Oregon Center For Christian Values

Programs: Legislative forum: occv held its third legislative forum on january 21, just prior to the beginning of the 2017 legislative session. The purpose of the forum is to hear from legislators and advocates about the bills to be considered during the session, to guide occv in choosing which bills to endorse, and to give attendees an opportunity to engage in advocacy. We invited two other faith-based organizations, ecumenical ministries of oregon, and interfaith alliance against poverty, to co-sponsor the forum. Thirteen legislators and leaders from various non-profits addressed eight categories of proposed bills. Over 60 people attended, with many signing up to volunteer during the legislative session. Faith and why unions matter forum: as an active member of the faith labor committee of jobs for justice, occv was instrumental in promoting the idea of a forum where the nexus between faith and worker rights could be explored. We were co-sponsors, and were active in planning the forum. The forum was well-received, and will be repeated in the fall. As a result of our increased awareness about workers rights to dignity and fair wages, occv has written a position paper stating why our faith compels us to advocate for workers rights, including the right to organize. Collaborations: during the legislative session, occv collaborated with a number of organizations working on the same issues we endorsed. Those organizations included a better oregon; ecumenical ministries of oregon; interfaith alliance against poverty; children first for oregon; general assistance coalition; wage theft coalition; partnership for safety and justice, tax fairness oregon; housing alliance; causa; unitarian universalist voices for justice. We coordinated our activities with these groups, signed joint letters to legislators, attended rallies together as a faith presence, and provided testimony that spoke to the moral and spiritual imperative of the various bills.