PICO Network News - May 13, 2008

Fri May 16 08:56:37 CDT 2008

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

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

HEALTHY FAMILIES

Colorado expands health coverage to 55,000 uninsured children

PICO affiliate Metro Organizations for People (MOP) in Denver,
together with allies in the 2010 Cover All Kids Initiative,
achieved a major victory in April with the passage of two pieces
of legislation that together will expand health coverage to
55,000 uninsured children across Colorado. Since lauching its
cover all kids campaign in February, MOP leaders and clergy have
been urging legislators to pass SB 160 - which will expand
Colorado's State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) -
and SB 161 - which will remove administrative barriers to
applying for Medicaid and SCHIP. Read more at
http://ga3.org/ct/c1_svVd1_E4r/

Kansas City wins victory in "Roadmap" to cover all children

For two years, PICO affiliate Communities Creating Opportunity
(CCO) in Kansas City has been pressing the state of Missouri to
enhance outreach and enrollment efforts for kids' health care
programs as part of their "roadmap" for covering all children.
CCO leaders celebrated a victory recently when the Missouri
House of Representatives appropriated $11.8 million to fund an
outreach and enrollment strategy called presumptive eligibility.
Read more at http://ga3.org/ct/dp_svVd1_E44/

Building a hospital by hand in Rwanda

Leaders from PICO's affiliate in Rwanda - Congregations
Rebuilding Community in Rwanda (CRCR) - made history recently by
being the first grassroots organization in the country to drive
a major decision about the government's allocation of resources.
In December, CRCR leaders from the rural community of Mumeya won
11 million Rwandan Francs (approximately $20,000 USD) from the
Ministry of Health for the construction of a health clinic in
their community. They also won a commitment from the government
to include the clinic in the national health plan. Read more
about CRCR's work and watch a video from Mumeya at
http://ga3.org/ct/B1_svVd1_E4t/

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

Residents call on banks to meet with homeowners to halt
foreclosures

Leaders from Holy Rosary Church - a member of PICO affiliate
Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization
(CCISCO) in Antioch, CA - organized a rally to bring attention
to the lack of response from banks as community residents face
foreclosure on their homes. Despite numerous attempts to make
contact with the banks, many hard-working and employed
homeowners have not received face-to-face meetings to discuss
their home loan terms. CCISCO leaders are calling on banks to
hold meetings with community members who wish to modify their
loans. Read more at http://ga3.org/ct/d7_svVd1_E4X/

Community leaders in Queens organize for just development

In April, PICO affiliate Queens Congregations United for Action
(QCUA) in New York City joined with other community-based
organizations and workers in Queens to call for the just
redevelopment of Willets Point, a 61 acre area of land currently
home to 250 businesses with over 1,300 workers. The city is
proposing to move out the businesses and redevelop the area;
however, the plan does not include viable alternative work
options or compensation for the displaced workers nor real
affordable housing. QCUA leaders are calling on city officials
to include low-income housing and new job training for workers.
Read more at http://ga3.org/ct/cd_svVd1_E4f/

GOOD SCHOOLS

Flint congregations win support for educational improvement plan

On May 4, PICO affiliate Flint Area Congregations Together
(FACT) in Michigan organized a forum for candidates running for
the Flint Board of Education, asking them to work closely with
members of the community to address issues of school violence,
low student performance, and high dropout rates in the city's
schools. Leaders from FACT asked the candidates to commit to
working with FACT and other community partners to develop an
educational improvement plan by the end of 2008 to reduce
dropout rates and improve student performance, as well as
support programs to reduce violence in the schools. Read more
about FACT's work to improve schools in Flint at
http://ga3.org/ct/c7_svVd1_E4v/

Parents call for city leadership in light of school budget cuts

With Governor Schwarzenegger expected to cut school funding by
as much as 10 percent this summer, members of the San Francisco
Organizing Project (SFOP) have been working to ensure that
schools across the city continue to receive adequate funding. On
April 28, parent leaders from Sanchez Elementary School, a
member of SFOP in the city's Mission District, organized a town
hall meeting with over 250 concerned parents and community
members to ask county officials and the Mayor's office to
release funding from the city's Rainy Day fund to make up for
the an anticipated loss of $40 million in state funding. Read
more at http://ga3.org/ct/Bd_svVd1_E4g/

San Bernardino youth prevent plan to lay off 155 teachers

Last week, youth leaders from PICO affiliate Inland
Congregations United for Change (ICUC) in San Bernardino won a
major victory recently when the school board decided unanimously
to revise their original plan to lay off 155 teachers, saying
that they would cut $31 million of the district's budget
without laying off the teachers. ICUC youth had been working
intensively over the past few weeks to stop the budget cuts and
ensure that the school board take measures to avoid laying off
teachers. Read more at http://ga3.org/ct/B7_svVd1_E4b/

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS 

L.A. Church beats the odds in struggle against liquor license

On April 15, the parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in
East Los Angeles celebrated a victory in their struggle to
uphold a city ordinance preventing the sale of alcohol within
500 feet of a school or religious institution. For six years,
parishioners had been fighting a developer's plan to build a
22,000 square foot pizza parlor/video arcade - that would sell
wine and beer - on a piece of property surrounded by a child
care center, a high school with 2,600 students, and an
elementary school with 830 students. After the parish joined
PICO affiliate L.A. Voice for assistance, the owners of the
business decided to rescind the license. Read more at
http://ga3.org/ct/dd_svVd1_E4B/

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Over 300 youth gather as part of campaign to change neighborhood

Over the weekend of April 25-26, more than 300 youth from the
Meadowview section of Sacramento gathered for the 1st Annual
Meadowview Youth Leadership Conference. A diverse neighborhood
in south Sacramento, Meadowview is plagued with high levels of
gang activity and violence. Youth and adult leaders from PICO
affiliate Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) organized
the conference as part of a broader campaign to inspire the
youth to believe in their own leadership and ability to make
change in the community. Read more at
http://ga3.org/ct/cp_svVd1_E45/

JOBS

PICO launches new online 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/ep_svVd1_E4d/ 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
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