Leaders from the Worker's Defense Project, a member institution of Austin Interfaith, successfully lobbied city council members to pass a resolution that will protect and train workers on all city-owned construction sites, whether or not a third-party is the developer. Until now, city contracts did not require safety trainings where third parties developed city-owned property. The resolution also requires that a safety supervisor with 30 hours of training be present at construction sites.

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"Since the beginning of this year, parishioners at St. Madeleine Church in Pomona have worked with fellow members of the community-based One L.A. to oppose the proposed Ninth Street Pomona Valley Waste Transfer Station. On Aug. 13, about 50 people,” comprised primarily of St. Madeline parishioners along with representatives from other local Christian churches and the Association of Pomona Teachers, "hit the sidewalks to rally support for their cause..."

St. Madeleine Rallies Against Pomona Waste Transfer Station, The Tidings: Southern California's Catholic Weekly

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AMOS recently pushed through state legislation to increase funding for workforce development. Pathways to College Education (PACE) provides community college funding for people who are low income, cannot qualify for Pell grants and are interested in pursuing careers in Iowa where there's a shortage of workers (i.e. welders, machinists, tool and die makers, CNA's, etc.). PACE has passed the House and Senate and is awaiting signature from the Governor. The bill would provide $5 million for the state's community colleges.

Leaders from The Border Organization demanded that the Commissioner's Court reestablish the public defender's office for the County. Marta Iza Gonzalez-Stitts (pictured right) spoke for the organization.

Local Organization Seeks Action on Public Defender's Office, Del Rio News Herald

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"Jeremiah Group, which pushed the state to dedicate the money for the new program out of the failed Road Home rental recovery program, deserves credit for ...pushing the administration to deliver on the idea."

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New Priest Adjusting to San Luis, The Yuma Sun

Institutional leaders from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the Worker's Defense Project and the University Methodist Church weigh in on the Texas miracle and its effects on Austin residents.

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Chaplain Dan Olivieri and lay leader Mary Littel Walsh presented the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors a petition signed by over 400 parishioners from Resurrection Catholic Church in Aptos. They sent a clear message — don't cut home care wages!

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Valley Interfaith Bids a Fond Farewell to Elizabeth Valdez, Rio Grande Guardian

The Ray Marshall Center released the latest updates of a multi-year study of several hundred Capital IDEA participants, concluding that "longer term investments in skills training yields large, lasting returns in the labor market."

Local Investments in Workforce Development: 2011 Evaluation Update, Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources

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