Wednesday, April 4, 2007

HEALTHY FAMILIES
SCHIP Update
After celebrating Congress’s decision to include $50 billion in new funding in the budget to cover as many as six million uninsured children PICO is now pressing the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce Committees to quickly reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) with improvements to help states cover all children. In the weeks leading up to the budget decision PICO brought 400 clergy and families to Capitol Hill to meet face-to-face with 50 members of Congress and legislative staff in another 48 offices and generated more than 30 local and national news stories about the need to cover all children (see media coverage). PICO faith leaders are returning to Capitol Hill on May 1. To add your voice to the campaign to cover all children visit PICO’s new campaign website at http://ga3.org/ct/Y11111110zR5/. Read more>>

IMMIGRATION
Federations Issue Joint Statement Asking for Halt to Immigration Raids
Yesterday, clergy from United Interfaith Action (UIA), Contra Costa Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (CCISCO), Congregations Building Community (CBC), and Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA) issued a joint statement asking the Department of Homeland Security to stop immigration raids that have led to the arrest of 20,000 workers since May 1, 2006. Hundreds of children have been separated from their parents in the raids, which have taken place all over the country. Two of the most visible raids were in Greeley, Colorado, and New Bedford, Massachusetts, where PICO congregations have been at the center of humanitarian and organizing responses. The four PICO federations that have been directly involved in responding to the raids have invited clergy nation-wide to add their names to the statement at http://ga3.org/ct/R71111110zRf/.  Read more>>

CIVIC PARTICIPATION
KC Mayoral Candidates Speak Out
Both candidates for mayor of Kansas City presented their views on multiple topics to a crowd of over 250 less than two weeks before the election. Kansas City Church Community Organization (CCO) organized the forum and made sure the candidates revealed their plans for education, economic development, crime, and building code enforcement. CCO also gained their commitment that upon winning the election they would meet with CCO leaders for a day-long retreat to explore issues in depth. Read more>>

REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS
Katrina Relief Too Slow
On March 24, owners of severely damaged homes in New Orleans protested the progress of the federal Road Home program. All Congregations Together (ACT) rallied over 150 people on the steps of the state Capitol to call attention to the shortcomings of the $7.5 billion program. Nineteen months after Hurricane Katrina only 3% of 117,400 applications have been completed. The leaders held accountable both the federal government and ICF International, which received a $756 million contract to administer the program. Read more>>

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
City Council Bends to Crowd
The San Bernardino city council found $114,000 for Police Activities League and after-school programs when they were confronted by a throng of over 150 people attending their February 20 meeting. Organized by the Youth Organizing Project of Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), more than 50 teenagers, parents, and clergy testified about widespread community fears over violence and racial tensions. The chambers were packed to capacity and dozens of ICUC leaders had to watch the event on television feeds in the lobby. It was the largest attendance at a city council meeting in over a decade. Read more>>

Push to Increase Funding for Massachusetts Youth Development Program
Four DAs, 6 chiefs of police, 2 mayors, and 8 legislators joined the Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN) and allies on March 29 at the State House to urge increased funding for a competitive grant program that supports youth violence prevention activities. Leaders participated from United Interfaith Action (UIA), Essex County Community Organization (ECCO), and Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC). Newly elected Governor Deval did not include funding for the successful initiative in his proposed budget. Read more>>

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION
Florida Mayor Partners with Community Leaders
The mayor of Orange County agreed to all nine of the commitments asked of him at an action meeting that more than 500 attended on March 19. The Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS) in Orlando won extended hours and additional facilities at county health clinics and increased outreach and funding for affordable housing initiatives, plus an overhaul of the County’s fire hydrant operations. Recently, a faulty hydrant led to the death of an elderly parishioner at one of FOCUS’s congregations. Read more>>

Escambia County Takes Further Steps toward Code Enforcement
Greater Pensacola Community Organizations’ (GPCO) leaders held a successful action with Escambia County Code Enforcement and gained agreement for cleanup of unsafe buildings and property in the Myrtle Grove neighborhood that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. GPCO had begun the cleanup campaign one year ago. Read more>>

SAFETY
Police Departments Agree to Involve DEA
On March 22 the Chiefs of Police of Palm Bay and Melbourne, Florida, agreed to formulate a plan requesting the DEA’s assistance in cases against local drug dealers. Congregations for Community Action gathered 100 leaders for the community action to continue efforts to control drug traffic. Read more>>

WELCOME TO PICO
Three New PICO Organizations Have Success
Flint Area Congregations Together (FACT) held a leadership development forum on March 24. There were 98 participants representing 13 congregations in Flint, Michigan.

Congregations and Schools Empowered (CASE) had a turnout of 150 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for a rally in support of the Dream Act. Read more>>

East Bakersfield Faith Community Alliance (EBFCA) hosted an action meeting with 600 people and won agreement from the newly elected sheriff to adopt a comprehensive plan to fight a serious hotbed of local criminal activity. Read more>>

RESOURCES
New Article on PICO Web Site
Please see the following new resource on the PICO web site, “Beyond Advocacy: the History and Vision of the PICO Network,” written by Gordon Whitman.

JOBS
PICO federations in Vermont, Massachusetts, and California have job openings.  Visit http://ga3.org/ct/Yp1111110zRb/ to see current jobs and learn more about working in the PICO network.

PICO needs your financial support
PICO's success in empowering families and improving communities depends on financial contributions from our donors. To help support our work on the issues you've read about in this issue of e-news and others, click here to make an on-line donation.

Working Assets selects PICO for Donor Program
PICO National Network has been chosen as one of 48 recipients of the Working Assets 2007 Donor Program. Working Assets customers (long distance, wireless, and credit card) vote for which organization they want to support. You must be a Working Assets customer to vote for PICO. Join Working Assets now.

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