You Gotta Have Faith!

The San Francisco Organizing Project is part of a wider national network of faith-based organizations called People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO).

I was fortunate enough to be invited along to a rally in the state capital, Sacramento to campaign against ongoing budget cuts. California is currently suffering a $26 billion state defecit, with a rolling programme of cuts ongoing since 2007. The latest state cuts in March had had quite a dramatic impact on those less well off, with over 4,000 children losing health care coverage and significant cuts to education and community policing. PICO has been leading a state-wide campaign through it’s membership congregations to oppose the cuts. Their message for the day was to propose maintaining a state tax (due to end next year)  to alleviate the burden of cutting services for the poorest. The day was a combination of collective action, rallying and the lobbying of key senators and legislative directors.

Over 1000 community leaders from across California descended upon Sacramento congregating in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament  -    just a short walk from the Capitol building. The multi-faith congregation, of jews, christians, muslims, hindus and buddhists heard key messages from clergy and community leaders across the state- who had been organizing in their respective communities to articulate the needs of those most affected by the cuts. Prayers and life stories were shared as was a reminder of key objectives for the day (this acted as a training session to ensure all 1000 attendees were on message).  A gospel choir took to the stage and enthused the audience who started chanting “We have the Power” which then lead onto a peaceful march to the state capitol. Further speeches and rallying calls were provided on the steps of the Capitol Building and the President Senator came out to respond to the requests from PICO.  As a British delegate I found it quite surreal to see the Rev Sharon Stanley put the Senator Darrell Steinberg on the spot and tell him "We are praying for you to make the right decision" – perhaps this was tactical, it certainly came across as sincere but it certainly made the senator consider his response carefully. It is undeniable that faith plays a significant part in US politics.

SFOP utilized the time in Sacramento to arrange meetings with Senators and Legislative Directors to further drive the specific messages of their San Francisco congregations. I attended two of these meetings and was particularly impressed with the strategic ways in which the community leaders attempted to negotiate concessions with these elected members and senior officials (all part of the organizing training I was told). In spite of quite forthright exchanges the SFOP delegates were courteous and polite and even went out and bought one Senator and his staff team some cookies to congratulate them for doing a good job.... I'm not sure how many MP's in Britain get care packages from their constituents - but it seemed a nice gesture!

I spent much of the day talking to leaders from various congregations across the state. The budget issues aren't the only issues faith communities are organising over in California. For some public education is a cause for others it's about affordable housing, the jewish community are also currently organising for proposed legislation to outlaw circumcision in San Francisco - a rite of passage for both jewish and muslim faiths. It is quite striking how quickly legislation can pass in the US system, which can create a real sense of anxiety for communities - fighting for various civil rights therefore becomes an ongoing imperative. 

All of the leaders I spoke to were all very clear on what community organizing was and what it wasn’t and expressed some concerns when I gave an overview of the current model being rolled out across the UK (although there is still very little information available on it). They were particularly sceptical of the authenticity of a community organizing programme being driven by government.

Reflections:

• The power of the faith community in the US cannot be undermined – for the members of the PICO network social justice is one of their missions which brings them together on a common value basis to drive for social change.  Equally faith-based communities also organize around ideological issues (although this is not PICO’s mission) but movements like the Tea Party Movement has also spawned out of faith-based organizing.
• The organizing model has a clear process and methodology – training of community leaders is paramount- part of this is about negotiating and lobbying those in power and also utlising the media (which is carefully planned to ensure maximum impact). Power being the ultimate driver for such movements.
• The community leaders I met and spoke to were diverse but were not necessarily representative of those furthest away from decision-making processes, many were faith leaders and many were retired professionals. A diverse skills set is needed to be a community leader in the community organizing model.

Community Organizing in the US has a very strong association with faith-based activity. The proposed British programme has not yet made reference to the relationship with the faith sector – This seems to overlook the significant work taken on by faith organisations in the UK, particularly in terms of welfare, support and advocacy and there is perhaps strong merit in looking at the role of faith organisations in such forms of direct community action.  


What was clear however, through talking to various leaders about this model is that community organizing is not about delivering public services- it is about challenging the unequal distribution of power, services may be created in response to that but organizing appears more a process of renegotiating political space to ensure the authentic voice of the community is heard.