Teaming up to make a difference; Interfaith collaborative steps into the vacuum of scarce public resources.Byline: Bronislaus B. Kush Kush: see Cush. For most people, weekends are a good time to catch up on things they couldn't accomplish during the workweek or to escape from life's grind by engaging in leisure activity. Richard Gemme, however, has spent his free time most Saturday mornings during the past year stooped over a workbench, laboriously crafting soup bowls for an event this week to benefit Worcester Interfaith. The organization, founded 14 years ago, is a coalition of churches and synagogues working together to advocate on behalf of inner city residents. Across the country, more people like Mr. Gemme, who runs a pottery studio from the basement of his home on Dell Avenue in Worcester, are becoming involved with church- or faith-based organizations in an attempt to reinvigorate neighborhoods largely populated with the working class and poor. "We reach out to these neighborhoods to try to better the lives of residents," said Frank Kartheiser, Worcester Interfaith's lead organizer. Nationally, groups such as Worcester Interfaith, which is based at First Baptist Church First Baptist Church may refer to many churches: Canada
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. effort with the values of its congregations to tackle issues affecting families and neighborhoods, such as job creation, public safety, school funding, immigration reform Immigration reform is the common term used in political discussions regarding changes to immigration policy. In a certain sense, reform can be general enough to include promoted, expanded, or open immigration, but in reality discussions of reform often deal with the aspect of and recreational opportunities. Worcester Interfaith officials credit their organization, for example, with helping to create up to 1,000 summer jobs for city youth, being part of efforts to keep municipal pools and beaches open this year and convincing school authorities to level-fund Worcester's community schools. "We work in collaboration with other groups to preserve programs, especially in times of tight budgets," said Mary S. Keefe, executive director of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Center in Worcester and co-chairman of Worcester Interfaith with Rabbi Seth Bernstein of Temple Sinai in Worcester. "There are issues that we draw the line in the sand for," she said. Many of these local coalitions have also joined regional and national networks that provide training and support, like the PICO Pico (pē`kō) [Port.,=peak], island (1991 pop. 15,129), 167 sq mi (433 sq km), Horta dist., in the N Atlantic, one of the central Azores. It takes its name from the volcanic mountain, Pico Alto [high peak], which rises to 7,711 ft (2,350 m). National Network, founded in 1972 by the Rev. John Bauman, a Jesuit priest. Gordon Whitman, director of public policy and communications for the California-based organization, said networks like PICO add lobbying punch to causes trumpeted by the much smaller grass-roots groups. For example, PICO aggressively acted on a request from a number of Louisiana CODE, OF LOUISIANA. In 1822, Peter Derbigny, Edward Livingston, and Moreau Lislet, were selected by the legislature to revise and amend the civil code, and to add to it such laws still in force as were not included therein. churches seeking federal housing money for individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. , he said.
He said his organization was a major player in convincing Congress in 2005 to approve $4 billion in such funding because PICO-affiliated pastors from San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. County made a personal pitch to Jerry Lewis, the Republican congressman who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee In the United States government, the Appropriations Committee can refer to either:
Mr. Lewis represents the southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, county on Capitol Hill. At the urging of many faith-based groups, PICO, formerly known as the Pacific Institute for Community Organizations, is now involved in the campaign to convince President Bush to support legislation that would expand health insurance to 4 million children from low-income families. "We work on issues that affect people," said Mr. Whitman. Several Massachusetts churches signed a letter in support of the bill that was sent to the White House by PICO late last month. Since the president's veto of the legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Children's Health Definition Children's health encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of children from infancy through adolescence. Insurance Program, PICO and other organizations are working to override the veto "because it is the right and moral thing to do," said Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, executive director of Cleveland-based Faithful Reform in Health Care, whose members include Jews, Christians and Muslims. Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition in Boston, said marriages between churches and neighborhood or issues groups give both partners more political muscle. "These partnerships combine the moral clarity Moral clarity is a catch-phrase associated with American political conservatives. Popularized by William J. Bennett's Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism, the phrase moral clarity of the churches with the grass-roots power of neighborhood groups," he said. Mr. Noorani said many faith-based organizations have become involved with MIRAC MIRAC Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition MIRAC Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition MIRAC Management Information Research Assistance Center because of the expertise the coalition can offer on immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. issues. MIRAC's efforts have had such appeal to church groups that the coalition last spring sponsored an "interfaith summit for immigrant justice" at the Statehouse state·house also state house n. A building in which a state legislature holds sessions; a state capitol. statehouse Noun NZ a rented house built by the government Noun 1. that drew at least 1,200 participants. Speakers included Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley
Faith-based groups are also filling gaps created when government can't, or won't, get involved in particular situations. For example, the Montachusett Interfaith Hospitality Network operates a homeless shelter in Fitchburg for families that don't qualify for state welfare assistance. The center, funded by area churches and individuals, last year aided 24 families. It does not receive government funding. "The state does what it can and we help those who do not receive help," said Art Heusser, the facility's director. He said about 80 percent of those assisted by the MIHN eventually find permanent homes. The organization helps homeless families with a variety of programs that help them mainstream back into society. Some of the biggest faith-based groups involved in providing assistance to inner city residents are linked to mainstream church denominations. For example, Catholic Charities of Worcester County provides health, educational, housing and other services to the needy. The organization is the charitable arm of the Diocese of Worcester The Diocese of Worcester is a shared name for several ecclesiastical territories, or dioceses, of Christianity:
"Catholic Charities offers a number of faith-based initiatives, from outreach to refugees to literacy programs, that help hundreds every year," said Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan spokesman. Meanwhile, individuals affiliated with faith-based groups believe they can best impact their communities through their memberships. For example, congregants of Worcester's Christ Baptist Church, founded in 1911 as a mission church for Italian immigrants, thought Worcester Interfaith was "a good fit" and voted to join the organization last May. The Rev. Walter R. Tilleman, pastor, said many members no longer live in the neighborhood but still feel loyal to it. In an outreach effort, the church held a festival in August that drew a number of candidates seeking municipal office. Besides providing summer recreational activities, the event gave area residents a chance to express their political concerns about the city, particularly budget issues. "The church wants to be a viable entity in the neighborhood, and Worcester Interfaith helps us build bridges," said Rev. Tilleman. "The organization is a good vehicle for churches to make an impact on the city and its neighborhoods." Worcester Interfaith can become involved in a number of issues, said Ms. Keefe, from reopening branch libraries to decentralizing de·cen·tral·ize v. de·cen·tral·ized, de·cen·tral·iz·ing, de·cen·tral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To distribute the administrative functions or powers of (a central authority) among several local authorities. police operations from Worcester Police Headquarters at Lincoln Square. She said the organization may tackle immigration issues and may join the effort to reform the state's criminal offender reporting system, which many people believe hampers newly-released prisoners from getting meaningful jobs. Contact reporter Bronislaus B. Kush by e-mail at bkush@telegram.com. The Beggar's Bowl What: Fundraiser to benefit Worcester Interfaith, a coalition of churches and synagogues working together to help the community When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday Where: First Baptist Church, 111 Park Ave., Worcester Donation: $50 (buys homemade soup in a handmade stoneware stoneware, hard pottery made from siliceous paste, fired at high temperature to vitrify (make glassy) the body. Stoneware is heavier and more opaque than porcelain and differs from terra-cotta in being nonporous and nonabsorbent. bowl to take home) Information: (508) 754-5001 ART: PHOTOS CUTLINE: (1) Potter Frank Kartheiser, Worcester Interfaith's lead organizer, makes a soup bowl for the organization's fundraiser. (2) Mary S. Keefe, executive director of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Center in Worcester, is co-chairman of Worcester Interfaith with Rabbi Seth Bernstein of Temple Sinai in Worcester. PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : (1) T&G Staff/DAN GOULD (2) T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON |
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