[COMM-ORG] PICO update

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

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


January 27, 2010

People of faith organize through the PICO network to transform their
communities in hundreds of cities and towns in the United States,
Rwanda and Central America.   This edition of PICO Network News focuses
on collaborative work by PICO affiliates to address some of the most
important challenges facing the United States.

KEEPING FAMILIES FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES

On January 12, homeowners and clergy from PICO affiliates in Contra
Costa County, Oakland and San Jose, CA and Brockton, MA held a public
negotiation session with nine officials from Bank of America at Antioch
Church Family in Antioch, CA.

Fifty witnesses, including religious leaders and representatives from
SEIU, NAACP and National People's Action watched the negotiations,
which focused on reducing foreclosures and increasing the flow of
credit into low-income communities.  In the adjacent sanctuary, 500+
homeowners prayed and gave testimony to Bank of America's near-complete
failure to permanently modify mortgages of families facing foreclosure.

Read more, and watch video from the event, at
http://www.piconetwork.org/news-media/news?id=0097

"VIDEO: Rev. Dr. Mario Howell from Antioch Church Family offers
his closing remarks"

"Putting their Faith into the Foreclosure Fight," Boston Globe

"A Deal with Bank of America is in their Prayers," New York Times

"Faith Leaders to Move their Money out of Bank of America unless
their Demands are Met," Huffington Post

"Bank of America's Moynihan gets a visit," Boston Business Journal


AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

On January 13, PICO partnered with SEIU, Community Catalyst, Center for
Community Change and other organizations on a National Day of Action on
Health Care Affordability, with 150 grassroots leaders in Washington,
D.C. for a Summit attended by 12 Members of Congress, and 50+ events
around the country.

Now, with health care reform on the line, PICO organizations are
engaging thousands of people in call-in days and meetings with Members
of Congress to show support for finishing reform.   Read a Washington
Post OP ED by Rev. Heyward Wiggins urging Congress to "be not
afraid" to get the job done on health care at
http://www.piconetwork.org/news-media/coverage?id=0373.

"At Faith and Family Groups' Summit, U.S. Reps. Commit to Make
Affordability Priority in Health Reform Bill," PICO National
Network http://www.piconetwork.org/news-media/releases?id=0025

"Confronting the Affordability Gap in Health Care Bills," NPR
Morning Edition http://www.piconetwork.org/news-media/coverage?id=0366

"Healthcare reform must be within all our reach," OP ED by
Andy Stern and Rev. Dr. George Cummings, PICO Co-Chair - The Hill

"The Human Face of Health Care Affordability," Huffington Post


IMMIGRATION REFORM

In mid-January, PICO organizations in Colorado, California, and New
York participated in launching a new push for Comprehensive Immigration
Reform in 2010.

More than 1,000 people attended each of two large public actions
organized PICO Colorado with Sen. Michael Bennet.  In New York City,  
PICO affiliates Brooklyn Congregations United and Queens Congregations
United for Action joined with Catholic Charities and Catholic Migration
Office to organize prayer vigils at two local parishes.

"Over 1,000 turnout in Denver for Comprehensive Immigration
Reform," PICO National Network
http://www.piconetwork.org/news-media/news?id=0099

"Large crowd in Denver demands immigration reform in U.S.,"
KDVR Denver


SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

PICO's core work continues to focus on helping people come together to
transform their communities through powerful local organizing.  Last
weekend, 120 PICO leaders and staff gathered for a two-day training on
education organizing in San Jose, California, where local PICO
affiliate PACT has led a multi-year campaign to transform their school
district by creating new small schools and charter schools.

Through workshops and plenary sessions, staff and leaders explored
issues ranging from research and data to support organizing, increasing
graduation rates, turning around struggling schools, teacher quality,
and school funding.  School tours and presentations on their
system-level work by PICO affiliates in Oakland, Denver, San Jose, and
Sacramento contributed to the learning of leaders and staff alike.


CAREERS WITH PICO

Visit http://www.OrganizingCareers.org to learn more about what it
means to organize with PICO, watch videos of organizers talking about
their experiences, and search for jobs, submit your resume, and sign up
to receive future job announcements.


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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
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