This past year has been full of action for MOP Grand Rapids in our continuing work for comprehensive immigration reform.  We have held rallies in Garfield Park, La Nueva Esperanza United Methodist Church, and in front of the offices of both Rep. Vern Ehlers and Senator Debbie Stabenow.  Twice we sent buses full of people to Washington DC for marches there, and we also organized a very well-attended immigration reform prayer service that enjoyed support from a broad and diverse group of churches.  In addition to this work mobilizing people for action, we have put on a number of educational forums at churches and colleges to inform people about how our immigration system is broken and how it could be fixed in a way that would honor our values.     

                Rebuilding our coalition of churches has been our other main focus.  A racially and denominationally diverse group of pastors is coming together monthly to further develop the formal structure of MOP Grand Rapids and help plan our next steps together as a coalition.  While there are many other congregations out there to enfold, the diversity and unity of our current group will be a strong foundation as we move forward in building the broad coalition we will need to be effective in our work for justice.    

                A very important step of the coalition-building process is developing lay leaders from among the member churches who can stand with their pastor in equipping and mobilizing their congregation for justice.  Meeting with potential lay leaders from committed churches will be a major priority for this fall, and it is our hope to have more than thirty strong leaders by next early next year to participate in a multi-day community organizing conference.   In addition to teaching our new leaders the nuts and bolts of church-based community organizing, this conference will be a great opportunity to expand the spirit of unity already forming within our pastors’ group to our group of lay leaders. 

Last Thursday night, July 1st, the community came together to make things happen.

And happen they did.

The Michigan Organizing Project's annual Nehemiah Assembly, a combination of rally, accountability session, and forum, brought together over 600 people to push for justice and positive change in our community.

The Nehemiah Assembly is based on the biblical story of Nehemiah the prophet in Nehemiah chapter 5. In that story, Nehemiah brings together a great assembly, calls leaders to accountability for injustices, and achieves commitment for positive change through the power of united people.

What did MOP and the assembly of people in Kalamazoo achieve?

Barriers to Employment: The success of MOP's "Ban the Box" campaign to remove questions about criminal history from city employment applications was announced.

Housing for the Homeless: Six county commissioners committed to finding a way to continue the Kalamazoo County Housing Trust Fund which has put dozens of formerly homeless families into their own housing.

Worker RIghts: Two city commissioners plegded their support to an anti-wage theft law at the city level to protect workers from having their just wages stolen by unscrupulous employers.

Immigration Reform: All candidates for the 60th District seat in the State House of Representatives committed to fight against anti-immigrant state legislation if elected. The two candidates in attendance for the 20th District seat in the State Senate did the same. U.S. Senator Carl Levin's office sent us word that he is committed to continue fighting for national comprehensive immigration reform and to being a leader in convincing his Senate colleagues to do the same. Finally, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Don Cooney, committed to fight for immigration reform if elected.

Health Care: Thanks to MOP's advocacy and the community's support, the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Dental Clinic mobile dental clinic is in full use. This has opened up space for more appointments at the stationary clinic, and allowed dentists to do more restorative work on school-aged children. In addition, the clinic has hired more staff for the stationary clinic.

Thanks to all of the community members, leaders, candidates and public officials who made these changes possible!

Together, we CAN achieve positive change! And we will keep you updated as we move forward with these campaigns!