In the months leading up to the 2015 New South Wales election, Sydney Alliance engaged 2,500 leaders from across the state through table talks and regional assemblies. Leaders urged candidates for public office to commit to investing in three areas: transportation, affordable housing and "working start" (apprenticeships and training for disadvantaged young people). Sydney Alliance was so successful, major parties adopted their platform on affordable housing, including crucial minor parties in the NSW upper house. Click on photo for video.

Midway through a multi-year civic education campaign concerning public school funding, Yuma County Interfaith leaders supported passage of a $21 Million infrastructure bond for Yuma School District One in an election that succeeded by 1,500 votes. Leaders are continuing the education push through civic academies in surrounding school districts - including sessions with administrative personnel, staff, principals and parents.

When a healthcare program for undocumented children they had created was threatened by Santa Cruz County budget cuts, COPA leaders did not stand idly by. They quickly mobilized supporters from Catholic, Jewish, Methodist and other nonprofit partners to persuade the Board of Supervisors and healthcare provides to fund the effort. And they succeeded.

United Way of Santa Cruz County recognized the organization's efforts (and its collaboration with Community Foundation and 1st 5 nonprofits) with an "Advocacy Award" for COPA leadership (pictured above).

Following up on fall training offered to members of OTOC, the Institute for Public Leadership of Omaha expanded its offerings this year to include civic academies that deal specifically with the interests of refugee women. Women from Burundi, Myanmar, Congo and South Sudan gathered for four sessions that covered local governance in America and how school districts work. Says Ndaizeye Immaculee: "By coming to Refugee Women Leadership I learned how the levels of government work in Omaha and Nebraska...."

In one instance, conversation in the civic academy revealed that immigrant women are often not covered by their husband's health insurance policy (nor by CHIP which covers their children) and thus do not have access to affordable care. Subsequent sessions have been scheduled through the Spring to cover areas like healthcare access, domestic violence, housing and consumer credit.

When Valley Interfaith leader Monse Martinez (in photo, upper left)

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Leaders from across Louisiana assembled to learn about their state's $1.6 billion budget deficit, the lack of access to fresh food experienced by over 1 million Louisianans, and how to organize effectively in their local communities for maximum state impact. Elected officials in attendance, including Agricultural Commissioner Mike Strain (R) and Democrats from North & Southern Louisiana agreed to work with Together Louisiana to address the budget and food access.

When the Baton Rouge Mid City General Hospital announced plans to close their ER, Together Baton Rouge leaders swung into action. 50 leaders gathered at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center with a letter to the CEO requesting assistance; they argue that the planned closures will result in increased death rates overall. Leaders are also challenging the Louisiana Governor and Baton Rouge General to create a solution.

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Mississippi was one of only three states in the country without a housing trust fund. 'Working Together Jackson' changed that.

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Leaders of 'Nevadans for the Common Good' were among the heavy-weights listed as supporters of a proposed tax plan that would generate $430 million for Nevada public schools over the next two years. At a press conference the morning of Governor Sandoval's presentation of the proposal, NCG leader Rev. Dr. Marta Poling-Goldenne called this "a historic opportunity to improve our public schools and invest in our children."

One week prior, 'Nevadans for the Common Good' met with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas; both organizations voted to support the business license proposal. LVGEA cited a study it had commissioned on the impact of the business license fee proposal, which concluded that the "negligible negative impact" in Southern Nevada would be far outweighed by the benefits of improved public schools.

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On Monday at 8am, faith leaders across Texas arrived at the Capitol to fight Senate Bill 185, which would outlaw sanctuary cities in Texas and threaten local efforts to build better relationships between police and communities. Sponsored by State Senator Charles Perry, from Lubbock, the bill would prohibit cities from forbidding police to enforce immigration laws.

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