Category: Poverty

AIQ for July 7, 2021

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date July 7, 2021

With the CA budget passed, these bills we’ve been working on (SB 464 Food4All, SB 107 CalFresh Simple for Seniors, SB 108 State Healthy Food Access) are now being reviewed by the , Assembly Appropriations Committee. Please contact your Assembly Person if they are on this committee and urge full funding for these bills.

ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

80 Chair Lorena Gonzales, Dem, San Diego

05 Vice Chair Frank Bigelow, GOP, Sutter Creek, Placerville, Madera

54 Isaac Bryan, Dem, Culver City

57 Lisa Calderon, Dem, Whittier, South El Monte, La Puente, Norwalk, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, City of Industry

51 Wendy Carillo, Dem, Los Angeles

49 Ed Chau, Dem, Monterey Park San Gabriel Valley

01 Megan Dahle, GOP, Redding, Nevada City

73 Laurie Davies, GOP, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point

34 Vince Fong, GOP, Kern County, Bakersfield

45 Jesse Gabriel, Dem, Woodland Hills, west San Fernando Valley

56 Eduardo Garcia, Dem, Coachella, Imperial Valley

10 Mark Levine, Dem, San Rafael, Petaluma, Santa Rosa

20 Bill Quirk, Dem, Hayward, southeast Bay Area

30 Robert Rivas, Dem, Salinas, Morgan Hill, Soledad, Hollister

79 Akilah Weber, Dem, San Diego

AiQ Children's Issues Poverty Racial Justice

Important Up Coming AAMPARO Meetings

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date June 23, 2021

AAMPARO

July 12th:

Title: Stories from the Southern Border

Presenter: Rev. Ray Schellinger, Global Consultant on Immigration and Refugees, International Ministries, American Baptist Churches

Summary: Join us to hear stories of resilience from asylum seekers themselves as well as stories from Rev. Ray Schellinger, Global Consultant on Immigration and Refugees International Ministries of the American Baptist Church. Ray will share about his work at the southern border and share some of the stories he has heard from people there. Participants will learn the types of challenges asylum seekers face and learn about ways they can be involved in providing support and welcome.

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2496147996837632784

July 19th:

Title: Ethical Storytelling – How to tell stories with human dignity

Presenter: Laura Curkendall, Director of Program Communications, CWS and Christopher Plummer, Director of Media, CWS

Summary: It’s natural to want to share the stories of our refugee neighbors with our own friends and family. But how can we ensure that we’re doing it in a way that we feel good about? Members of the CWS Communications team will share their advice to help you tell refugee stories in an ethical, dignified way.

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8658618200429138448

July 26th:

Title: What is Preferred Communities? Intensive Case Management and the Community in Partnership

Presenter: Melissa Berger, Program Specialist, Vulnerable Populations

Summary: Many refugees, asylees, and other new arrivals with complex needs gain access to extended, intensive case management and group services through the Preferred Communities (PC) grant. Learn who is eligible, how the program works, and how PC staff work closely with local communities to ensure that refugees are able to access and navigate the resources they need.

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8898774629702595856

AiQ Health Care Hunger Issues Poverty

AIQ Action for Wednesday, June 9th

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date June 9, 2021

This is a very important week for funding of these bills!

Health4All Update: Thank all who have been involved for a powerful month of advocating for Health4All in the budget. Leadership is finishing their negotiations, so it’s our last week to keep the pressure up and ensure they hear from us before the budget goes into print on Saturday! Last Friday, Senator Durazo joined several coalition members at Cliníca Romero in Los Angeles for a press event to call on Governor Newsom to cover those age 50+ in the budget. Everyday this week, please help us lift up Friday’s action by tweeting photos from the event and tagging the @CAgovernor. Photos and sample tweets can be all be found in the digital toolkit, which is provided in both English and Spanish. This is our last push before the budget is finalized.

Food4All Update: This is an important moment for this campaign. We haven’t heard any news since the Governor and Legislature began negotiating the final budget, which means there’s still time to make our voices heard and NOW is the best time 🙂 It’s not too late to tell Governor Newsom: fund Food4All! Call/Email Today: Governor Gavin Newsom or Phone: (916) 445-2841. Already called? Call again! Already did that? Ask a friend/family member to call/email! Share these graphics and messages on social media!
Share these articles: ‘Essential for Everyone’: Food Aid Bill for Undocumented Californians Gains Momentum State Policymakers Can Provide Food Support to Undocumented and Mixed-Status California Families Blocked by Federal Policies !

Share these graphics and messages from Food4All’s Social Media Tool Kit on social media!

AiQ Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice State

California Roars Back: Governor Newsom Announces Largest State Tax Rebate in American History

Post author By Nicole Newell
Post date May 10, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	Contact: Governor’s Press Office
Monday, May 10, 2021	(916) 445-4571

Two-thirds of Californians set to benefit from Golden State Stimulus checks amounting to nearly $12 billion in total – the largest state tax rebate in American history

Billions in funding for rental relief and water and utility assistance

Part of the Governor’s $100 billion California Comeback Plan, a comprehensive recovery plan to tackle five of California’s most persistent challenges

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today previewed his $100 billion California Comeback Plan – the biggest economic recovery package in California’s history – including unprecedented investments to address the state’s most persistent challenges, starting with nearly $12 billion in direct cash payments to Californians hit hardest by the pandemic.

Chief among the new proposals is a major expansion of the Golden State Stimulus, providing additional direct payments to middle-class families that make up to $75,000. Under the plan, two-thirds of Californians will benefit from $600 direct payments. Qualified families with dependents, including undocumented families, will also now be eligible for an additional $500. The plan triples California’s previous investment, reaching more people and giving bigger benefits.

“California’s recovery is well underway, but we can’t be satisfied with simply going back to the way things were,” said Governor Newsom. “We are tripling the Golden State Stimulus to get money in the hands of more middle-class Californians who have been hit hard by this pandemic. Two in three Californians will receive a check from the state and more than $5 billion in aid will be made available to those who need help paying their rent or utility bills.”

Under Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan, the state would also offer the largest renter assistance package of any state in America, with billions of dollars to help low-income Californians pay back 100 percent of their back-rent, their rent for the months to come and overdue water and utility bills.

Throughout the week, Governor Newsom will highlight other major investments and key initiatives of the California Comeback Plan.

Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan seizes this once-in-a-lifetime moment to address long-standing challenges by taking on threats to our state’s future and ensuring every California family – regardless of their race or zip code – can thrive.

Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice

Undocumented Californians Have Been Excluded from Supports

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date April 22, 2021

AiQ Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Uncategorized

Action for March 31st from AIQ

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date March 31, 2021

Bills to support right now in Food and Farming:
SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All – Would expand the CalFresh benefits available to undocumented immigrants in California (While these folks are not eligible for the federal SNAP program, California has funding through a parallel program to CalFresh that provides food assistance for people ineligible due to documentation status – this program needs further development, outreach, and funding to meet the needs of Californians. This bill is in committee process. (Long-term relief bill)

AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance during COVID-19 to Undocumented Immigrants and their families. This bill was amended in the Assembly om March 30, 2021 (short term relief bill).

Quick facts to share: – These bills affect food, labor, agriculture, and public health organizations alike, i.e. our neighbors. Approximately 57% of farmworkers are unauthorized to work in the United States. Undocumented immigrant restaurant workers are 25 percent more likely to experience food insecurity. We know that farmers of color are undercounted and many undocumented. populations are currently ineligible for any food assistance beyond foodbanks. Access to our state food assistance program (SB 464) and immediate food dollars (AB 221) is a public health benefit.

Hunger Issues Poverty

Action Needed to Fight College Hunger

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date March 11, 2021

Ask your members of Congress to be an original co-sponsor of the EATS Act that will permanently rescind the college student SNAP rule.

The deadline is tomorrow 3/11 to be an original co-sponsor.
- Members can sign on after tomorrow so please keep that drumbeat going in visits next week – this will be a priority bill. If you need any staff contacts please let me know.
- Already co-sponsors & do not need contact: Costa, Khanna, Lowenthal, Swalwell, Takano. 29 CA members co-sponsored in the last Congress.
Reps. Gomez, Harder, and Panetta will reintroduce next week, so be ready to amplify on social media.

AiQ Events Hunger Issues Poverty State UN/National Updates

Action for March 3rd from AIQ

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date March 3, 2021

Please consider attending Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD)! This is an annual national gathering of Christian advocates and activists. We worship, delve deeply into the pressing issues of the day, and lift our voices by speaking truth to power on Capitol Hill. The 2021 theme is ““Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored.” EAD 2021 is an opportunity to support this global movement centered on and led by the people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts due to historic racial and colonial inequities. Together, we will passionately advocate and reimagine a world that lives out the values of justice, equity and the beloved community. EAD 2021 will be a virtual gathering, to be held April 18-21, 2021. Register now!

Great news: LOPP-CA is now a part of First 5 California. We have a seat on their round table

Nicole Newell is back with LOPP-CA! She will be coordinating Lutheran Lobby Day. Lobby Day will be virtual and held on Wednesday, May 19th. The keynote speaker will be announced soon.

This legislative session LOPP-CA along with Bread for the World will be watching the movement and focusing on these three bills:

• SB 107 CalFresh: Simple for Seniors, which makes it easier for seniors to access healthy public food assistance
• SB 364 End Child Hunger, which establishes universal school meals for all kids in public schools and creates a stopgap nutrition program for school breaks and when campuses are closed
• AB 221 Emergency Food for All, which grants food assistance access to immigrants, regardless of status.

Others may be added later.

You can research the progress of any state bill by going to https://legiscan.com/CA/legislation and searching for the bill by bill number or key words.

AiQ Children's Issues Hunger Issues Poverty State

Action for February 24th from AIQ

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date February 24, 2021

Consider signing up for Chase Tibb’s podcast Faith and Capital at: https://faithandcapital.buzzsprout.com/

Write a letter to your state senator and/or assemblyperson stating that as Christians we affirm the Right to Food for all people – access, nutrition, food security, and dignity. In 2021 Californians will be speaking up about the Right to Food. Please personalize your letter and use your own words when possible. Be sure to include the bill numbers and names. Urge them to support the following hunger related bills:

AiQ Poverty State

Action for February 10th from AIQ

Post author By Edie Lott
Post date February 11, 2021

Let your pastor and congregation know by an announcement in church or a newsletter article that these are some important bills that Lutheran Office of Public Policy-CA will be working on this year.

SB 108, as introduced, Hurtado. State Healthy Food Access Policy. This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient healthy food.

AB 221, as introduced, Santiago. Emergency Food Assistance for all. The State Department of Social Services shall provide a food assistance benefit statewide to low-income California residents, regardless of their immigration status.

AB 614 (Eggman)—“Farm to Food Bank” Tax Credit
Overview: This bill would increase access to the food donation tax credit for agricultural growers by expanding the list of qualified donation items to food banks and other non-profit organizations by including other fresh food items not currently in statute, as well as various shelf-stable dietary staples.

Emergency food and diapers bill. (no number yet)