PEOPLE ACTING IN COMMUNITY TOGETHER

VOTER/CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: THE PURPOSE OF THE TOGETHER WE VOTE BLOCK PARTY IS TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGTHER FOR AN EDUCATIONAL, CONNECTIONAL, AND CELEBRATORY BLOCK PARTY. THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN, NON-LOBBYING EVENT. IN ADDITION TO FOOD AND FAMILY FUN (SUCH AS ARTS AND CRAFTS, BOUNCY HOUSE, DJ, ETC.), VOLUNTEERS OFFER ASSISTANCE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, BALLOT INITIATIVES, BALLOT TRANSLATION AND GENERAL BALLOT HELP, INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSED VOTING INITIATIVES (SUCH AS RANK-CHOICE VOTING OR DEMOCRACY DOLLARS), AND MUCH MORE!THE PURPOSE OF PACT CIVICS COHORT IS TO PROVIDE CIVIC EDUCATION FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING AND SUSTAINING A FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY. THIS COHORT PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH THE BUILDING BLOCKS NEEDED TO BUILD POWER AND CREATE CHANGE BY ACTING TOGETHER IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING PRACTICAL TOOLS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING, WE WILL CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, WHERE WE CAN ENGAGE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE ACROSS RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AND RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL BELIEFS. THE SESSIONS FOLLOW ONLY IN SAN JOS'S CIVICS MASTERCLASS (TOPICS INCLUDE: GOVERNMENT 101, BROWN ACT & SUNSHINE POLICIES, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND WRITING, AND STORYTELLING AND ADVOCACY); ARE INFUSED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TOOLS (TOPICS INCLUDE: ORGANIZING CYCLE, SELF-INTEREST, LISTENING CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC STORY, AND CUTTING AN ISSUE); AND INCLUDE GUEST SPEAKERS FROM OUR TOGETHER WE VOTE COALITION TO LEAD DISCUSSIONS ON HOW WE ARE PUTTING THESE LEARNINGS AND TOOLS TO WORK RIGHT NOW.

HOUSING: OUR RESEARCH FOR THE PAST YEAR HAS INCLUDED MEETING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING ATTORNEYS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND MORE; CONSULTING REGIONAL, COUNTY-WIDE, AND CITY-SPECIFIC DATA SOURCES; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE SPOKE WITH DIRECTLY AFFECTED FAMILIES. PACT LEADERS ARE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, HOLDING INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH MEETINGS, AND BRINGING OUR FAITH TO THE STREETS THROUGH PRESS CONFERENCE AND PRAYER VIGILS AND OUR COMMUNITY ACTIONS. OUR DEMANDSPACT LEADERS HAVE DETERMINED THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO PASS STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE:1. PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS2. ALLOW ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, PARTICULARLY THE UNDOCUMENTED3. FIND NEW PATHWAYS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND4. PROVIDE A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME.WE STARTED THE YEAR BY SENDING A PACT GROUP TO SACRAMENTO TO JOIN WITH OUR STATEWIDE FEDERATION TO MEET WITH LEGISLATORS TO PASS SB 567, THERE WERE OVER 700 PEOPLE. WE ARE PROUD THAT SB 567 HAS PASSED! WE HELD INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH MEETINGS, AS WELL PRESS CONFERENCE AND PRAYER VIGILS HERE AT LA PRIMERA!