PICO Network News - April 9, 2008

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

From: "PICO National Network" <news at piconetwork.org>


Wednesday, April 9, 2008

GOOD SCHOOLS

Study finds PICO organizing linked to student achievement

The Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
just released a study showing that sophisticated grassroots
community organizing produces major improvements in student
achievement. Researchers followed organizing initiatives over
six years in seven major U.S. cities, including two PICO
federations - Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project (EPOP) in
Philadelphia and Oakland Community Organizations (OCO). Read
more about the impact of PICO organizing on student achievement
at http://ga3.org/ct/H1_svVd1cYcZ/

Community calls for action on dropout rate in San Jose

Over the past month, PICO affiliate PACT: People Acting in
Community Together in San Jose organized two town hall meetings
focused on the connection between the rise in crime and violence
in the city and its low-performing public schools. More than 750
people came together to ask Trustees of the Santa Clara County
Board of Education and County Supervisor candidates to make
addressing the rising dropout rate a priority. Read more about
PACT's efforts to decrease dropout rates at
http://ga3.org/ct/Yp_svVd1cYcF/

HEALTHY FAMILIES

Florida leaders urge Governor to cover all kids

On March 27-28, leaders from PICO affiliate Federation of
Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS) in Orlando traveled to the
state capital to meet with legislators to urge them to make key
improvements to Florida's child health insurance program,
KidCare. FOCUS leaders met with both Democratic and Republican
legislators over the two days, urging them to increase funding
for the program, streamline the application process, reduce
bureaucratic obstacles, and improve outreach efforts. Read more
about how Florida plans to cover all kids at
http://ga3.org/ct/T1_svVd1cYc-/

Leaders lay out "healthy communities" vision for Missouri

On April 3, over 200 community members from PICO affiliate
Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO) in Kansas City, Missouri
attended a town hall meeting with state legislators to lay out
their vision to expand health coverage and limit predatory
lending practices across the state. CCO asked legislators to
commit to providing funding for health care coverage for all
low-income working parents who earn at or below 100 percent of
the federal poverty level, and for all Missouri children by
2010. Read more about CCO's healthy communities vision at
http://ga3.org/ct/Td_svVd1cYcJ/

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Mass. leaders push for increased youth violence prevention
funding

On Monday, March 31, more than 250 people from throughout
Massachusetts rallied at the State House to call on legislators
to increase youth violence prevention and intervention funding.
PICO affiliate Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN),
together with the Safe Teens/Safe Communities Coalition and
Metro Mayors Coalition, organized the rally and lobby day to
mark the beginning of National Youth Violence Prevention Week.
Read more about MCAN's work to increase funding by $23 million
at http://ga3.org/ct/T7_svVd1cYcD/

1300 gather to launch San Diego's "Year of the Youth" campaign

On Sunday, March 9, the San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP)
organized a massive rally to kick of its "Year of the Youth"
campaign. Over 1,300 community members packed St. Jude Shrine of
the West Catholic Church, joining representatives from Congress,
the county, the city of San Diego, social service agencies,
labor organizations, and the business community to promote
polices to make San Diego a better, safer place for youth. Read
more about the rally and SDOP's plan for 2008 at
http://ga3.org/ct/Y7_svVd1cYcG/

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

Oakland residents come together to support Mayor's housing plan

More than 300 community members filled the pews at Imani
Community Church to hear Oakland Vice Mayor Henry Chang answer
tough questions on his views on affordable housing. Oakland
Community Organizations (OCO) and ACORN organized the March 5th
event attended by Chang and City Councilmember Jean Quan, who
has been a supporter of affordable housing. Read more about what
the Vice Mayor said about affordable housing at
http://ga3.org/ct/Tp_svVd1cYcK/

JOBS

PICO launches new job board

Visitors to PICO's careers page can now search for jobs, submit
their resumes online, and sign up to receive future job
announcements. Visit http://ga3.org/ct/Y1_svVd1cYcT/ and sign
up to receive regular updates on jobs in PICO.

DONATE

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, go to http://ga3.org/ct/Hd_svVd1cYcV/ to
make an on-line donation.

See past issues of PICO Network News at
http://ga3.org/ct/Yd_svVd1cYcH/