Category: AiQ

Categories
AiQ State

AiQ:

It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on this earth. 

Cesar Chavez, in his statement at the end of his 24-day fast for justice

Today’s Actions

  1. #Farmworker Day of Action
  2. Call Senate Committee to Support Food Access for People Leaving Incarceration
  3. Sign On to Ensure School Meals Access
  4. #SafteyNet4All Day of Action

Other bills discussed include AB 3070 – Anti-discrimination in Jury Selection, AB 2542 – Racial Justice Act, and AB 3121 – Reparations Task Force (Similar to HR 40). To support, please visit the committee websites and make a phone call to staff or committees members

Farmworker COVID-19 Study

California employs an estimated 800,000 farmworkers. Most work at seasonal jobs—rarely holding full-time, year-round work—and earn an average annual income of less than $18,000. A recent study found:

  • Nearly 1/2 of farmworkers lost work time & income during #COVID19. 
  • 60% of workers are undocumented & ineligible for most social safety net programs. 
  • 54% of respondents reported that costs, lack of insurance, and/or lack of sick leave prevented them from accessing healthcare, even if ill. 

Read full data summary here.

Tweet, Post, Share

Food Justice for People Leaving Prison

Support AB 3073: CalFresh Prison Preenrollment with a phone call to one of the following Senators if they represent you or to the committee staff:

CA Senate Human Services Committee

Senate Human Services Committee staff:

  • Phone: (916) 651-1524

Website.

Ensure Access to Meals this School Year: Sign-On to Urge USDA to Extend Waivers by 8/10

If you are leader of an organization, please use this form to sign onto FRAC’s letter for your organization. The deadline is Monday the 10th.

Sign ON

Safety Net for All Day of Action

Immigrant leaders and coalition partners with Safety Net for All are mobilizing across the state – holding actions in San Diego, LA, and Sacramento – calling on our Governor and state leaders to #ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs by investing in a #SafetyNet4AllofUs now. 

Last week’s economic stimulus proposal from the CA Legislature was a powerful sign that our leaders are hearing us. But California’s immigrant families can’t wait to put food on the table and support their families. We’re calling on our leaders to follow-through on ensuring a #SafetyNet4AllofUs by approving a wage replacement program before the end of August!

Here are 3 ways you can support today:

  1. Follow @SafetyNet4All on Twitter and Facebook to amplify the actions today
  2. If you are posting from any of the actions, please tag @SafetyNet4All and use the hashtags below
  3. Share the below posts & tweets!

SAMPLE POSTS

Safety Net for All Graphics here

United Front Week of Action Toolkit here

#SafetyNet4AllofUs

#ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs

#ChooseUsNotBillionaires

#OurFamiliesAreEssential

Twitter

Join us today @SafetyNet4All in San Diego, LA, & Sacramento. We call on state leaders to #ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs by investing in a #SafetyNet4AllofUs & wage replacement for undocumented families! #ChooseUsNotBillionaires @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom @SenToniAtkins @Rendon63rd 

SHARE EVENT TWEET!

Únete hoy a @SafetyNet4All en San Diego, LA, Sacramento. Hacemos un llamado a los líderes estatales a  #Elegir a los inmigrantes invirtiendo en un #SafetyNet4AllofUs & reemplazo de salario para las familias indocumentadas! @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom @SenToniAtkins @Rendon63rd 

!Share Tweet en Español!

San Diego: 

Today Aug 5th at 10AM: San Diego immigrant leaders call for a #SafetyNet4AllofUs now! Follow the digital press conference at https://ctt.ec/_39be+ #OurFamiliesAreEssential #ChooseUsNotBillionaires @SafetyNet4All @afsc_org @CPIsd @CHIRLA @SDIRC @seiuusww @unitehere  

SAN DIEGO TWEET SHARE HERE!

Los Angeles:

Undocumented workers lost most jobs of all groups & need of wage replacement now! Join @SafetyNet4All TODAY at 10am @ SPKR Rendon’s, 4909 Lakewood Blvd #ChooseUsNotBillionaires @CHIRLA @DrJoseFMoreno @ELAWC @wwunited @CaliforniaLabor  @GarmentWorkerLA @UnitedWaysCA @domesticworkers

Immigrant families are essential to our state – CA cannot recover unless all families are healthy & safe. We demand #SafetyNet4AllofUs! #ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs @CHIRLA @DrJoseFMoreno @ELAWC @wwunited @CaliforniaLabo @GarmentWorkerLA @UnitedWaysCA @domesticworkers

SHARE TWEET HERE!

Undocumented families shouldn’t go hungry during the pandemic. We’re asking our leaders to  #ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs & invest in #SafetyNet4AllofUs. #ChooseUsNotBillionaires @CHIRLA @DrJoseFMoreno @ELAWC @wwunited @CaliforniaLabo @GarmentWorkerLA @UnitedWaysCA @domesticworkers

SHARE TWEET HERE!

Sacramento: 

Join us TODAY at 11:30am, west steps of the Capitol in Sacramento as we lift up stories of immigrants via the InsideOut portrait project. #SafetyNet4AllofUs  #ChooseUsNotBillionaires @SafetyNet4All @CHIRLA @JRart @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom @Ash_Kalra @SenToniAtkins @Rendon63rd 

SHARE SACRAMENTO TWEET HERE!

Facebook

Today, we are mobilizing across the state – Los Angeles, San Diego, & Sacramento – calling on our Governor and state leaders to #ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs by investing in a #SafetyNet4AllofUs and wage replacement for undocumented Californians now! Follow us at @SafetyNet4All throughout the day!

SAN DIEGO @10am: Tune into a digital press conference led by immigrant rights leaders at facebook.com/CPISanDiego

LOS ANGELES @10am: Support immigrant workers gathering to share testimony at Speaker Rendon’s office, 4909 Lakewood Blvd, 90712.

SACRAMENTO @11:30am: Lift up immigrant stories on the west capitol steps as part of the Portraits of Urgency art installation! 

#SafetyNet4AllofUs #ChooseImmigrantsNotCEOs #ChooseUsNotBillionaires

Categories
AiQ Poverty

AiQ: SNAP Increases

State Action

AB 3073 is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee. With 5 weeks left in the session and many bills to consider, Senators need to hear from you to know that this bill is important and must be heard!

LOPPCA is a sponsor of this bill alongside Bread for the World. This bill allows people exiting the criminal justice system to enroll in CalFresh benefits prior to leaving prison, supporting successful reintegration into civic life. 

Support AB 3073

Federal Action

Tell Congress: Make food access a priority. As negotiations continue through the week, we urge California’s lawmakers to lift up responsible and real solutions to the hardship millions are facing. The next recovery package must include: 

  • a 15% boost to SNAP benefits, 
  • an extension of Pandemic EBT, 
  • an extension of WIC waivers, 
  • and more significant fiscal relief for states and people with low and moderate-incomes–including ALL immigrant households.

Call & Email Your Members of Congress.

Your voice is critical. Urge your members not to leave D.C. without boosting SNAP benefits and enacting other key anti-hunger provisions in the next recovery package. 
Sample Script & Contact Info

Categories
AiQ State UN/National Updates

AiQ: Protect Asylum Seekers

The Administration proposed a rule in the middle of June that would effectively end asylum, a form of protection meant to give refuge to people fleeing for their lives. The proposed rule makes many drastic changes to the way people are able to access this form of protection including: 

  • Taking away due process rights for asylum seekers,
  • Increasing the bar people have to meet to move past an initial interview to impossibly high standards,
  • Eliminating access to asylum for people fleeing violence from non-state actors, including people fleeing due to gang or gender-based violence.

If this rule is implemented, it would mean that thousands of our siblings in Christ, many of whom are already suffering due to changes made to our asylum system, would be unable to seek protection in the United States. As Lutherans and as citizens, we are called to speak up to ensure that people fleeing for their lives can find refuge in this country. 

Please join us in standing up for asylum by submitting a comment against this proposed regulation by July 15th. Take action by: 

1.     Submitting a comment. It is necessary when submitting comments for a proposed rule to customize your message, whether your message is brief or lengthy, to ensure it is counted as a unique comment. Use the following points to guide you in writing: 

  • As a Lutheran, God calls me to walk alongside asylum seekers in need of protection in the United States. This proposed rule stands against my faith values and our nation’s ideals.
  • The United States has welcomed people fleeing persecution, including Lutherans, for centuries. It is immoral and unnecessary to close our doors at a time when so many people are fleeing for their safety.
  • Tell a story of how asylum seekers have made your community better.
  • If you and/or your congregation has an asylum experience, share how it impacts your opinion.

2.     Let others know you submitted a comment and asked them to submit theirs. Use social media to ask others to submit a comment. The more comments that are submitted, the more likely implementation of this proposed rule will be delayed! 

You can check out resources and a toolkit from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, in which the ELCA participates, to find out more about asylum, what this rule means, and other ways to engage. Make your public comment now before the July 15 deadline. Thank you!

SUBMIT COMMENT

SAVE THE DATE! July 23 2020 10:30am-12:00pm


Child Care & End Child Poverty in CA Virtual Advocacy Day Follow-up:2020 Legislative Wrap-Up
On June 4,

2020, we came together as a group of over 250 advocates–child care, food programs, safety net, and anti-poverty champions–for our first all digital “Child Care and End Child Poverty CA Advocacy Day.” We learned, we advocated, and we briefed over 50 legislative offices on our policy and budget overviews that will keep families fed, housed, and cared for.  On July 23rd, we’ll come back for a follow-up to highlight anti-hunger, anti-poverty and child care legislation in California, with input from legislators, advocates, and policy groups. Don’t miss this impactful day- invitation coming this week!

Register today!

Categories
AiQ State

AiQ: Commit to Equity

Tweet with us!

The Commit to Equity campaign is hosting a Twitter Storm today, Wednesday July 8th starting at 11:00 AM PST and going on throughout the afternoon.  We are asking organizations to take part by using the #TaxCABillionaires and #CommitToEquity hashtags on Wednesday, July 8th beginning at 11:00 AM. 

California’s 154 billionaires have increased their net worth by 25% during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, while nearly 1 in 5 Californian has lost their job. The recently passed California budget threatens massive cuts to the services our communities depend on.

We’ve setup an easy click to tweet page here with additional posts and images here:
https://committoequity.org/storm/

Register for Conversation with Bishop Eaton and Bishop Curry

Our thoughts and prayers inform our actions. “Advocacy Tools for Loving Your Neighbor” on Thurs, July 9 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. PDT is an online training event jointly hosted by The Episcopal Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to equip you. Both Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, plus advocacy leaders from both denominations, will be part of this time of exploring the nature of faith-based advocacy, the issues to which we can speak, and the ways we can make our voices heard. Rostered ministers, Lutherans, Episcopalians and friends are welcome to the free webinar and will leave with tools and inspiration to make a difference.

Register here: https://bit.ly/advocacyforlove

SNAP Advocacy

Negotiations on the next recovery package are expected to take place when the House and Senate return from the July 4th recess. This may be our last chance to secure critical hunger relief. Before decisions are made, we need your help ensuring that members of Congress are consistently hearing about the need for action over the next few weeks. Call, write, or post on social media targeting Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein.Take Action

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AiQ State

AiQ: Ballot Measures

Thank you for joining us for AiQ this week! With the Legislature in CA out of session, our normally full actions are fairly quiet. Still, voices raised together can make a difference on key federal legislation which will be heard in the Senate in the coming weeks.

Ballot Measures

California voters have a lot to decide on in November. Start getting informed with this article from CalMatters.

Read Article

LegInfo

To learn about bills, get to know California’s Legislative information website. Some bills we are following: AB 3070, AB3073, ACA 5.

Check out LegInfo

SNAP Advocacy

Negotiations on the next recovery package are expected to take place when the House and Senate return from the July 4th recess. This may be our last chance to secure critical hunger relief. Before decisions are made, we need your help ensuring that members of Congress are consistently hearing about the need for action over the next few weeks. Call, write, or post on social media targeting Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein.

Take Action
Categories
AiQ State

AiQ: Thank You for the CalEITC!

June 24 Action Items

  1. Write or call Senator Mitchell, Assemblymember Ting, and Governor Newsom to tell them thank you for including ITIN filers with children from 0-6 in the CalEITC. We know that they were juggling a lot of priorities, and we are grateful that the administration is supporting some of our undocumented neighbors
  2. Check out LegInfo and learn about AB 3070, jury selection.
  3. Save contact info for your legislator!
Other Actions you can take:
  1. ACA 5 – Support Racial Justice and Affirmative Action by calling or emailing your senator today.
Categories
AiQ State

AiQ: Oppose ACA 25

June 17 Action Items

  1. Call your Senator to tell them why you oppose Assembly Constitutional Amendment 25 unless amended to protect public participation and retain legislative transparency. The amendments we support are:
    1) Remove or Limit Proxy Voting;
    2) Specify Rules for Pro Tempore Appointments in Emergencies;
    3) Eliminate Quorum Reduction​;
    4) Ensure Remote Voting and Proxy Voting Transparency;
    5) Time-Limit Remote Voting and Proxy Voting​.
    Learn More Here.
  2. ACA 5 – Support by calling the Senate Labor Committee at (916) 651-1556 or email.
June 17, 2020 Events
  1. Emanuel Nine Commemoration and Pledge
  2. Learn about World Refugee Day 
RACIAL EQUITY BILLS
  1. ACA 5 (Weber) Opportunity for All: repeals the ban on affirmative action in higher education, employment and contracting
  2. ACA 6 (McCarty) Free the Vote: restores voting rights for people on parole
  3. AB 901 (Gipson) Juveniles: ends the practice of putting youth on probation when they have not committed a crime (yes, that’s a thing we do)
  4. AB 1950 (Kamlager) Probation Reform: limits probation terms
  5. AB 2054 (Kamlager) CRISES Act: creates an alternative emergency response to the police
  6. AB 2147 (Reyes) Conservation Camps – Expungement: creates a process for people who served as firefighters while in prison to expunge their convictions and obtain jobs
  7. AB 2342 (McCarty) Parole Reform: limits terms paroles
  8. AB 3070 (Weber) Anti-Discrimination in Jury Selection: addresses racial discrimination in jury selection
  9. AB 3121 (Weber) Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans: creates a task force to study awarding reparations
  10. SB 144 (Mitchell) Debt Free Justice: eliminates the most burdensome fees in the criminal justice system
  11. SB 555 (Mitchell) Phone Justice: limits the cost of phone calls and commissary in jail
Categories
AiQ State

AiQ: Budget

June 10 Action Items

  1. Check out CA’s budget: Assembly Version; Senate Version.
  2. Keep this bill moving forward with us! SB 882 is sitting on the suspense file – which is just what it sounds like. This is the only thing stopping it from being voted on on the Senate floor.  Let’s move it to the floor!
  3. Watch Webinar: Detention, Family Separation, and Asylum in the Era of COVID-19 for Communities of Faith
Categories
AiQ State

AiQ: Black Lives Matter

June 3 Action Items

  1. How can you support Black liberation in your community? Use this list of bail funds to find ways to support the movement with your dollar and find resources to learn, support, and give.
  2. Voice your support for racial equity in urging an Aye vote on AB 3070 (Weber) – Anti-discrimination in Jury Selection.
  3. Urge your Assemblymember to vote yes on AB 3073 (Wicks) to make CalFresh preenrollment possible for people exiting the criminal justice system.
Categories
AiQ State

AiQ: CalFresh Access for Seniors

May 20 Action Items

  1. Mark your calendars for May 19, 2021 for next year’s Lutheran Lobby Day. We just got our permits approved and pray we will once again gather in person to advocate together.
  2.  God’s Work, Our Hands, Our Voices: Let us know what your church is doing for Sunday, Sept. 13 2020. What sort of advocacy component would you imagine? Email us at Regina.Banks@elca.org and Nicole.Newell@elca.org or just reply to this email.
  3. Call the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to support Calfresh Access for Seniors.

Why?
Calfresh applications have gone up 243% compared to last year. Eligible California seniors have very low participation rates due to barriers in access and retention. SB 882 removes these barriers for seniors and adults with disabilities.

Prioritize your outreach to Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena), the Chair of the Committee on Appropriations. This should take you just a few minutes.

Please also spend a few minutes contacting your Senator if they are listed below as members of the committee:

Sample script:

Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ______. I’m calling to urge Senator ______ to support SB 882, a bill that will make it easier for people to access CalFresh, our most powerful anti-hunger program. It is urgent that we simplify the CalFresh application process as more and more people are out of work and need help putting food on the table. SB 882 will make permanent improvements to the program, especially for older adults and people with disabilities. Please vote yes on SB 882. Thank you. [Or choose one or more of the following reasons or tell them your own]

  • Californians struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 crisis need quick access to CalFresh, but the process is often overly complicated. We need SB 882 to simplify access to food assistance.
  • Only 19% of eligible adults age 60+ receive CalFresh. SB 882 make it easier for people, especially seniors, to enroll and stay connected to our most powerful anti-hunger program.
  • CalFresh applications are up more than 200% due to spiking unemployment. We need SB 882 to simplify access and keep people connected to food assistance during and after this crisis.

Sample tweets:

  • Californians struggling to make ends meet during the #COVID19 crisis need quick access to CalFresh, but the process is often overly complicated. We need #SB882 to simplify access now! @Portantino @SenatorPatBates
  • Only 19% of eligible adults 60+ receive #CalFresh. Let’s make it easier for people, especially seniors, to stay connected to our most powerful anti-hunger program. Plz support #SB882! @Portantino @SenatorPatBates
  • #CalFresh is a proven positive public health intervention and powerful economic stimulus. #SB882 will help maximize its dual role in California’s immediate and long-term COVID-19 response. Plz support SB 882! @Portantino @SenatorPatBates
  • #CalFresh applications are up more than 200% due to spiking unemployment. We need #SB882 to simplify access and keep people connected to food assistance. Let’s cut the red tape to put food on their plates! @Portantino @SenatorPatBates

Thank you to the California Food Policy Advocates for this action alert text and information.