Texas IAF Fights Anti-Sanctuary Bill SB 185
On Monday at 8am, faith leaders across Texas arrived at the Capitol to fight Senate Bill 185, which would outlaw sanctuary cities in Texas and threaten local efforts to build better relationships between police and communities. Sponsored by State Senator Charles Perry, from Lubbock, the bill would prohibit cities from forbidding police to enforce immigration laws.
Read moreTMO 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 moreTMO 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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TMO to David Brooks: Programs You Call For Already Exist!
Responding to David Brooks' assertion that the President's proposal to provide cost-free community college access is not enough, TMO leaders Rev. Kevin Collins, Mr. Franklin Olson and Mr. Bob Fleming offer initial agreement and the good news that the types of programs Brooks calls for already exist in Texas.
Read moreHouston Clergy & TMO: Exec Action Good, Not Good Enough
The night before a planned House vote which could impact the latest executive action program initiated by the President, 50 Houston judicatory and TMO leaders held a joint press conference urging Congress to do the opposite -- to expand on the action and pass comprehensive immigration reform. Potentially beneficiaries were joined by the Houston -Galveston Catholic Cardinal DiNardo, Methodist and Lutheran Bishops and religious leadership from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
Read moreTMO Forges Relationship with Pasadena Police to Fight Crime
200 TMO leaders assembled at St. Peter Catholic Church with an agenda: to clearly lay out their public safety concerns to the police and obtain responses to those concerns. They walked away with much more.
Assistant Police Chief Josh Bruegger related, "It is important..., obviously to us, that we have this relationship." Father Pedro Lopez of St. Peter Episcopal told leaders,"We have a moral obligation to do everything within our power to stop crime in our community. We do not want more people robbed at gunpoint, we do not want our children to be victims of drug use, of gun violence or our homes to be vandalized. Be good Samaritans, take action and keep our eyes open, and call and report any crime. Will you commit to that today?"
Read moreTMO Celebrates 30th Anniversary
"The Metropolitan Organization, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of its charter this October, works with the voiceless to help transmute their anger into leadership. In a meeting with the Chronicle editorial board, TMO representatives said that the nonprofit, which organizes church congregations and other institutions across the region, encourages residents to say: "This is the city I want," and then to hold government accountable. Under TMO's stewardship, neighborhoods find their voices, and city government acquires a hearing aid...."
TMO at 30: The Metropolitan Organization's Successes Have Changed the Lives of People, Houston Chronicle
Read moreTMO Confronts Houston PD Over Rampant Crime in North
Hundreds of TMO leaders confronted Houston Police Department officers with stories of relentless auto-theft, campus drug sales and physical assaults in North Houston. When the seated assembly was asked to stand if they had been personally been impacted by crime, more than half the room was on its feet. Councilmember Gonzalez was on hand to respond as well.
Cansados del Crimen Que Azota Al Norte De Houston, Univision 45
TMO Leaders Hound Officials on Crime & Stray Dogs in East Houston
Hundreds of TMO leaders packed into Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to tell officials that De Zavala Elementary School students deserve to be protected from packs of stray dogs roaming the campus. 300 leaders explained that the issue emerged in a 'house meeting' campaign in which small groups of people gathered to share their concerns.
Multiple residents told stories about family members getting bitten by dogs on the streets; stories of increased crime were shared as well. TMO convened the assembly to engage their City Councilmember Robert Gallegos and State Senator Sylvia Garcia on these issues.
Read moreChase VP Invests $100K in Capital IDEA Houston
Carolyn Watson, Chase Bank VP of Corporate Responsibility, announced the award of $100K to Capital IDEA-Houston at a meeting of the Houston Community College Board of Trustees. Capital IDEA-Houston, established by leaders of TMO as a labor market intermediary, pulls working students out of poverty wage jobs and into living wage careers starting at upwards of $30,000 per year plus benefits. TMO (The Metropolitan Organization) built the political will to establish the training program to bridge the wage gap between industry needs and the skills base of the city.
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