News

Immigrant Integration Vigils Highlight Impact of Family Separation

May 14, 2013 · Faith in Action Kern County, San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP)

PICO California federations held Mother’s Day-themed prayer vigils that highlighted the challenges facing undocumented mothers who have been separated from their children because of the country’s broken immigration system.

Immigrant Integration Vigils Call Attention to Citizenship Priorities

May 8, 2013 · Congregations Building Community (CBC), Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Faith in Community, Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP)

PICO federations throughout the state are holding prayer vigils and other events to call attention to the 11 million aspiring Americans seeking a pathway to citizenship.

Immigrant Integration Introduction of Federal Legislation Sparks Vigils, Sustained Actions Around the Statue

April 28, 2013 · Congregations Building Community (CBC), Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT), San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), Faith in Community, Faith in Action Kern County, Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), Placer People of Faith Together, L.A. Voice, PICO California

PICO's Campaign for Citizenship is launching a series of vigils and other events to call attention to much-needed amendments to the immigration reform bill introduced by the Senate's Gang of Eight.

Immigrant Integration Take Action in the Campaign for Citizenship

March 24, 2013 · PICO California

Call the Campaign for Citizenship Hotline TODAY (1-888-979-7506) and tell your Member of Congress to make citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans the focus of any new immigration legislation!

Immigrant Integration PICO Leaders Share Stories, Citizenship Platform With Federal Officials

March 15, 2013 · PICO California

California members of PICO National's Campaign for Citizenship Steering Committee joined others in Washington, D.C., to meet with the White House, conduct Hill visits, and meet with the U.S. Senators who are crafting a bipartisan immigration bill.

Immigrant Integration Thousands participate in trainings, congressional meetings, and forums calling for pathway to citizenship

March 15, 2013 · PICO California, Congregations Building Community (CBC), Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), Merced Organizing Project, People and Congregations Together (PACT Stockton), Placer People of Faith Together, Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT)

PICO federations in California have launched the Campaign for Citizenship. Throughout the state, clergy and community leaders are joining together in trainings, meetings with Congressional representatives, and community forums.

Immigrant Integration Sacramento event kicks off series of forums around the state: two more planned for this weekend

March 15, 2013 · Placer People of Faith Together, Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT)

Sacramento ACT and Placer People of Faith Together, in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, recently launched their Campaign for Citizenship with a forum attended by over 900 people.

Health Care Access Medi-Cal expansion bills sail through CA Legislature

March 8, 2013

Article from The Sacramento Bee about two Medi-Cal expansion bills that have been approved by the Legislature.

Immigrant Integration Coalition pushes citizenship as part of immigration reform

February 20, 2013

Article from The Hill that explains PICO's position in the immigration reform debate and our clear message of citizenship within a seven-year timeframe.

Immigrant Integration Community responds to White House Immigration Bill with Path to Residency

February 18, 2013 · People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose)

PACT in San Jose with the PICO National Network responded today to the news that President Obama is writing an immigration reform proposal that could delay citizenship another generation.

Immigrant Integration Clergy, DREAMers and Community Leaders Welcome President Obama’s Commitment to Citizenship

January 29, 2013

PICO California reiterates commitment to citizenship for American immigrant families. Read Full Press release.

A Tribute to Ron Snyder

December 13, 2012 · Oakland Community Organizations (OCO)

Hundreds of OCO leaders, staff and allies gathered to recognize Ron Snyder, who is stepping down as Executive Director, but will continue his service to PICO as a consultant with Pastor John Rutsindintwarane Executive Director of PICO Rwanda.

Education The Parent Teacher Home Visit Project participates in a Roundtable Discussion with Arne Duncan in Washington DC

December 13, 2012 · Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT)

week Carrie Rose, the Director of the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project, and a Sacramento ACT leader, was invited to a roundtable discussion with Arne Duncan in Washington DC

Land of Opportunity, Civic Participation California federations win funding for schools and health care

November 13, 2012 · PICO California

PICO California’s leaders waited until early in the morning to claim victory on Proposition 30, a revenue measure to fund education and community services.

Civic Participation Californians Vote to Pass Prop 30!

November 7, 2012 · PICO California

Proposition 30 passed with 53.9% in favor. Read PICO California's statement on the passage of Prop 30.

Civic Participation High School Students March to the Polls in Oakland

November 1, 2012 · Oakland Community Organizations (OCO)

On Tuesday, newly registered 18 year olds marched from Dewey Alternative High School to the Alameda County Registrar’s office to vote for the first time.

Civic Participation ICUC Youth Lead a Historic Shift in Inland Empire Politics

October 25, 2012 · Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC)

ICUC youth lead the largest grassroots Get Out The Vote effort ever carried out in this politically important region of California.

Civic Participation Modesto Phone Bank Gains Steam

October 25, 2012 · Congregations Building Community (CBC)

Congregations Building Community (CBC) in Modesto has recruited volunteers of all ages for its “Yes on 30” phone bank: the youngest is seven years old and the oldest is 85!

Civic Participation Changing the face of who votes in Orange County

October 23, 2012 · Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO)

Six weeks into their campaign, Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO) has made amazing progress, completing 12,094 conversations with voters and identifying more than 7000 people who will vote “yes” on Proposition 30.

Civic Participation Friends and Family Night in Bakersfield

October 23, 2012 · Faith in Action Kern County

Faith in Action Kern County (FIA) devised a creative solution to a challenge they were having staffing their phone bank on Wednesday nights – Bible study night in many of their local congregations.

Civic Participation PICO Canvassers Hit the Streets – and the Airwaves!

October 18, 2012 · Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP)

Around the state, leaders and staff with PICO federations are loading their bags with flyers, putting on their walking shoes, and canvassing their local neighborhoods to get out the Vote on November 6.

Civic Participation Clergy Leaders Encourage the Faithful to Vote their Values

October 17, 2012 · Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), L.A. Voice, San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP)

Rev. Dr. George Cummings, Pastor Ryan Bell, Imam Al Amin, and Fr. Scott Santarosa are engaging their congregations in voter registration drives, the Proposition 30 campaign, and general “get out the vote” efforts.

Education Pastor Bell Explains to Local College Students Why He Supports Prop 30

October 11, 2012 · L.A. Voice, PICO California

Civic Participation Speakers Bureau is Launched for Voter Engagement and Prop 30

September 25, 2012 · Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR)

Mary Schlarb, a grandmother and COR leader from Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Union City, is working full time to register voters and turn them out on November 6th.

Civic Participation Riverside Youth Kick off Prop 30 Campaign with Street Theatre

September 24, 2012 · Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC)

On Friday September 7th, over 70 people gathered on the steps of the First Congregational Church in downtown Riverside to kick-off ICUC Riverside's civic engagement campaign.

Immigrant Integration PICO Clergy ask Gov. Brown to Sign the Trust Act

September 24, 2012 · PICO California, San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), Placer People of Faith Together

On Tuesday, September 18th, PICO Clergy joined with the California Immigrant Policy Center and CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) to urge Governor Brown to sign AB 1081, the Trust Act.

Civic Participation First Round of Phone Banking Completed in Oakland

September 12, 2012 · Oakland Community Organizations (OCO)

Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) was the first PICO federation to launch a Prop. 30 phone bank. OCO leaders proved themselves passionate and committed, filling 725 shifts with 375 volunteers.

Education , Youth Development Lifelines to Healing, Immigrant Integration, Health Care Access Legislative Updates

September 12, 2012 · San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), PICO California

The end of the legislative session saw a flurry of activity on bills and issues that are important to PICO leaders, including Lifelines, Immigration, Education and Health Care.

Education The "Yes on 30" Campaign Begins!

August 7, 2012 · Congregations Building Community (CBC), Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA), L.A. Voice, People and Congregations Together (PACT Stockton), Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), People Acting in Community Together (PACT San Jose), PICO California, San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT)

On Tuesday August 7th, PICO leaders and clergy from across the state gathered on the West Steps of the State Capitol to participate in Reclaim California’s Future’s campaign launch for Proposition 30.