Transcript Faith-based Community Organizing and Social Change Movements

Esperanza
Faith-Based Organizing with
Immigrants in California’s
Central Valley
Lisa Nelson
MS Community Development
Sacramento Mutual Housing
Association
Why Organize?
What are some of the outcomes
that organizing ideally produces?
What is the overall goal of
organizing?
Two Stories
Sherman X Chan*
Christina Card*
*Names changed to protect confidentiality
PICO History
A national network of faith-based
community organizations founded
by Jesuits in 1972
Based on the methods of Saul
Alinsky
PICO California
– ACT, PACT, CBC, FIC are local
affiliates in Sacramento, Stockton,
Modesto and Fresno
The Project: “Immigrants
Changing Institutions”
A concerted effort to reach out to
immigrant communities through
the Central Valley PICO affiliates
A two-year grant from the James
Irvine Foundation (2002 – 2004)
Engaged to help collect
qualitative data for the grant
evaluation
PICO Organizing Method
Actions
Research
Actions
1:1’s
Actions
Reflection
Research
Actions
1:1’s
California Immigration
Immigrants comprised 25% of
California’s population,
compared to the national
average of 9.7%.
With the exception of the least two
populated regions in the state,
every region in California is more
racially and ethnically diverse
than the nation as a whole
(Johnson 2001).
Study Demographics
US Census 2000 Data on Immigrants (Foreign born)
By County
Foreign born population
Foreign born persons, percent
Naturalized Citezens
Increase in Foreign born between 1990 and 2000
Percentage change in Foreign born between 1990 and 2000
By City
Foreign born persons, percent
Language other than English spoken at home
San Joaquin
County
Stanislaus
County
Fresno
County
Sacramento
County
109,812
19.5%
39,437
31,181
39.7%
81,615
18.3%
30,603
28,771
54.4%
168,717
21.1%
49,397
49,608
41.6%
197,195
16.1%
83,982
93,317
89.8%
Stockton
Modesto
Fresno
Sacramento
24.5%
41.5%
15.8%
28.1%
20.3%
39.5%
20.3%
32.6%
Immigrants and Civic
Engagement
 Pursuing Democracy’s Promise Craig
McGarvey, 2004
– Engagement is paramount
– Participation starts where the newcomer starts (selfinterest)
– Education informs all
– Relationships matter
 We the People: Helping Newcomers become
Californians Little Hoover Commission, 2003
– All persons deserve respect
– All residents should be responsible
– New Californians need the same opportunities
Reflection
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ag
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Ed ere
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Re io n
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Re nsh
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sp
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sp
on
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O
pp ibil
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or
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tie
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f-I
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1:1s
En
g
Immigrant Civic Engagement &
FBO
RAs
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Actions
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Project Outcomes
9,375 one-to-one conversations
27 new Local Organizing
Committees (LOC)
1 new affiliate (Modesto)
96 research actions
65 actions
Project Outcomes
(Cont…)
 Sacramento: Three county clinics
saved from closure, 600 leaders work
on school reform, community garden
 Stockton: $250,000 for new community
center, $735,000 for Health Access
Program
 Modesto: 10% inclusionary zoning
ordinance
 Fresno: Community bus tour of
substandard housing, cultural liaisons
for school and police, increased
policing
$500,000
Community Resources
Human
Resources
Social
Capital
Technical Skills Bonding
Acculturation Bridging
Empowerment
Political
Tangible
Resources Assets
Public
Relationships
Community
Voice
Health
Housing
Safety
Cultural
We’re better organized because the PICO model is simple
but powerful way. I think it’s easy to engage and
involve…It’s very important that community trust each other
and we keep nourishing the relationship…if the PICO model
of organizing is followed, it works well in keeping organized
and creates excellent leaders. –Community Leader in
Stockton
Conclusion
Learn more about PICO at
www.piconetwork.org and
www.picocalifornia.org
Consider faith-based organizing in
your community to reach and
engage immigrants
Contact Lisa Nelson at
[email protected] or
(916) 453-8400 x13.