dialogue with Austin Interfaith to determine what constitutes a living wage in Austin.

Candidates for Sheriff and US Congress also committed to working with the organization.

Early Voting Begins in Municipal Races, KXAN

Together Baton Rouge Wins Historic $17M Transit Election

cgarcia — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:48:17 +0000

Triumph of a proposition for funding public transit follows a 15-month constituency building campaign that brought together diverse institutions from across the city. Local leaders focused on neighborhood issues and organized a 1,000 person assembly to launch a month long effort to Get Out the Vote.

In photo, Diana Dorroh and Deborah Quinn of Together Baton Rouge team up Saturday morning to walk Baton Rouge neighborhoods and encourage voters to cast their ballot in support of CATS. [Photo Credit: Libby Isenhower, The Advocate]

One month ago, more than one thousand institutional leaders from across the city convened at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church with a plan to pass a ballot initiative. This plan relied on thousands of conversations — in congregations, at parks, in neighborhoods — to convince voters to pass a property tax increase to dramatically overhaul the city’s bus system to reduce waiting times and provide better service. The property tax will raise sufficient funds to expand and improve the Capital Area Transit System, and bring about greater accountability and oversight.

New Force in Community Shows Strength, The Advocate (05/03)

CATS Tax a Victory for Together BR, The Advocate (4/30)

BR, Baker Pass CATS Tax, The Advocate (4/23)

CATS Faces Culture Shift, The Advocate (4/23)

Click here for additional background on Together Baton Rouge’s constituency building campaign.

Project IOWA Antidote to Critical Skilled Worker Shortage

cgarcia — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:02:01 +0000

“Project IOWA is a faith-based initiative in Des Moines that provides worker training….’The workers know this is their best chance at changing their lives, and they’re giving it their all,’ said Fugenschuh…”

Des Moines Area Community College welding student Jason Gregory, right, works with instructor Jeff Pratt. Gregory is part of Project Iowa, which was founded by AMOS and helps workers get the training they need to find jobs.

[Photo Credit: David Purdy, The Register]

Job Training Programs Available, Des Moines Register

Iowa Sees Shortage of Skilled Workers, Des Moines Register

Pima County Interfaith Council Key Part of Sanctuary History

cgarcia — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:48:48 +0000

“Casa San Juan was started in 2002 by the Diocese of Tucson, at the request of leaders and members of the St. John the Evangelical Catholic Church.

One of its founders, the Rev. Raul Trevizo, said the center was started in a joint effort with the Pima County Interfaith Council, an organization of churches in the area…”

[Photo: Diana Martinez, Cronkite News Service]

Tucsonans Have Long History of Offering Sanctuary, Tucson Sentinel