Faith in Action
Project Title
For a project to promote social cohesion and civic engagement in rural communities
Date
Dec. 05, 2019
Duration
18 months
Description
Often, political interest groups use issues that ought to unite diverse communities to further divide them for political gain. On immigration, for example, the Pew Research Center found in 2016 that 65 percent of rural white voters believe that immigrant workers negatively impact American workers. Yet, immigrants accounted for 75 percent of the population and economic vitality in flourishing rural counties, as many others decline in size and economic health. Founded in 1972 as the PICO National Network, Faith in Action works with more than 1,000 faith-based community organizations in 150 cities and seventeen states to create solutions to problems in urban, suburban, and rural communities. It has found success in working with local pastors and faith leaders to build broad, cross-cultural solidarity in communities. With Corporation support, and in partnership with People’s Action, another grassroots organizing and civic engagement leader, Faith in Action will engage rural and urban voters to bring communities together and advance shared policy priorities.
Website
Project Title
For a project to promote social cohesion and civic engagement in rural communities
Date
Jun. 14, 2018
Duration
18 months
Description
Although working-class Americans in urban and rural communities are struggling to adapt to the same forces of globalization, deindustrialization and low-wage work, partisan interests have been exploiting people’s anxieties around economic and demographic change to divide the country along lines of race, geography, economy, and culture. Founded in 1972, Faith in Action (previously known as PICO) works with more than 1,000 faith-based organizations in 150 cities and seventeen states to create innovative solutions to problems facing rural, suburban, and urban communities. Faith in Action recognizes the importance of understanding local culture and identity for effective civic engagement, and it has found great success in working with local pastors and faith leaders to build broad, cross-cultural solidarity in communities. With Corporation support, Faith in Action will work with national partners, including the Center for Rural Strategies (a Corporation grantee), People’s Action and HOPE not hate, to engage rural and urban voters and bring communities together to advance shared policy priorities.