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

[Excerpts]

Project QUEST has had the ongoing political and community backing of COPS/Metro Alliance... that helped launch the program in 1992 and worked to ensure that Project QUEST has ongoing financial support. Project QUEST’s strategies can and have been replicated in other communities. The key is considerable, reliable financial support that can be used flexibly to meet community members’ needs.  A few key results are as follows:

• Project QUEST participants earned $54,000 more than the control group during the 14-year follow-up period.
• Project QUEST and the community colleges invested an average of $16,244 (2022 dollars) in each participant over the fourteen years following study enrollment, resulting in a 234 percent return on investment. Moreover, program graduates moved out of poverty and into the middle class, earning close to $60,000, on average, in the final year of the study. 
• Participants ages 35 and older at the time of enrollment experienced the greatest benefit from Project QUEST, earning a remarkable $138,577 more, on average, than their counterparts in the control group over the fourteen years.

Fourteen Year Gains: Project QUEST's Remarkable Impact, Economic Mobility [pdf]

One hundred twenty leaders from 40 Iowan communities converged in Perry, IA for the 'Building Bridges & Organized Communities' seminar, hosted by A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS).  Led by 12 faith leaders spanning 15 denominations — including Protestant, Catholic, and Evangelical traditions — the gathering was more than a meeting; it was a call to action. The aim? To forge deep, cross-community relationships and build the power necessary to confront the issues weakening Iowa’s families and rural communities.

The day included a hard look at data from Iowa State University's Rural Shrink Smart project, followed by small group house meetings to listen and share stories of the realities facing families across rural, urban, and suburban Iowa communities. 

The energy moved quickly from analysis to action.  In host community Perry, where residents have dealt with a school shooting and meat packing plant closure in the past year, church leaders committed to meet again to grow their power to act in Dallas County. Participants from across the state committed to next steps for organizing together to push back against the forces pressuring their communities.

[Excerpt]

Climate Solution: In the Swelter of Hurricane Blackouts, Some Churches Stay Cool on Clean Power, Washington Post [pdf]

Solar-Powered 'Lighthouses' Stayed Lit for Hurricane Francine.  What Does It Mean for Bigger Storms?, Times-Picayune [pdf]

Solar 'Lighthouse' Project Underwent First Real Test in Hurricane Francine, Louisiana Illuminator [pdf]

Hurricane Francine: After-Action Report, Together New Orleans [pdf]

Diverse rural, urban, agriculture, health care, hospitality, education, construction, business, labor, faith, immigrant & community groups urge action

[Excerpts from Press Release]

“This effort was built upon hundreds of conversations, as well as longstanding relationships across our state and across many different sectors,” said Denise Bowyer, a leader with Omaha Together One Community, a 30-year old organization made up of community and faith institutions. “It has been truly inspiring to see the strong alignment on forward-looking solutions from so many perspectives. There are striking common themes in our communities that illustrate the need for workable solutions that uphold our values and move us forward together.”

“Immigrant Nebraskans have long been part of the fabric of local families, communities, and workplaces. Together we build the good life, but unfortunately our federal immigration laws are decades out of date, which creates instability for families, children, communities, employers – for all of us,” said Bryan Slone, President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 

“Now as baby boomers are retiring, we’re seeing workforce strain across sectors and unfilled jobs that impact each and every Nebraska industry, and each and every one of us for the services and infrastructure we need to count on. Trends indicate we’re only at the beginning of this challenge and urgently need positive solutions for Nebraska’s future.”

“The economic, social, and cultural contributions of immigrant community members are vital to Nebraska’s future”, said Lina Traslaviña Stover, Executive Director of Heartland Workers Center, and OTOC Leader. “Immigrants play a key role in supporting Nebraska’s agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries – which are essential to the state’s economy – as well as so many other health care, education, and community roles. Immigrant Nebraskans enrich local communities. Developing systems that provide attainable legal pathways for migration is crucial for ensuring Nebraska’s community and economic well-being.”

Concrete Community Benefits are Now Included in Tax-Funded Downtown Project

Thanks to the intervention of COPS/Metro, concrete community benefits are now part of a partially tax-funded Downtown Missions Stadium project, thus creating a fairer deal for San Antonio residents, including those who will be relocated in advance of construction.

“When we look at this experience, we are keenly aware that doors were opened, conference rooms were made available and seats were placed at the table for billionaires, millionaires and developers,” said [COPS/Metro] leader Father Jimmy Drennan, referring to Missions investors, such as Weston Urban co-founder Graham Weston, a one-time billionaire."

COPS/Metro had been in negotiations with elected officials, city council members, city staff, Weston Urban, SAISD officials, institutional leaders, community leaders, and local residents.  COPS/Metro's complete statement and press can be read below:

[Excerpt]

Before Barack Obama brought a spotlight to the term “community organizer,” Gecan had been one for years, guiding communities on how to work with politicians to fix problems. “Going Public” (2012) is his account of putting these principles to work in a New York City neighborhood where a housing crisis had left the area in such decline that it was once described as “the beginning of the end of civilization.”

Local leaders, with Gecan’s counsel, spent years embracing their collective power to fight for the change they wanted, holding civic leaders such as Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani to account until the community’s goals were achieved with the building of thousands of new homes.

Gecan’s tale of dogged persistence in the face of political bureaucracy offers an inspiring look at what citizens can do to make a difference in a democracy. 

7 Great Political Books, Washington Post  [pdf]

 In July, EPISO/BI leaders in Canutillo scored a major victory for sewer infrastructure, working with county commissioners and El Paso Water to dedicate 2 million dollars in ARPA funds for a sewerage project in Canutillo. Additionally, leaders from Montana Vista worked with their state legislator and EP Water to advance the second phase of their sewerage project this February. Both of these wins were decades in the making. Says EPISO/BI leader Suki Perez, "We've worked for years, knocking on doors in the heat and in the cold to get people organized."

Aprueban Servicios de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado, Telemundo48elpaso