800 Metropolitan Vancouver Alliance (MVA) delegates assembled to challenge Mayoral candidates for Vancouver with a multi-pronged agenda. All four candidates, including the incumbent, endorsed the proposals on social isolation, transit, poverty, and protections for apartment renters.

The Vancouver Courier reported that "in what so far has been a lacklustre election campaign, the Metro Vancouver Alliance gave the civic race a lively boost..."

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Over 150 leaders from Northern & Central Louisiana Interfaith assembled with three candidates for US Congressional District 5 including Republican incumbent Vance McAllister, Dr. Ralph Abraham and Mayor Jamie Mayo. Leaders succeeded in leveraging bipartisan agreement to work with the organization to:

- Expand Medicaid in Louisiana;

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Hundreds of TMO leaders packed into Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to tell officials that De Zavala Elementary School students deserve to be protected from packs of stray dogs roaming the campus. 300 leaders explained that the issue emerged in a 'house meeting' campaign in which small groups of people gathered to share their concerns.

Multiple residents told stories about family members getting bitten by dogs on the streets; stories of increased crime were shared as well. TMO convened the assembly to engage their City Councilmember Robert Gallegos and State Senator Sylvia Garcia on these issues.

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Healthcare Enrollment (2013)

IAF organizations in Texas did the hard work of educating leaders and corralling public entities to develop local healthcare enrollment plans:

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Fairfax became the first municipality in Marin to commit to providing funding for the expansion of the REST winter homeless shelter program into a year-round project, thanks to intervention from the Marin Organizing Committee. The Town Council voted unanimously to approve a request for $16,392, as part of a regional proposal put forth by MOC leaders.

At its 'Housing Sabbath' MOC gave a standing ovation to the Fairfax Council and announced plans to step up the fight for year-round emergency housing. In addition to targeting nine other cities, including San Anselmo, Tiburon and Novato, leaders aim to persuade Marin County to put in $500,000 and the Marin Community Foundation to put in $250,000. Congregations plan to step up their in-kind contributions of food and shelter as well.

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Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good leaders packed an assembly to hear stories from people impacted by Oregon's driver's license laws shared their stories and to advocate for Measure 88 on Oregon's November ballot, which would allow undocumented immigrants to drive after fulfilling all other requirements.

Catholic Archbishop Alexander Sample urged leaders to "get their elevator speech ready" in order to educate as many voters as possible about the measure. The political director for Governor Kitzhaber and former Hillsboro police chief Ron Louie also spoke in support of the measure.

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Doña Francisca's death by car, the 4th accident in front of the Sherwood Village senior living facility, brought clarity to members of Aging Latinos in Action. Without a stop sign, seniors were left vulnerable to rushing and inattentive drivers. ALA reached out to COPA for training, then conducted their own research actions and meetings with sitting Council members to secure a crosswalk in front of their living facility. In photo, ALA leaders process down their newly installed crosswalk.

Said leader Fermin Gonzalez, "We're not part of history...we're making history!"

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Building on a public conversation about juvenile criminal justice, initiated last year by AMOS, almost 800 people gathered at Iowa Events Center to hear the latest findings on the developing brains of children and youth.

Dr. Dipesh Navsaria explained that when young children are routinely stressed, such as in cases of abuse, "their systems bombard them with 'flight or flight' hormones", the overproduction of which can stunt their ability to control their emotions or even learn.

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About 350 Sydney Alliance leaders packed an assembly hall in Sutherland-St George to challenge NSW Minister of Transport Gladys Berejiklian, local MPs and candidates for state office. Affordable housing, homelessness and cheaper fares to the airport were key issues at the inaugural "Leading From the South," assembly.

The Minister of Transport was asked to respond to challenges that emerged from conversations with local residents including a timeline for the delivery of train station accessibility upgrades and a reduction of train fares for workers commuting in the airport precinct. Ideas to address the affordability crisis were also presented, including a shared equity housing scheme.

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340 PCIC leaders packed the hall of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Tucson for an "Education Accountability" session with 30 member institutions in attendance. Candidates for State Representative, Pima Community College Board, and Arizona Attorney General publicly responded to PCIC concerns around DACA, foreclosures, JobPath workforce development, and overall funding for public education.

Tucson Weekly reports on Fr. Tom Tureman's "barn burner" speech denouncing the educational system failure in Arizona: "Teachers are our first responders, but instead of supporting them, we revile them...." 'elect people who ignore education and spend their energy shouting about immigration and taxes.' More below.

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