On March 20, 2025 the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved renaming the San Antonio Natatorium to Atanacio Garcia Natatorium, recognizing the determined COPS/Metro leader of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine Catholic Church who organized his community to create the city’s first Olympic-sized public pool on the West Side.

In the mid-1970's, children on the West Side had few formal opportunities for recreation and the nearest pools were miles away. It was hard to get the city to spend money on West Side projects. But, in 1974, Mr. Garcia's pastor, Fr. Edmundo Rodriguez, joined hands with other West and South Side parishes to create an organization that would get the city's attention: Communities Organized for Public Service, or COPS. Between 1974-1980, Mr. Garcia and other parish leaders lobbied for the West and South Side's fair share of the city budget. They block walked to get out the vote for hundreds of millions in bond money for the pool, and also for parks, libraries, and drainage infrastructure. The world-class swimming facility continues to be enjoyed by families across San Antonio and was home to several highly competitive swimmers, including Adrian Montoya and Josh Davis, an Olympic qualifier and three-time gold medal winner, respectively.

COPS/Metro leaders and supporters advocated for the Natatorium's renaming to honor Mr. Garcia's legacy and testified to city council:

Rose Garcia, Mr. Garcia's daughter and COPS/Metro leader said "Dad recognized the need for after-school sports and activities for our neighborhood children. In the late '60s, his dream of having an Olympic-sized pool in the heart of the West Side was born. Throughout the 1970s, he walked the neighborhood getting neighbors to sign petitions and he wrote letters to city, state, and national elected officials asking for support. He received a lot of nos - no land, no money. He never gave up. In 1974, he worked with COPS/Metro leaders and they were successful in their mission to create a natatorium for all children in San Antonio. It opened in 1981. In 2022, Pope Francis blessed my Madrecita Gloria and my Dad's photos and he also blessed COPS/Metro leaders for their work."

On March 3, the Colorado State Legislature proposed a bill that would have cut base wages for tipped workers. Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) fought back! In collaboration with CWA 7777 and the Colorado AFL-CIO, CCG organized a press conference and successfully blocked efforts to mandate that Denver, Boulder, and Edgewater reduce the local minimum wage for thousands of tipped workers. CCG also pushed for legislation to expand the right to collective bargaining as a part of their larger strategy to support workers in Colorado.

In a press statement, they assert: “Hardworking Coloradans deserve the opportunity to earn a good wage, especially as the cost of living continues to rise…The amended version of the bill importantly avoids an immediate wage cut for tipped employees and preserves some local control. However, the bill only gives local control to local governments if they want to vote to keep their tipped minimum wage low, but will not allow them to vote to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers. We will continue to work for fair and livable wages with tips on top for Coloradans at the state and local level.” 

Last week, CCG was back at the Capitol to support the Worker Protection Act and again the next day to stand with educators against cuts to education. CCG's work at the Capitol continues as the legislature considers the Worker Protection Act, the state budget, and other issues important to members.

(Photo Credit: Denver7)

By Barbara Paulsen, Boulder City UMC, Nevadans for the Common Good

In 1974 an organization, grounded in community organizing principles developed by Saul Alinsky in the 1940s, was founded in San Antonio Texas. Communities Organizing for Public Service (COPS) became the first organization of the "modern" IAF and the initial member of what is now known as the West/Southwest IAF (WSWIAF). Today the WSWIAF includes 33 local broad-based institutional members located across 11 states.

In recognition of this 50-year organizing history, a symposium was held in San Antonio on December 8, 2024, to honor WSWIAF's past and to build for its future. The symposium included segments on IAF and WSWIAF history, habits and practices of  organizing as well as presentations by key leaders in education, history, and philosophy who shared their experiences working with WSWIAF and how this interaction impacted them. Ernesto Cortes, Jr. and Sr. Christine Stephens were recognized as the key founders of COPS and WSWIAF. The best part of the symposium, as with all IAF gatherings, was the opportunity to interact and share with leaders and organizers across the network.

[Excerpt]

This may look like an ordinary stop sign.

However, for residents of Southeast Fresno, it represents a hard-fought victory in making their community safer.

Before this week, the intersection along South Avenue—a busy road cutting through city and rural farmland—was only a two-way stop. It was a dangerous crossing, and last summer, Alex Burgos, a young parishioner from St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic church, learned that firsthand when his car was T-boned by another vehicle.

“At first, I thought it was just bad luck,” Burgos said. “Then I started talking to other people in my church, and I realized I wasn’t the only one....”

In 2023, leaders from COPA congregations, schools, and nonprofits spoke with over 400 families, hearing dozens of stories about families that had paid thousands of dollars in unnecessary application fees just to apply to live in an apartment. Sometimes, families learned later that the apartments they had applied for didn’t even exist.

In response, COPA leaders reached out to member institutions, building a powerful constituency across Central California. Leaders at Holy Cross engaged leaders at Temple Beth El and Mujeres en Acción, who in turn reached out to other institutions as the team grew. All in all, 13 institutions joined the process and, together, built a relationship with Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin.

COPA leaders:

• researched the issue with state policy experts and attorneys - worked with Assemblywoman Pellerin to craft new legislation, 
• testified in both the Assembly and State Senate (in 3 different languages!) and 
• overcame vested opposition by crafting a compromise with power groups.

Over the last two years, faith, labor and civic institutions across Louisiana have built the largest network of solar-powered resilience hubs in the world, in partnership with the Industrial Areas Foundation.  With a fresh investment of $500,000, they launched their 17th community lighthouse. 

[Excerpts]

Two more Shreveport churches now have the financial support needed to transform themselves into solar-powered disaster shelters after a Caddo Parish Commission vote. 

The Commission at its Thursday meeting approved using $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to make Galilee Baptist Church and Willow Chute Baptist Church into "Community Lighthouses," doubling the number of solar-powered neighborhood hubs set to be operating in Shreveport in the coming year...

[Excerpts]

Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) leaders conducted more than 100 meetings over the past three years with Nebraska agricultural, health-care, labor, education, hospitality, philanthropic, faith, construction, immigrant, legal, banking, and community leaders to learn more about our workforce needs.

We learned [for example] that an owner of a dairy farm had been awake for almost 48 hours milking his cows because his short-term immigrant staff had to leave Nebraska when their work visas expired. We heard of immigrants with work visas who can come to the U.S. with their families, but their spouses and working-age children are not allowed to work....

According to a recent study funded by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 'There is universal and widespread business support for immigration reform as a means to address the workforce gap in Nebraska....'

As result of these meetings, a statewide non-partisan alliance has formed. The Nebraska Alliance for Thriving Communities includes leaders from across the state. This 70-member Alliance agrees on a common-sense set of immigration priorities to enrich our communities and address Nebraska’s workforce shortage.

After Together West Michigan demanded transparency and public benefits from a proposed public investment in the Fulton Market Three Towers project, developers dedicated an additional $20 million toward hiring women, minority, and micro-local contractors, almost double the original commitment.

Over 160 people overflowed from chambers for the Three Towers vote, with Third Ward Commissioner Perdue standing with Together West Michigan.

"I want to acknowledge that [this]... was only possible because of the advocacy that you all provided," said Commissioner Perdue. "There's much, much more work to do...I'm committed to keep fighting with you and look forward to what's next."

Because of the spotlight Together West Michigan put on this development, public scrutiny was introduced into a process that's often been a rubber stamp.

TWM introduced many voices that wouldn't otherwise have been heard and more attention to this development than any previous one in Grand Rapids in recent memory.  Leaders plan to continue the push for more transparency and public benefit to the new City Commission in 2025.

How Would $565 Million in Taxes Help Pay for the "Three Towers" in Grand Rapids?, FOX 17 [pdf]

GR Commission OK's Project That Would Create Downtown's Tallest Building, Channel 8 News [pdf]

GR Commission Advances Three Towers Project, WZZM 13 [pdf]

The Rev. Aaron Klinefelter, rector of St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, and Sharon Rowser, of Foothill Community Presbyterian church, served as co-chairs for the founding convention of Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good.

[Excerpt]

On the eve of a pivotal national election, nearly 600 leaders and community members from 17 founding organizations–including St. Jude’s Episcopal Church and Santa Maria Urban Ministry, both of the Diocese of El Camino Real–gathered to launch Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good (SVACG), the first broad-based community organization in the region affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation. The event marked a new era of collective commitment to building power and fighting for concrete change in one of America’s most influential—and most unequal—regions.

The convention centered on a shared vision of “common good” in a region known for extreme wealth disparities... 

[Photo Credit: Episcopal News Service]

Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good Launches, Pledging Community Solidarity Beyond Election Outcomes, Episcopal News Service [pdf]

Republican and Democratic candidates for federal office committed to advance reforms in immigration, childcare access, and humanitarian parole.  State issues included access to drivers’ licenses and unemployment insurance, and preservation of ballot initiatives. All issues emerged from a conversation campaign of over 150 meetings across the state. 

[Excerpts]

Nearly 400 leaders of Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) member institutions met Sunday (Oct. 20) at St. Pius X Catholic Church with eleven candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and State Legislature as OTOC sought commitments to support solutions on key issues important to the membership....

OTOC leaders presented their personal stories illustrating the need for: the creation of pathways to permanency for long-term immigrant Nebraskans; the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program to expand access to childcare; and for the creation of a humanitarian parole program for the Sudanese.  Representative Don Bacon, State Senator Tony Vargas, and Preston Love Jr. unanimously supported all three Federal OTOC initiatives.

OTOC leaders again presented State Legislative candidates with their personal stories illustrating the need for: expanding drivers’ licenses to all Nebraska residents; expanding access to unemployment insurance for all work-authorized Nebraskans; and protecting the role of citizens by preserving the ballot initiative process.... 

[Photo Credit: Cass Opal]

Photo Gallery

In a Tight Presidential Race, Omaha is Basking in its Political Relevance, New York Times [pdf]

Candidates Commit to Pro-Immigrant Causes at Omaha Coalition's Accountability Session, KETV 7 Omaha [pdf]

Nonpartisan Organization Omaha Together One Community Hosts a Candidate Accountability Session, KMTV 3 Omaha [pdf]

OTOC Agenda Gets Unanimous Support at Candidates Accountability Session, OTOC