PICO California statement in support of a proposal to raise state revenue

PICO California, December 2, 2011

Safe Neighborhoods
Sr. Helen Prejean comes to St. Columba to “Affirm Life” & District 2 Community Members Walk for a Safer Community

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), May 16, 2011

Oakland Community Organization (OCO) held two back to back events to both promote life and prevent violence.

School Improvement | Youth Development
Parents from Hoover Elementary Hold “Support Our West Oakland Teachers” Action

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), May 10, 2011

OCO Leaders asked District 3 Oakland Unified School District Board Member (OUSD) Board Member Jumoke Hinton-Hodge and OUSD Spokesperson Troy Flint to make commitments to the West Oakland community.

Immigration Reform
PICO East Bay Leaders, Rep. Luis Gutierrez Come Together in Oakland to Call for Administrative Relief for Immigrants

Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA), Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), May 6, 2011

More than 1,200 East Bay area faith leaders call on the President to halt unnecessary deportations.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
Clergy, homeowners speak directly to Wells Fargo CEO & call for foreclosure moratorium

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), PICO National Network, May 4, 2011

"If you believe in the same God as I do, then you will stop the foreclosure madness right now." These words rang out yesterday in front of a hushed audience, as Rev. Dr. Mario Howell, pastor of Antioch Church Family and a clergy leader with PICO affiliate CCISCO (Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization), spoke directly to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf at the bank's annual shareholders gathering in San Francisco.

School Improvement | Youth Development
Union City celebrates the opening of a new community-designed small school

Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), May 4, 2011

COR leaders, parents, students, and community members, in collaboration with New Haven Unified School District are celebrating as they wrap up enrollment for students of the Institute of Community Leaders (ICL) for fall 2011.

School Improvement | Youth Development
Parents, Students, Teachers, Principals, and Classified Staff Join Together to “Save Our Schools”

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), May 3, 2011

Earlier this month Oakland Community Organization held a “Save Our Schools” Action at the Cesar Chavez Learning Center on International Blvd. 1,500 parents, students, teachers, principals, and classified staff attended the event.

Immigration Reform
Change Takes Courage: Peninsula Interfaith Action supports visit by Congressman Gutierrez

Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), April 27, 2011

Dozens of leaders from Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA) joined with partner organizations in Redwood City, CA to host a visit by Congressman Luis Gutierrez at El Buen Pastor / St. Peter Episcopal Church.

Health Care Access
Bring Health Reform Home events mark new health law

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), March 28, 2011

More than 1,000 people gathered in events across eights cities to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and build support for providing better and more cost-effective care in local communities.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
California Groups Launch Campaign to Make Wall Street Pay Their Fair Share

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), PICO California, March 20, 2011

During the week of March 14, PICO California, together with allies at ACCE, California Reinvestment Coalition and SEIU, launched a statewide campaign to pass a package of new state legislation aimed at protecting homeowners from fraudulent bank foreclosure practices.

Faith in Action declares “Let the people’s voice be heard.”

Congregations Building Community - Modesto (CBC), Faith in Action Kern County, Faith in Community (FIC), March 16, 2011

FIA held a press conference to highlight the importance of "letting the voters voice be heard" and submitted approximately 200 signatures from concerned constituents to each with a signed letter highlighting their concerns.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
PICO CA Leaders Tell Big Banks: "Pay Your Fair Share"

Faith in Community (FIC), Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), PICO California, March 16, 2011

Build support for state legislation to protect homeowners from fraudulent bank foreclosure practices and make banks pay their fair share for the housing and foreclosure crisis that has devastated the budgets of families, local communities, and the state.

Safe Neighborhoods
National Lifelines Training and Gathering

Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA), Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), March 15, 2011

On March 9-11 over 120 PICO clergy, leaders and staff from 16 affiliates from across the country convened in Oakland, CA for the first National Lifelines Training and Gathering.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
PICO Rallies Attorneys General to hold banks accountable

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), March 8, 2011

On Monday, a delegation of 12 PICO leaders joined 600 people from National People’s Action for a series of actions on the Attorneys General conference, Bank of America and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

School Improvement
PICO Leaders gather in Oakland for National Organizing Conference

PICO California, February 14, 2011

Leaders and staff visited schools in Oakland to learn more about creating great schools and will bring back to their local federation examples and ideas to build good local organizing work.

Safe Neighborhoods | Neighborhood Revitalization
PACT San Jose holds Community Action with Mayor Reed

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), February 2, 2011

With 7 murders in just the first few weeks of 2011, PACT faith and grassroots community leaders are calling on City leaders to make the rebuilding of community-police trust a top priority for protecting public safety in San José.

School Improvement | Youth Development
PICO National Education Organizing Research meetings in Washington

Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), PICO California, Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT), February 2, 2011

A group of 10 PICO leaders and staff participated in two days of research in Washington, D.C. on January 24 & 25, 2011

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
"We Will Put People in Jail" says Iowa's Attorney General Miller to homeowners at risk of foreclosure

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), PICO National Network, December 14, 2010

“Attorney General Miller made it clear that he sees this investigation as a chance to clean up the foreclosure crisis that has ransacked our communities for over three years now and continues to push down housing values for everyone. He stated that loan modifications will be a core component in any settlement,” said Gina Gates, a foreclosure victim with PACT-PICO in San Jose, California.

School Improvement
Dropout rise stirs action

Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), December 14, 2010

Gabriela Lopez, a member of Inland Congregations United for Change, a San Bernardino faith-based nonprofit that focuses on such issues as education and youth violence, believes the district needs to do a better job of adapting to the needs of the community.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
Los Angeles leaders tell banks to "invest in us"

L.A. Voice, November 11, 2010

On Monday, over 800 members of PICO affiliate L.A. Voice in Los Angeles gathered at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church to call on city council to pass a "responsible banking ordinance" that would move city deposits out of banks that refuse to help homeowners and small businesses and into responsible banks that are investing in the people of Los Angeles.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
City of San Jose starts responsible banking movement

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), October 26, 2010

Yesterday, San José Vice Mayor Judy Chirco, City Councilmembers Sam Liccardo, Madison Nguyen, Rose Herrera and Kansen Chu, and grassroots leaders from PICO affiliate PACT San Jose announced that the city has diverted nearly $1 billion from Bank of America based on the bank's poor record of modifying loans to stop preventable foreclosures.

Civic Participation
Stockton leaders host one of area's largest candidate forums

People and Congregations Together (PACT Stockton), October 25, 2010

Health Care Access
Bay Area Leaders get the word out about Health Care Changes

Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), September 23, 2010

Leaders from Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR) joined Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) to support the launch of the Bring Health Reform Home campaign.

Neighborhood Revitalization
SFOP Brings in Millions of Dollars for Community Revitalization

San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), September 2, 2010

Late this summer SFOP leaders helped negotiate one of the biggest development projects in the history of the Bayview community.

School Improvement
Thousands Gathered to Pray for Improved Education

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), September 1, 2010

Over 1,400 leaders from OCCCO participated in a healing mass held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana, CA to pray for better schools

School Improvement
Oakland Community Organizations Takes Story of School Transformation to Washington, D.C

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), July 30, 2010

Leaders and staff from Oakland Community Organizations joined with local school district allies in presenting the Oakland story of school transformation at a Congressional briefing and press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, July 28.

Neighborhood Revitalization
Orange County leaders continue work to improve their community

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), July 22, 2010

OCCCO worked with over 10 community partners through a collaborative from Central Santa Ana called the Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development (SACReD) to win significant improvements to their community.

Housing Opportunities | Health Care Access | Economic Security
800 PICO leaders descend on Sacramento to make kids priority in state budget

PICO California, June 25, 2010

On Wednesday, June 23 over 800 PICO leaders in California converged on the State Capitol to call on state officials to make children a priority in our state budget. Beginning at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacramento, PICO leaders including hundreds of youth and clergy marched to the State Capitol, where they spoke to state legislators and Governor Schwarzenegger through a press conference.

Economic Security
PACT urges U.S. Treasury to hold banks accountable

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), June 25, 2010

Over 500 community members joined PACT to urge the U.S. Treasury Department to hold banks accountable for modifying loans to stop the foreclosure crisis that continues to devastate our community and economy.

Neighborhood Revitalization
SDOP fights San Diego's real estate tax increment plan

San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), June 23, 2010

SDOP leaders and clergy cannot support shifting $6-billion to benefit downtown San Diego redevelopment and associated interests at the expense of programs and services needed by families throughout the entire city.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
BofA bars its own customers from closing their accounts

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), May 27, 2010

A group of faith and community leaders from San Jose, CA were physically locked out of by BofA executives last week as they tried to close their accounts at the grand opening of a new Bank of America branch in the city's hard-hit East Side neighborhood.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
Holding Banks Responsible By Community Organizing

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), PICO National Network, May 26, 2010

People Acting in Community Together (PACT), an affiliate of the People Improving Communities through Organizing- (PICO) National Network, organized the event, and brought about a dozen people together who planned to divest from the Bank of America.

Immigration Reform
Religious Leaders Travel to Arizona to Stand with Immigrants

PICO National Network, San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), April 29, 2010

A delegation of religious leaders from PICO traveled to Arizona today to lift up testimonies from, and pray with, residents stricken with fear ever since Governor Jan Brewer signed legislation last week criminalizing being in the state without proper documentation.

Economic Security
Faith Groups to Protest Bank of America, Wells Fargo

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), PICO National Network, April 27, 2010

“The business model of big banks seems to be to make money from squeezing their customers and Wall Street gambling without producing anything of value,” said the Rev. Dr. Mario Howell, clergy leader with Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization and the PICO National Network. “It’s time banks become part of making the economy work, not just profiting off of our hard times.”

Economic Security
CCISCO join Rally to to hold Wells Fargo Accountable

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), PICO National Network, April 22, 2010

Hundreds of CCISCO and PICO leaders will join SEIU, AFL-CIO, ACCE, California Reinvestment Coalition, Causa Justa :: Just Cause (CJJC), Tenants Together, to present a common set of demands to Wells Fargo.

Immigration Reform
SFOP Leaders prepare for Immigration Reform and continue Fight for Education

San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), April 22, 2010

In February 2010, PICO leaders from across the Bay Area met at St. Peter’s Catholic Church for a CIR training and strategy meeting to understand the policy and political worlds that surround the reform conversation, develop a short term and long-term strategy for winning reform, and build our organizing and communication skills for the campaign ahead.

Immigration Reform
Thousands March for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in San Francisco

Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA), Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), April 22, 2010

"I was proud to serve my country," said Iraq war veteran and CCISCO leader, "Rodrigo Peregrina, "I am here today as a veteran, a citizen and a voter. I am here to ask Senator Feinstein to stand with our veterans, our families and our community and support comprehensive immigration reform."

Immigration Reform
CCISCO Hosts Bridge-Building Workshop

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), April 21, 2010

CCISCO, in conjunction with the Diocese of Oakland and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, hosted a Bridge-Building workshop at Immaculate Heart of March Church in Brentwood, California.

Safe Neighborhoods
Hundreds gather in Oakland in support of violence intervention efforts

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), March 23, 2010

On Thursday, March 18th, 400 community members, local religious leaders, law enforcement, and national violence prevention experts joined Oakland elected officials at St. Columba Catholic Church to call for a scale-up of proven violence intervention strategies.

Immigration Reform
50+ PICO Leaders Make Cross-Country Pilgrimage for Immigration Reform

PICO California, PICO National Network, March 21, 2010

PICO's cross-country bus tour for comprehensive immigration reform is approaching the final leg of its journey, en route to participate in the "March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith." This historic event, which is taking place in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, is anticipated to draw tens of thousands of people from across the nation.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
Los Angeles Votes to "Invest in its Values"

L.A. Voice, PICO National Network, March 8, 2010

On March 5, Los Angeles City Council passed legislation that puts the city on the path to pulling its funds from irresponsible banks and setting new standards for investing public dollars in institutions that offer tangible benefits to the community.

Housing Opportunities
Faith Leaders Attend Bank of America Shareholders Meeting to Demand Halt to Foreclosures

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), PICO National Network, February 24, 2010

Yesterday, a delegation of PICO clergy and faith leaders, together with allies from other faith-based and consumer advocacy organizations, met with Barbara Desoer, President of Home Loans, Mortgage and Insurance at Bank of America, to discuss concrete strategies that the bank can take to prevent more of its borrowers from needlessly losing their homes.

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
Faith Groups Escalate Campaign to Hold Bank of America Accountable

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), PICO National Network, January 13, 2010

"Bank of America had nothing - no new ideas or proposals to offer to keep families in their homes and end the suffering in our communities," said Rev. Lucy Kolin, from Oakland Community Organizations and PICO National Network, who led the negotiation session. "We offered them a clear statement of the bottom line: Keep people in their homes. Do no harm. Put in place a moratorium so that Bank of America can get its act together and stop hurting our families and our communities. We went into this meeting willing to be hopeful, but we were disappointed. We will not let disappointment end our commitment."

Safe Neighborhoods | Immigration Reform
New L.A. police chief pledges trust between immigrants and police

L.A. Voice, December 20, 2009

On Friday, December 18, faith leaders from Dolores Mission Catholic Church, a member of PICO affiliate L.A. Voice in Los Angeles, packed the church plaza with over 200 Angelenos to welcome newly appointed police Chief Charlie Beck and his special Latino community liaison.

Economic Security | Safe Neighborhoods
Richmond community unites to address violence through jobs, training, mentoring

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), November 20, 2009

More than 300 diverse community residents gathered at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on November 19 and addressed the issue of violence in Richmond by focusing on the creation of jobs, training and mentoring programs. The action was organized by leaders from St. Mark's Catholic Church, Easter Hill United Methodist Church, and the Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council, all members of PICO affiliate Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO).

Housing Opportunities | Economic Security
Contra Costa faith leaders take major step forward in "Bank Accountability" campaign

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), October 24, 2009

On Tuesday, October 20, 2009, over 400 community residents packed the Dominican Hall at Holy Rosary Church in Antioch, CA to hold banks accountable for refusing to negotiate in good faith with homeowners. Joining them that night was the Reverend Jesse Jackson who offered words of inspiration and clarity on the effects of the banking system.

Housing Opportunities
Congregations work to prevent foreclosure scams in Bakersfield

Faith in Action Kern County, October 17, 2009

On Thursday, October 15, faith leaders from Faith in Action Kern County in Bakersfield, CA hosted over 230 community members for a town hall meeting on the growing number of foreclosure scams as well as how they can benefit from the federal Making Home Affordable Program.

Housing Opportunities
PICO affiliates step up pressure on Banks, Treasury to stop more foreclosures

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), PICO National Network, October 13, 2009

Last week, PICO affiliates presented Treasury officials in Washington, DC with hundreds of stories of families trying to avoid foreclosure in a campaign to have the Administration put more pressure on banks to increase the pace of loan modifications under the Making Home Affordable Program.

Health Care Access
Major Consumer, Faith, Patient & Civil Rights Groups Hold Capitol Hill Rally on Affordability for Families

PICO National Network, San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), September 16, 2009

Under the banner of Affordable Health Care is a Family Value, national consumer, faith and patient organizations representing tens of millions of families, held a lobby day and rally on Capitol Hill this afternoon pressing Congress to make sure that legislation includes clear affordability protections for families.

Health Care Access | Immigration Reform
Long Beach congregations hold health care & immigration reform forum

Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization (ICO), September 2, 2009

On September 1, 200 Long Beach residents gathered at St. Anthony's Catholic Church Hall, a member of Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization (ICO) to participate in a community forum on health care & immigration reform.

Immigration Reform
PICO leaders visit State Dept. to discuss Hmong humanitarian crisis

People and Congregations Together (PACT Stockton), PICO California, Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT), August 28, 2009

This week, three PICO Hmong leaders from Sacramento, CA traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with representatives from the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) and the Thai and Lao desk officers to urge them to take greater action to resolve the Hmong humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia.

Immigration Reform
East Bay youth urge passage of DREAM Act

Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), August 20, 2009

About 20 youth members of the PICO affiliate Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), together with other community members, gathered at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Union City, CA to call on lawmakers to reform immigration laws, including passing the DREAM Act.

Immigration Reform
Town Hall Meeting with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren holds up need for Immigration Reform

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), August 8, 2009

On August 7, over 750 people, including clergy of many faiths, came together in San Jose, CA for a town hall meeting with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren to highlight the urgent need for just and humane comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).

Health Care Access
Crowd of 300 win commitment from Rep. Loretta Sanchez to support health reform

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), August 5, 2009

On August 2, community members from Orange County, CA participated in a prayer vigil with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a Blue Dog Democrat from Santa Ana, to highlight the community's desire and need for comprehensive health care reform this year.

Health Care Access
Video shows health care struggles of families in Kern County, CA

Faith in Action Kern County, August 3, 2009

PICO affiliate Faith in Action Kern County produced the following video that documents the health care struggles of families in the greater Bakersfield area of California.

Safe Neighborhoods | Youth Development
Early results from San Diego youth collaborative shows big results

San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), August 1, 2009

For the past two years, PICO affiliate San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP) has led a vision and effort to make San Diego the most youth-friendly city in the United States. SDOP's hard work has resulted in some extraordinary wins thus far.

Safe Neighborhoods | Youth Development
Faith Works Creates Opportunities for Youth in San Diego County

Faith Works North San Diego County, July 28, 2009

In July, PICO affiliate Faith Works of North San Diego County, CA won twin victories in its "Lift Every Voice for Youth" initiative.

Health Care Access | Immigration Reform
Call for Healthy, United Families Draws 400 supporters

Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), July 20, 2009

On July 18, volunteer leaders from Peninsula Interfaith Action, a PICO affiliate with 30 member congregations on the San Francisco Peninsula, held a town hall meeting to seek policy changes in health care and immigration.

Immigration Reform
PICO leaders in San Francisco hold prayer rally for Immigration Reform

San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), June 19, 2009

Health Care Access
California youth travel to Sacramento to urge Governor not to cut their health care

PICO California, June 18, 2009

On June 17, 200 PICO youth and adult leaders marched on the California State Capitol to protect Healthy Families - California's SCHIP - and kid's lives.

Housing Opportunities
PICO and National People's Action kick off series of Fed Reserve hearings in hard-hit communities

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), PICO National Network, June 16, 2009

Two hundred area residents came to tell representatives from the Federal Reserve about the challenges their communities face in recovering from the twin crises.

Housing Opportunities
Bakersfield teams up with Fed Reserve to host mortgage borrower outreach event

Faith in Action Kern County, June 15, 2009

In June, PICO affiliate Faith In Action Kern County, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development hosted a mortgage borrower outreach event.

Health Care Access
PICO leaders rally with Congressman George Miller for health reform

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), June 14, 2009

On June 13, over 500 people from Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) turned out for a town hall meeting on health care reform with Congressman George Miller, chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Health Care Access
San Jose launches series of Health Reform Town Halls with CA Congressmembers

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), May 28, 2009

Last night, over 300 faith leaders from PACT San Jose and other Bay Area PICO affiliates held the first of a series of town hall meetings in California with Members of Congress to build support for health care reform legislation.

Health Care Access
Contra Costa faith leaders fight harmful health cuts, preserve $1.5 million for clinics

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), April 29, 2009

In less than one week, faith leaders from PICO affiliate Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) organized three health care forums with County Supervisors and their staff to give the community an opportunity to voice their opinions on harmful cuts to the Basic Healthcare Program.

Immigration Reform
Sacramento Catholic Churches create Immigration Support Network

Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT), April 15, 2009

For the past year, PICO affiliate Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) has been collaborating with the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and Bishop Jamie Soto to realize a diocese-wide Immigration Support Network.

Safe Neighborhoods
San Jose parents & community members press school district on dropout crisis

People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), April 13, 2009

On April 3, PICO affiliate PACT San Jose took another huge step forward in transforming education in San Jose so that all kids have access to a path to college.

Safe Neighborhoods | School Improvement
Congregations & schools unite to tackle Stockton's dropout crisis

People and Congregations Together (PACT Stockton), April 6, 2009

On Saturday, April 4, over 200 faith leaders from PICO affiliate People and Congregations Together (PACT) in Stockton, CA came together with schools officials to launch a "Steps to Success Campaign" aimed at reducing the dropout rate in Stockton Unified School District.

School Improvement
New Annenberg study finds OCO's grassroots organizing key to sustaining school reform in Oakland

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), April 3, 2009

On April 2, the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University and Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) released a new report that credits OCO with being the catalyst for launching the city's successful small school reform effort and for creating the political will to sustain this reform for nearly a decade.

Housing Opportunities
Richmond residents hold banks accountable for helping rebuild city hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), March 17, 2009

On Thursday, March 12, over 500 residents from the hard-hit city of Richmond, CA packed St. Mark's Catholic Church to ask city, county, and bank leaders to take aggressive steps to deal with the approximately 2,000 abandoned, foreclosed bank-owned properties in this city of 100,000.

Immigration Reform
San Francisco leaders urge Speaker of the House to move forward with immigration reform this year

San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), March 16, 2009

In March, PICO affiliate San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP) and ally organizations held a high-energy town hall meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Luis Gutierrez, urging them to make fixing the broken immigration system a national priority.

School Improvement
Students organize for quality education in Contra Costa County schools

Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), February 27, 2009

With California’s struggling economy and rising unemployment; a high-quality education that prepares students for the workforce or college is paramount to the stability of local communities throughout the state. On February 24, nearly three hundred students, concerned parents and faith leaders from the Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) gathered city and state officials, including California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, to express their concerns, research, and personal testimonies about inadequate school preparation in their communities.

Housing Opportunities
Faith leaders fight foreclosures & blight in southern California

Faith in Action Kern County, February 20, 2009

Kern County residents win commitments from Wells Fargo to buy foreclosed properties at discounted rate; more assistance for struggling homeowners; money for neighborhood stabilization.

Economic Security | Immigration Reform
Immigrant families lead way on fair towing policy

Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), February 13, 2009

After hundreds of one-to-one conversations with community members from Cathedral City, CA revealed that many immigrant families were being stopped by police for minor traffic violations and then having their cars impounded, members of Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) went to work changing the police department's car confiscation policy.