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Valley Interfaith, a broad-based regional coalition of congregations, schools, and civic organizations across the Rio Grande Valley, will hold a major nonpartisan Accountability Session next month to seek public policy commitments from congressional, state, and county candidates ahead of the upcoming general election....

500 leaders from 30 faith, education, and community institutions gathered on September 20 to raise the most pressing issues facing their families and to secure commitments for concrete action from candidates for public office. Both state legislative candidates present pledged their support for OTOC’s agenda, and candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House committed in writing to meet with OTOC within their first 100 days of office if elected.

As 41,000 central coast residents risk losing state-sponsored healthcare, COPA is expanding their constituency and urging California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to push back. 

TMO receiving the Garnett F. Coleman Health Equity Award from Harris Health

After nearly three years of organizing, The Metopolitan Organization (TMO) leaders are celebrating a major victory for access to life-saving healthcare. The Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to acquire 8.9 acres in Hermann Park to expand Ben Taub Hospital and address dangerous overcrowding at one of Houston’s most critical trauma centers.

TMO recognizes the County Commissioners for their vote to help meet the increasing demand for inpatient care in Harris County.

This win follows sustained organizing by TMO leaders, including securing nearly 2,200 petition signatures in support of the expansion online and in person at congregations throughout Harris County. Leaders educated their communities, held a press conference, delivered public testimony, and conducted behind-the-scenes negotiations and meetings with county commissioners to move the project forward.

At the urging of Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action (COPA) leaders, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the creation of Esperanza Care 2.0—a county healthcare program for undocumented adults, launching with 500 people and a commitment to expand.

The Metropolitan Organization of Houston (TMO) is mobilizing communities across Harris County to win what voters already approved: a critical expansion of Ben Taub Hospital that would add 100 new patient rooms and relieve dangerous overcrowding at one of Houston’s most essential emergency care facilities.

Over 150 faith and community leaders gathered on December 7th at a “Rally for the People” organized by Nevadans for the Common Good (NCG) at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church on the Historic Westside of Las Vegas. The rally was a response to the costly and harmful federal government shutdown recognizing that though the shutdown has ended, suffering for Nevadans has not.

Nevadans for the Common Good (NCG) engaged 700 people in their year-long Health Care Seminar Series to educate the public and to advance a concrete strategy for improving health care access.

At their 10th culminating seminar, NCG gained pivotal commitments from State Senator Fabian Doñate and community partners to:

• increase funding for Community Health Workers, and
• build a stronger network between trusted community organizations, such as congregations, and reputable, accessible health care providers.

After California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed to drop undocumented immigrants from the state health insurance rolls, 120 California IAF leaders and allies traveled to the capitol by bus and persuaded legislators to restore access to the program.

“Immigrants pay taxes. They work in our communities with no safety nets," said COPA (Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action) Leader Mary Litel Walsh. “We came hundreds of miles from all over the state...took time off of work and away from our families to be here today. Why?

Because we need our legislators to fight for us.

[Photo Credit: Pexels]

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For many neighbors, it is a top priority to stay in their Marin County homes as they age. Figuring out how to do so is a question keeping some of us up at night.

It was a focus of the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) when it formed the Aging and Disability Team. The group is tasked with figuring out how to make that wish a reality. As a team member, I learned a lot.