TMO Parent Leaders Protest Rezoning - Succeed in Delaying Board Vote
TMO leaders and parents of children attending Lyons Elementary held a pre-board meeting press conference to detail their concerns about the latest HISD proposal to rezone elementary schools. Rosa Rivera argued that a plan to shift new students to nearby elementary schools would negatively impact the education of her children as the nearby schools are not as high quality as Lyons. "Before they start to do all these movements, I would like HISD to improve the schools."
Read moreProject Quest Recognized in White House 'TechHire' Initiative
On Monday, March 9th, President Barack Obama announced a new 'TechHire' initiative, speaking to nearly 2,000 at the National League of Cities Conference. The work of Project Quest Executive Director Pearl Ceasar and Deborah Carter of Rackspace was recognized for moving lower income people into high demand occupations like Information Technology.
Project Quest's partnership with Rackspace has already resulted in the graduation of dozens of lower income people from the Open Cloud Academy. Project Quest played a pivotal role in recruiting and supporting these students, implementing best practices developed by West / Southwest IAF labor market intermediaries.
Read moreAustin Interfaith Leaders Talk Collaboration at SXSW Event
Attendees of a SXSW talk on education heard plenty about collaboration from Austin Interfaith leaders Ken Zarafis (President, Education Austin) and Lisa Robertson (Principal, Travis Heights Elementary) in a discussion about AISD's first public charter school. Supt. Cruz, who was Chief Schools Officer at the time, recognized that autonomy and trust was crucial in the process.
"It's about trying to create a different type of culture that allows for excellence and innovation," he said.Read moreThe school gained signatures of support from 97 percent of teachers and staff, as well as support from 90 percent of its school community and board approval.
TMO Leaders Push for Substantive Metro Bus Service Overhaul
Regular Metro bus rider Julia Ramirez and TMO leaders Fr. Kevin Collins and Franklin Olson argue that the Metro bus system of Houston needs major changes if it plans to create a new system. With a commute that currently takes at least two hours each way, Ramirez pinpoints 4 concrete needed changes in the article below.
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Valley Interfaith Decries Judge's Injunction, Reminds Immigrants that DACA Remains in Effect
The press conference started with the story of teacher in 2001, invited from Mexico to teach in MacAllen in 2001 -- then disinvited when 9/11 attacks led to dramatic changes in the treatment of immigrants.
Read moreAustin Interfaith Advocates for Low-Income Families in Negotiations Over Utilities Repayment Plan
In an Austin American Statesman story about Austin Energy and utilities repayment plans under negotiation, Austin Interfaith leader Ofelia Zapata informs the paper of the impact on her family. Austin Interfaith, with allies, is fighting for a non-punitive utility debt repayment plan that would allow the Austin Energy to reclaim money it, in many cases, did not bill for - but without hurting the families affected.
Why Customers Unpaid Bills are Piling Up at Austin Energy, Austin American Statesman
COPS / Metro: March for JOBS & Freedom Is Still Relevant
On the heels of a successful campaign to raise the wages of San Antonio's lowest paid public workers, COPS / Metro leaders Fr. Steven Gamez and Sr. Consuelo Tovar assert that the March on Washington for JOBS and Freedom is still relevant today.
"Everyone working a full-time job ought to be able to raise a family with dignity and opportunity, and not be dependent on public assistance. As taxpayers, we insist that our public resources be used to foster shared prosperity and not to perpetuate poverty.....
Read moreCortes Named Among Top 'Change Makers' by Texas Observer
Change Makers - The Texas Observer Celebrates 60 Years, Texas Observer
COPS / Metro Helps Alamo College Students Reinstate Majors, Develop Participatory Process
When Alamo (Community) Colleges announced a decision to eliminate major designations from associate degrees last summer, AC students fought back. Simon Sanchez, from the Student Leadership Coalition asserted, "we are not victims." With the support of the Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) and Metro Alliance, the organization reached out to hundreds of students, leveraging 595 signatures for a petition against the policy.
Read moreAt 40, COPS Still Standing Up for Residents
Andrew "Andy" Sarabia, the first president of COPS, Communities Organized for Public Service in San Antonio, argues in the San Antonio Express News that COPS has been a significant and powerful part of the city's history, starting with initial "tie-up" confrontations with the city's power structure to get it to recognize the needs of families and communities. Read more below:
At 40, COPS Still Standing Up For Residents, San Antonio Express News