Despite the hard-fought gains for equality and the inalienable rights ascribed to all Americans, the 21st Century Church in the African American Community still suffers the obvious signs of social disarray and disenfranchisement. The rights we gained through struggle and martyr merit a stronger commitment to social justice and the plight of the disadvantaged. Our V.O.T.E., by Reverend Romal Tune, provides the “track and uniform” for the race against negative trends and diminishing social capital. Once again, the Body of Christ can demonstrate her relevance in communities who need the Church to stand for social justice more than they may even know!
Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ, Inc.
American Educator Addresses Gaping Hole in State Education Standards
State standards are vague and repetitive, preventing a shared understanding of what students must learn in each grade. The spring issue of American Educator is devoted to drawing attention to the critical need for clear, specific and content-rich state education standards.
WORKING FAMILIES VOTE 2008 Here's your online union member voter guide to the 2008
election with the latest videos, polls, blog posts and more:
Learn where the candidates stand on
working family issues.
Getting Involved in Your Child's Education
When parents are involved in their children's education, kids do better in school.
Want to learn how to help your child achieve and succeed? Read on! You'll learn why involvement is so important and suggestions for how to get involved.
NEA Launches Campaign Aimed at Africans and Caribbeans, Names 'Ambassadors'
We know that caregivers of all children have their best interests at heart. Here's a look at our newest outreach effort aimed at Africans and Caribbeans.
Welcome to Clergy Strategic Alliances (CSA) and thanks for visiting our website. At CSA our goal is to equip pastors and congregations with the skills necessary to build power and improve their communities. We do this through teaching organizing skills, coalition building, issue education, legal and effective ways churches can be involved during an election year. Because of our strong relationships in the religious community we are able to build strategic alliances between foundations, labor organizations, and non profit corporations, to work with the faith community in a way that allows every institution to maintain the integrity of its mission and achieve its goals. We welcome the opportunity to work with you so that together we can bring about equality and fairness in your community and across the country. Together we can make a difference for our families, friends, and the future of our children.
Clergy Strategic Alliance Services:
Public Relations: Using communications to ensure your message targets and reaches your core audience.
Strategy: Identifying the most effective ways to meet your goals and achieve deliverables.
Training and Workshops: Community organizing, political organizing, voter registration, issue education, and voter turnout.
Messaging: Crafting messages for your organization that resonate with a target audience in the religious community.
Marketing and Image Development: Ensuring that community knows our clients and is aware of the services they provide.
Coalition Building: Creating strategic relationships with religious leaders that maintain the integrity of our clients and the religious community in order to achieve common goals
USACTION RELEASES PLAN TARGETINGECONOMIC CRISIS; PLAN ADDRESSESHEALTH CARE, ENERGY AND EDUCATION
“Invest in America’s Future” is a blueprint for the next president and Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With support from leading House members and Senators, USAction today released Invest in America’s Future, a bold, new economic agenda for the next president and the 111th Congress. Invest in America’s Future immediately garnered support from Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan; and U.S. Reps. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Russ Carnahan of Missouri, Danny Davis of Illinois, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Barbara Lee of California, Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Nick Rahall of West Virginia, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Donna Edwards of Maryland and Lynn Woolsey of California.
"This new plan, developed by USAction, will help bring opportunity and fiscal security to all Americans," said U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen. "Democrats in Congress are committed to implementing an economic plan that improves the lives of every American by making health care, energy, and education affordable for all.” For more information about Invest in America’s Future, please contact David Elliot at 202-263-4567 or 202-607-7036 or click here.
Thousands of Youths Across America Mobilize to Support Health Coverage for All Children
While adults on Capitol Hill continue to debate health reform, thousands of children across the country are stepping up and taking action today to help resolve the crisis of 9.4 million uninsured children in America.
As part of the CDF Freedom Schools® National Day of Social Action, CDF Freedom Schools young scholars in 24 states and 61 cities are participating in a variety of actions including visiting and writing letters to elected officials, joining together for marches and rallies and leading awareness activities. Step up and join these children and CDF's Healthy Child Campaign
Religion not a prime concern for Floridians
Beacon Newspaper (subscription) - Miami,FL,USA
by Chris Lazaga
Floridians are less likely to attend weekly services or claim religion to be central in their lives, according to a survey published by the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey last month. For the full story, please click here
What do you care about?
Is it health care? The separation of church and state? The environment? Our right to free speech? Regardless of what matters most in your life the 2008 elections will have an enormous impact on these issues. Now more than ever, all faith voices need to be heard in the political process. It is our right and our duty to participate in forming a government that reflects the will of its people. Your vote will make a difference. Matters of poverty, racism and struggle are not isolated to far off lands but are present in every corner of our great nation. An educated electorate can be a powerful voice in lifting up and eradicating injustice across this land. We can literally transform this great nation with our vote. "Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!" (Isaiah 58:1) The message is clear. This is our faith and our vote.Download the Our Faith Our Vote packet!
Evangelical voters not sold on McCain yet
WASHINGTON -- John McCain hasn't sealed the deal with many evangelical voters, a group that may make up about a third of the Republican Party's activist base.
"It's not that evangelicals are abandoning McCain," said Corwin Smidt, director of the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. "It's just that the evangelicals haven't really become as enthusiastic for McCain at this point as they were for Bush in the previous two elections." For full story click here
Child Poverty: Learn the Facts and Take Action in Your Community
CDF's Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign is a national call to action to stop the funneling of tens of thousands of youth down life paths that often lead to arrest, conviction, incarceration and even death. Poverty is the largest driving force behind the Pipeline crisis, exacerbated by race. We must step forward now to end the Pipeline crisis. There is no time to waste — 2,483 children are born into poverty each day.
CALL THE TOLL-FREE, 24-HOUR HOTLINE AT 1-888-388-2009. TV goes digital Feb. 17, 2009. If you use rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna to get television signals, your television may not work.
The government is offering two free $40 coupons per household to buy converter boxes to keep you connected. Coupons are limited and going fast. Access to communications in the 21st century is not a luxury; it is a necessity. 21 million households rely on analog television — many of which include low-income families, the elderly, minorities and individuals with disabilities. Many of these people are unaware of the switch and will need help making the transition.
Voter Contact Magazine Inaugural Issue
Democracy South is preparing to kick-off its Inaugural Issue of Voter Contact Magazine. Voter Contact Magazine is a publication designed for people and groups, especially nonprofit/ nonpartisan groups, that plan, organize, manage and fund civic engagement campaigns. Our purpose is to provide our readers with a broad range of information, news, resources and research that will magnify the effectiveness and productivity of voter contact campaigns.
“The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, America's largest Hispanic faith organization, is proud to partner with one of America's Preeminent Christian Leaders and advocate for Social Justice, Rev. Romal Tune. Romal leads the way articulating a message of societal transformation and Kingdom engagement with a commitment to excellence second to none. We believe this partnership will transform the relationship between Brown and Black and in the end; God's name will be glorified as we tackle the ills in our communities together.”
Rev. Sam Rodriguez, PresidentNHCLC
A PLAN FOR SUCCESS
Preparing every student for graduation, college, work, and life
Every school year, about 1.2 million students drop out of our nation’s high schools, leaving almost one of every three freshmen without a high school degree four years later. While roughly 70 percent of all high school students graduate on time, African American, Hispanic, and American Indian and Alaska Native students have only a 58 percent or less chance of graduating from high school with a regular diploma. In addition – and contrary to the model minority myth – many Asian Americans also face barriers in education.
The Campaign for High School Equity’s inaugural publication, A Plan for Success: Communities of Color Define Policy Priorities for High School Reform, makes a compelling case for the need to invest in high schools and provides a blueprint for meaningful reform. For more information click here
Half In Ten: A Campaign to Cut Poverty in the United States in Half in Ten Years http://www.halfinten.org
Rev. Romal Tune, through the Our V.O.T.E. manual, has crafted a balanced and effective approach to faith and political involvement. It is at once true to the biblical calling of Christian leadership and true to the ideals of democracy.
Without the kind of training and guidance Rev. Tune offers, good intentions often translate into uncoordinated and ineffective action. But guided by the Our VOTE manual, the dreams and hopes of social justice can lead toon-the-ground action that in turn can bring change to a world that is in need.”
- Brian McLaren
Author, Speaker
An educated electorate can be a powerful voice in lifting up and eradicating injustice across this land. We can literally transform this great nation with our vote.
Individual Guidelines: TO DOWNLOAD ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS CLICK HERE
Welcome to Clergy Strategic Alliances (CSA) and thanks for visiting our website. At CSA our goal is to equip pastors and congregations with the skills necessary to build power and improve their communities. We do this through teaching organizing skills, coalition building, issue education, legal and effective ways churches can be involved during an election year. Because of our strong relationships in the religious community we are able to build strategic alliances between foundations, labor organizations, and non profit corporations, to work with the faith community in a way that allows every institution to maintain the integrity of its mission and achieve its goals. We welcome the opportunity to work with you so that together we can bring about equality and fairness in your community and across the country. Together we can make a difference for our families, friends, and the future of our children.
While adults on Capitol Hill continue to debate health reform, thousands of children across the country are stepping up and taking action today to help resolve the crisis of 9.4 million uninsured children in America. 
CDF's 
Democracy South is preparing to kick-off its Inaugural Issue of Voter Contact Magazine. Voter Contact Magazine is a publication designed for people and groups, especially nonprofit/ nonpartisan groups, that plan, organize, manage and fund civic engagement campaigns. Our purpose is to provide our readers with a broad range of information, news, resources and research that will magnify the effectiveness and productivity of voter contact campaigns.
