Marin Organizing Committee Credited with Creating REST and for Building Power to Expand It
42 churches, synagogues and nonprofits will participate in the Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (REST) this year, providing temporary shelter as well as meals shared between providers and homeless participants. The Marin Independent Journal credits the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) for establishing the program nine years ago and for continuing to building power to expand its reach.
Says leader Pat Langley, a parishioner at St. Anselm Church in Ross, "We haven't run out of gas!" Langley explained that just this year, MOC signed up 8,500 Marin residents who support the creation of a new year-round shelter for the homeless. Leaders furthermore secured, through non-partisan accountability assemblies, pledges of support from Dennis Rodoni, who was elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 8, and supervisors Kate Sears and Katie Rice, who secured re-election in June.
Read moreCommon Ground Launches with 1,500 Delegates in Vallejo, CA
"An enthusiastic crowd of about 1,500 people filled a Vallejo high school gym Sunday afternoon to welcome a new multi-county organization to the community.
Read moreTogether Baton Rouge Launches Community Scripture Studies
"Together Baton Rouge volunteers have worked to clean up the Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery, to launch with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank...and to advocate for reliable funding and better administration for the Capital Area Transit System.
With this new community Bible study program, the purposes are to 'develop relationships across the lines that divide us' and embrace 'the call of Scripture to act in the world today,' Wesley said."
Read moreAustin Interfaith Takes Back Dove Springs Neighborhood
"Juvenile crime, speeding and sidewalk repairs are some of the biggest problems in in Southeast Austin's Dove Springs area -- but residents are fighting back. Neighbors are taking advantage of the city services their tax dollars pay for. Side walk repairs are continuing in direct result of residents calling 311 to report the need, according to city officials.
Read moreNAIC Tells Republican Secretary of State: Invest in AZ Schools
"Three-hundred Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt residents told Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett that Arizona must start adequately funding education during a meeting Tuesday at Abia Judd Elementary School in Prescott.
'Over the last five years, cuts in funding have been imposed by the state in addition to the cuts from declining enrollments,' said Wendy Madsen, a parent of a student at Taylor Hicks Elementary School in Prescott. 'Our districts together have been forced to cut over $25 million.'"
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