Multi-faith ACTION Coalition: Advocates & Communities Taking Initiative for Our Neighbors
We are a multi-faith coalition of Contra Costa County residents working together to address the root causes of poverty through advocacy and public policy change. “What more can we do to lift people out of poverty?” That was the question faith leaders asked in the winter of 2014 when the Multi-faith ACTION Co
alition was formed. Over 200 people came together from different congregations that were feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless and offering tutoring for the underserved, and wanted to advocate for change. Fifty congregations in Contra Costa County have participated in activities of the Coalition and added over 500 advocates to the ACTION email list. The Multi-faith ACTION Coalition has five task forces: Housing/Shelter, Food Security, Racial Equity, Economic Justice and Health. The chairs of these five task forces, in addition to clergy and other key individuals make up the Steering Committee. After studying and discussing an issue, the Task Forces recommend ACTION to the Steering Committee. Action includes taking a position for or against legislation, testifying before a local elected body or a committee of the California Legislature, meeting with elected officials or asking advocates on the email distribution list to call or write a policy maker. All advocacy is to address the root causes of poverty though policy change. Representatives of the Coalition partner with broader coalitions on specific policy positions, such as the CalFresh Partnership, the Zero: 2016 Campaign Leadership Council, Ensuring Opportunity to End Poverty in Contra Costa and . Bringing faith voices to the table lifts up the voices of the less advantaged. Raising awareness about the issues of poverty in Contra Costa is central to the work of the Multi-faith ACTION Coalition. They sponsor and co-sponsor opportunities for faith communities and the larger community to learn about these issues, craft potential solutions, and take appropriate action.
