Clint Independent School District trustees, presented with an easy opportunity to expand representative democracy, punted. They had no good explanation for failing to make an easy decision, just mutterings about needing more time to study...."The El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization has been the leader in the movement to reform Clint ISD's voting patterns.
Together Louisiana Battles for Medicaid Expansion
"A new analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office said accepting the Medicaid expansion envisioned by the federal health care law -- but so far refused by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration -- would save Louisiana between $532 million and $544 million over the next five years.....
The theme of Tuesday's rally -- led by Together Louisiana, a recently formed coalition of religious and civic groups, and the American Association for Retired People -- was that if Jindal doesn't like the Medicaid program, he should insist on certain conditions while accepting the expansion...."
Read more'Together Baton Rouge' Leaders Educate on Incarceration
"Too many people in Louisiana are in jail, a Baton Rouge group of faith and community leaders said at a meeting on Friday. But while discussing how to reduce the state's high incarceration rate, some questioned whether new legislation proposed this year is the right path.
The group Together Baton Rouge tackled the topic of incarceration at a meeting Friday, hearing about proposed legislation that aims to keep juveniles out of jail and get drug offenders treatment without forcing them to serve lengthy prison terms.
Read moreProject IOWA Gives Workers Stability and Dignity
"Jalissa Daniels wrote dark poetry as an early adolescent...She became pregnant at 15, graduated from Scavo Alternative High School and worked at convenient stores and temp agencies. Even though these jobs helped pay the bills, they were not fulfilling...Finding full-time work with benefits was looking grim...
Read more'Together Louisiana' Launches With Two Year Campaign of Civic Academies
Statewide coalition of organizations is called "largest citizens' coalition in the history of the State." Includes projects in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Providence, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport and Tallulah, LA.
Together Louisiana Kicks Off, The Advocate
Read moreVegas Leaders' Video Shows Sex-Trafficking Threat to Minors
Leaders from 'Nevadans for the Common Good' launched "It's About Time," a film documenting domestic minor sex-trafficking in Vegas and broad-based community efforts to combat it.
It's About Time, Nevadans for the Common Good
Read moreNOVA Transforms Bad Jobs Into Better Jobs in Louisiana
When approached by a call center seeking to train workers for high turnover jobs paying $8 / hour, NOVA challenged the employer to invest in worker development for higher paying work. The call center responded and now NOVA trainees start at $10 / hour and move to $12.50 / hour within three months, including benefits; call center attrition has dropped. NOVA is becoming a new kind of hiring hall, offering training for dignified work that pays fair wages and offers benefits.
NTO Rallies with Hundreds For Texas Medicaid Expansion
"Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday on the front steps of the Capitol to rally in support of Medicaid expansion....Willie Bennett, along with 45 other members of the Dallas Area Interfaith, turned up for the march that snaked down Congress Avenue and up to the Capitol. Bennett said more than 3,000 individuals and 38 institutions had signed up in favor of Medicaid expansion."
"Anderson and her 66-year-old mother, Martha Anderson, were among about 60 Tarrant County residents who gathered at the St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Fort Worth ... for the 200-mile bus trip to Austin. The trip was organized by the Allied Communities of Tarrant (ACT)" in coordination with the Network of Texas Organizations, including Austin Interfaith, The Border Organization, EPISO, Border Interfaith, TMO, WIN, WTOS, Valley Interfaith and COPS / Metro Alliance.
Read moreAustin Interfaith Leverages Republican Support for Medicaid
"Last week, the Travis County Commissioners Court tweaked a Feb. 19 resolution calling for a Medicaid expansion to satisfy its lone Republican member. That bipartisan support was 'absolutely critical,' said Oralia Garza Cortes, a leader with Austin Interfaith, an advocacy group. Sister organizations in Dallas and Bexar counties helped pass similar resolutions.
Read moreMississippi Clergy Stand with Nissan Auto Workers
Over the last 30 years transnational auto manufacturers have placed plants all over the world; in the US most of the new plants have landed in the South.
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