Acting on stories from people desperately needing medical equipment, DAI leaders launched a Durable Medical Equipment Initiative to acquire, sanitize (according to state code) and distribute gently used medical equipment. This would provide residents with wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers.

The launch of a mobile pre-natal care clinic drew public recognition from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, with a laudatory letter by Director Ralph McCloud celebrating AMOS' achievement.

Last spring, initial budget recommendations had slated Capital IDEA, Prime Time after School, ESL and other important programs normally supported by the city for ZERO funding. Since then, Council members approved a revised budget recommendation that expands funding for the highest rated programs at 70% of requested funding. If approved, Capital IDEA would receive continued funding at current levels of over $1,000,000 and other programs like Prime Time After School Program would also be funded. More than 100 Austin Interfaith leaders have been to City Hall this month to show their support for these programs. In addition to advocating for human development programs, AI leaders created a stir about the anti-lobbying ordinance preventing public participation in this process.

More than 1,100 leaders of Together Baton Rouge assembled from approximately 70 congregations and organizations., thirty-five of which made annual pledges. Invited guests included the Mayor, District Attorney, Sheriff, Metro Council Members and State legislators; all committed to work with the organization.

Since then, the organization has advanced its transportation agenda. With a bus system that gets 1/3 the per capita funding of peer cities and forces passengers to wait an average of 75 minutes, the Mayor invited Together Baton Rouge to work with the City to create some solutions. The resulting plan will create a dedicated source of revenue for transit for the first time in the City's history more than doubling the budget from $12 Million to $30 Million in order to expand bus routes and reduce wait times.

Leaders of Valley Interfaith succeeded in expanding sewage infrastructure into the colonias of Donna, for the first time bringing first-world drainage to its residents. Before this expansion, people relied on septic tanks which would overflow during the rainy season, causing numerous health problems for families.

"Changing BR Together." The Advocate, 05/21/11

May 13, 2011

Article and radio segment available here