INVITATION: PICO NATIONAL RECRUITMENT EVENT – WWW.ACTUALRESPONSIBILITIES.ORG
This year’s presidential campaign has been an incredible training ground for grassroots organizers. For those who feel inspired to continue being a part of a grassroots movement to change the country, PICO National Network is offering former campaign staff the opportunity to explore a career as a professional community organizer.
http://www.actualresponsibilities.org
Electing politicians who represent our views is only half of the battle. The other half is building the grassroots political will for change and working to hold elected officials accountable to the needs of their constituents. This is what PICO organizers do.
To help orient potential organizers to PICO and learn more about job opportunities within the network, PICO is hosting a National Recruitment Event in Denver, Colorado from December 2-4. For those invited to attend the event, PICO will cover airfare, hotel, and meals. To learn more about organizing with PICO, or to apply to the Recruitment Event, visit www.actualresponsibilities.org.
Please send all questions to jobs@piconetwork.org.
Sincerely,
Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews
Director of Outreach and Recruitment
PICO is a national network of 53 faith-based community organizations working in 17 states and 150 cities and towns. One of the largest, most diverse grassroots organizations in the country, PICO unlocks the power of everyday people to transform their communities, cities, states and the country.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, OF BARACK, of Samson, of Jephthah; and David also, Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had test of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of chains and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were cut in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered around in goatskins and sheepskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise:God having provided something better for us, that without us they would not be made perfect.
Text is available in 35 GLOBAL LANGUAGES
UPDATE: 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE
Sent this to the Obama campaign folks:Beginning with the primary and until a short while ago, I was a very enthusiastic Obama supporter. My enthusiasm is beginning to wobble a bit, however, since Sen Obama's declaration of support for faith-based initiatives. I share Rev. Barry Lynn's concerns (http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr009=5id8k4ger1.app1b&abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=9927&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241) and also wonder how we can use taxpayers' money to support hospitals that decide what procedures they will perform based on religious doctrine. How, when we need a complete overhaul of how we provide medical services, can we spend the time and energy to monitor whether or not people in faith-based medical situations are proselytizing? And what counts as proselytizing? Does having religious symbols over every hospital bed count?I am deeply concerned. At the very least, it seems to me that Sen. Obama should state his position on the separation of church and state it very clearly. I also think that if he does believe in using tax money to support faith-based organizations to help with the government's work, he needs to determine and publicize how he's going to support initiatives of secular organizations when they contribute to the community--and name names like Ethical Culture Societies and the various Humanist organizations, some of which have assumed that they could never qualify for government grants to do community work.I look forward to hearing something encouraging coming from the campaign very soon."
Got an insipid reply--that answered none of my concerns. This is scary not just from a church-state point of view but from a general concern about what other surprises we have to look forward to. Will there be a new way of looking at a permanent war on terror that sounds vaguely like a Bush war?
If Sen Obama is going to voice positions on critical and sensitive issues, seems to me he needs to be very specific. What happens when the only hospital in town is Catholic because the public hospital went belly-up because of lack of funding and a 13 year old wants an abortion?
Like I said, sad and disappointed.
Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships: That's the title of a President's Council within the Obama White House. You can read the whole plan on this site. What stands out:
Grants would go to both faith-based and secular nonprofit community programs -- not all, only the proven best. The federal money could be used only for secular programs; no illegal (federal law) discrimination is allowed either in providing services or in hiring. One big focus: summer learning for children, expected to cost $500 Million, financed by the cutting of waste in government procurement and management.
If this all sounds familiar, maybe you're thinking of CETA, a system some decades ago of federal funding of community programs for employment training. Though flawed, CETA had similar restraints with no insidious problem of discrimination, partly because the funded non-profits were sliced and diced to reflect the segments and needs of the local community.
Rev. Barry Lynn, an attorney, minister, and the executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, asks why we need any faith-based initiative at all. We don't.
That said, there are religious places with fine social welfare programs which deserve to be reimbursed. Sometimes it's the only game in town. It's too much to ask every temple sponsoring a summer learning program to establish a separate legal entity in order to receive federal funding. If it's doing good work and following the rules, it should be considered on the level of secular neighborhood non-profits.
Sen. Obama's Summer Learning Program sounds good on paper. I wish it included a special section with its own funding for special needs children. But I'm not afraid the wall between church and state will be breached.
I am not one to be speaking for this campaign, our candidate, a particular organization or religion, but this is my story of how action based on faith has played out in my life.
I did not grow up in a "religious" household, but was exposed to rituals of friends and classmates in a predominately Catholic neighborhood. My grandparents were Buddhists when it came to weddings and funerals. I recall my mother saying at one point in her life she attended a church in Chicago that was "like the Holy Rollers" which was well out of my scope of understanding at the time. It was a surprise, because I had no idea she had ever been in a Christian church at all except for her own wedding and those of friends and relatives. I never attended a Sunday School class until I was invited by a friend in high school. From that point forward I've been challenged by the teachings, teachers and mentors I've encountered along my personal faith journey. It hasn't been smooth and easy, I've been seen as the "Prodigal Daughter" as I've moved in and out of the structured church system on more than one occasion. Yet, this exposure to organized religion has been my grounding and calling for a large portion of my lifetime to work with youth and young adults, taking employment at Head Start, doing volunteer work, and accepting the challenge of becoming a faith-based community organizer.
I had the honor of training with some of the most seasoned veterans in the organizing world. We worked with priests, ministers and lay people of many, many faith traditions... INCLUDING atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, people from all political affiliations, in all the "colors" of the globe. We shared our stories to build community, mutual understanding and strengthen the organization. We identified and worked together on social issues, and "agreed to disagree" on those that might divide us. We praised, prayed, meditated, danced, or sang whatever a volunteer leader offered to share with the gathering to reflect on our discussions, heal our disappointments and (often) heated disagreements, lift up and celebrate our accomplishments. We also wrestled mightily with issues of balance and fairness and inclusiveness with this amazing "toss salad" of humanity. It is all part of the dynamic process of an ever-evolving community.
I've since moved on from the organization I helped to build. Now, I'm pleased to run into some of the people I've worked side-by-side with, right here on My.BarackObama and at campaign meetings and events. How can we not be here?!? I am thoroughly enjoying this front-row seat in seeing community organizing unfold on the national stage, and feel blessed that I can do my small part in it all.
I hope those who bristle at the term "faith-based" will seek to learn more and reconsider their stance on this issue. I also encourage those who have been involved in faith-based organizations or initiatives, whether on the implementation or receiving ends, to take some time to share their thoughts and stories also.
****
“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Washington Post offered an opinion stating democrats who have traditionaly voted on economic issues no longer vote a straight democratic ticket. As economic conditions they turn to their religion for comfort. Many of the faithful are strongly opposed to abortion and gay marriage rights. Perhaps it is because of this Obama said they are "bitter."
The Post claims they are bitter about how the party has changed. It is not the party it was many years ago when JFK was president. Different times, different issues. Things change and Obama has answers for our time.
However, even as a Utah resident, I find faith based organizations. I learned of a group called Catholics for Obama, and another faith based group - Mormons for Obama. I believe his position on other issues has swayed many voters and turned them in our direction. Toward doing just that, I email my friends and family who are republican articles, videos, and excerpts from blogs. I trust when they know where the candidates really stand, they will make the choice for change.
The republican campaign is already shaping up as a nasty, deceptive, attack strategy, McCain doesn't seem to be willing to focus on the issues and deliver "straight talk" as he said he would. What's new? He's changed his position on many things (but that's a subject for another post).
That's why it is important to inform our friends, family, and as many others as possible where the candidates stand on substantive issues. We can't afford to volly insults along with him. Those tactics have never been a part of this campaign (although Obama and campaign have had to defend against the deceptions republicans have hurled at him). He maintains the high road and it will affect voters, faith-based and otherwise, he is the candidate voters will decide should be in the White House.
