NCNC churches lead community organizing efforts

In Marin County and on the Central Coast, NCNC churches are taking the lead in advocating for progress and change using community organizing efforts and affiliating with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) based in Chicago.

On October 25, 1130 delegates from dozens of Marin’s religious and non-profit institutions filled the gymnasium at San Rafael High School to announce the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) as a permanent voice for progress and change in Marin County. All four of Marin’s UCC churches are leaders in this effort:  Community UCC, Fairfax; Community Congregational UCC, Tiburon; Community UCC, Mill Valley, and First UCC, San Rafael.

On Nov. 22, 1000 delegates from 35 faith based and non-profit organizations in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties marked the fifth anniversary of COPA, Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action, in a "Share Prosperity Convention" at the Henry Mello Center in Watsonville.  Teresa Macedo and Carol Keeney of First UCC, Santa Cruz were leaders, and 100 church members attended.

“We are here today because we believe in the value of shared prosperity. Our diverse faith traditions teach us to believe in this value and our democratic tradition compels us to act to bring about government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’ in the words of President Lincoln,” said Carol Keeney of First Congregational UCC, Santa Cruz.

A common strategy in Marin and the Central Coast is to get elected officials to attend these large gatherings, hear the community’s concerns and ask them to commit to future actions.  COPA has extracted promises from county supervisors to build family resource centers, offer more ESL classes and build more low-cost housing.  At the Nov. meeting US Rep. Sam Farr committed to helping get more trained foreclosure counselors into the region, to assist in building a regional sports complex in Salinas, and to try to prevent immigration raids in the community.

Working together with county officials, the Marin group recently secured $150,000 toward a much needed temporary shelter for the homeless this winter and a commitment from the county to work toward a permanent solution.

At the Marin assembly, Lynn Bauer of the Fairfax church said, "All of us are willing to stand together to make our county a better, more just place to live.”

Pam Shortridge, pastor of the Community UCC, Mill Valley gave the closing prayer; "We stand shoulder to shoulder praying for God to strengthen our commitment to be in covenant through the good times and the hard times as we work together for the common good in Marin.

“Together we pledge to be in relationship: listening to the painful truths in our stories, building connections across all boundaries of race, religion, and culture, investing our time and our institution’s money, leaning on one another and holding on to one another during the tough times, and acting together with our elected representatives for positive change. All I can say is: Amen. Amen.”