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Dallas Area Interfaith Calls on Hospital District to Fix Crisis
Dallas Area Interfaith Calls on Parkland's Board, UTSW to Fix the Site, Dallas Morning News
1,180 Leaders Launch VOICE in Oklahoma City
On February 12th, almost 1,200 leaders from 23 institutions and 8 denominations gathered to launch VOICE: Voices Organized in Civic Engagement. Dr. George Young, pastor of Holy Temple Baptist Church asked, "Who will speak for me? ...Do you hear the rumbling?...Do you hear the roar?...I add my voice to the roar: VOICE!"
Read moreAlbuquerque Interfaith Gears Up for Legislative Fight
After helping fend off Gov. Martinez's efforts to rescind drivers' licenses for undocumented immigrants last fall, Albuquerque Interfaith leaders are gearing up to fight it for the third time. To this end, they organized two actions with over 350 leaders, including a day long legislative training session. Sixteen institutions committed to meet consistently with legislators during the 20 day session. Leaders will also ask legislators to invest part of New Mexico's $12B Permanent Land Grant Fund into schools and early childhood education.
Valley Interfaith Convenes 2nd Interfaith Immigration Conference
"About 60 clergy leaders from the Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist churches took part in Valley Interfaith's second annual conference to promote immigration reform and educate religious leaders about its issues. The convocation follows Valley Interfaith's October 2010 event where church leaders unveiled what they believed should be principles of immigration reform, such as upholding family unity, providing legal avenues for migrant workers and creating a path toward citizenship.
But Thursday's convocation was highlighted by the personal stories of immigrants cornered by the nation's laws..."
Read morePCIC Negotiates Local Lending for Tucson Energy Program
Last summer, Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC) leaders learned that local residents would be required to use an out-of-state bank for loans under Tucson Electric Power's 2011 Energy Efficiency Proposal. Knowing this would create a stumbling block for individuals, and knowing Tucson's local economy would benefit from local financing, PCIC requested that the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) require a local bank. ACC staff agreed to make this recommendation—IF—PCIC could find a local lender. PCIC leaders met with many bank and credit union officers.
Result: an innovative agreement between Tucson Electric Power and Vantage West Credit Union for loans to local ratepayers.
Austin Interfaith Fights Energy Rate Hike on Churches & Poor
"Church leaders are banding together to fight a proposed Austin Energy rate increase that they say will hurt their ability to help the poor in the community.
Thursday morning, Austin Interfaith gathered and spoke during public comments to let the city council know they oppose the increase. 'This could affect the community of faith's ability to do the ministries they need to do,' said Pastor Fred Krebs of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in East Austin."
NCLISC Raises $300K for Training in Louisiana Delta
The Northern & Central Louisiana Interfaith Sponsoring Committee leveraged an additional $300 thousand in order to expand workforce development project New Opportunities, Vision, Achievement (NOVA) into three rural regions of the Louisiana Delta. $150 thousand came from the federally established Delta Regional Authority and required approval from Republican Governor Jindal. Another $150 thousand came from a private foundation. NOVA enrollees typically start out earning below minimum wage; graduates earn more than double that within one year of completion.
Together Baton Rouge Fights for Better Public Transit
"Perhaps because it was held in a church, or because so many clergy and faithful were in the hall, a recent Together Baton Rouge luncheon saw at least a minor miracle: Political leaders were made to pay attention to the concerns of poor people.
Read morePomona Leaders Deliver 2,700 New Letters to City Hall
"Residents living near the proposed site of the transfer station and leaders of the Pomona Valley cluster of One LA, gathered the letters that call for City Council members to refrain from scheduling an appeal hearing for the proposed project....
Among those in the group who delivered the letters was Anselmo Olmos, a retired construction worker who lives about a block away from the site of the proposed transfer station...Among Olmos' concerns is the impact of the proposed project on the health of a 2-year-old grandson who is a heart transplant recipient living near the site...Olmos spent much of November and December talking with residents on neighborhood streets asking they sign the letters that were delivered to City Hall. 'I spoke with mothers, and the majority said their children have asthma,' Olmos said.
The majority of residents and business people he approached signed letters."
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