Jefferson City Congregations Uniting

Programs: Economic dignity and racial equity: faith voices for jefferson city continued to work to close the gap on economic disparity and racial equity in 2013. Working with allies around the state, we continued to collect information from people struggling under the weight of predatory lending. This work was done in town hall style meetings, one to one conversations, and meetings with state legislators in their capitol offices. These stories have been provided to the consumer finance protection bureau as the evidence they need to develop rules to govern the industry that is destroying the lives of missouri's most vulnerable people. Our work on economic dignity and racial equity was further accomplished through an ongoing training program that trains leaders, many low-income, to identify and name publicly the systems that are in place that perpetuate racial inequity and economic despair.

medicaid expansion: as much of the rest of the country took steps forward in health equity with the implementation of the affordable care act, missouri legislators blocked the necessary medicaid eligibility expansion that is required to make the plan work in each state. The refusal to expand medicaid eligibility to families making up to 138% of the federal poverty level has created a coverage gap into which 300,000 missourians fall, leaving those missourians without access to affordable health care. Faith voices sees this decision as morally bankrupt and continues to work for expansion of medicaid and full realization of the benefits of the aca for all missouri residents. Clergy and lay leaders spent countless hours in 2013 organizing and implementing a faith based campaign to convince the missouri legislature of the dire need to expand medicaid. This work included public meetings, lobby days, and the training of many new leaders to serve as spokespersons in legislative hearings and in the media.

transportation: faith voices for jefferson city recognizes the importance of an adequate public transportation system to provide equal access and opportunity to all jefferson city residents. As the city council continued to look to the already inadequate transportation budget to make up shortfalls in the city budget, faith voices fought to maintain current service levels and to pave a way for expansion in the future. Through the proposal of a public transit advisory committee, local transportation advocates demonstrated the need for stakeholder input in any and all future decisions about bus service in jefferson city. Faith voices organized and assisted in town hall style meetings in 4 of 5 wards in the city, mobilizing residents, business owners, and community leaders, who are now speaking out in support of public transportation. Faith voices leaders maintain a constant presence at all city council and committee meetings to be aware of any upcoming threats to public transportation.