The Anaheim Poverty Task Force, an interfaith coalition led by OCCCO and CLUE, held a candlelight vigil on the steps of City Hall to ‘be a light’ for the homeless in Anaheim.  Participants dedicated their candles to a person the know who is homeless, has been homeless, or is at-risk or being homeless.  These individual names and stories were lifted up by four members of the Task Force, who spoke during public comment at the City Council meeting.  After the comments, Councilmember Lorri Galloway applauded their efforts and called the other four council members to actions.  The efforts of the PTF align with the County’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.  Check out the OC Register article at http://www.ocregister.com/articles/anaheim-330344-city-homeless.html and for more information, contact Kerry at (714) 612-5028 or at kerry@occcopico.org.  

After learning about the impacts of redistricting on the Latino community in Orange County, students from Chicano Studies students from Cal State Long Beach wanted to get involved and make a difference. Over forty students teamed up with OCCCO leaders from the St. Boniface Local Organizing Ministry in Anaheim and took a Saturday to walk in six precincts and register new voters. Ongoing efforts will be made in cities throughout Orange County leading up to November 2012 to register, educate and mobilize new voters.  

To learn more, contact Sandra at (714) 931.6045 or at sandra@occcopico.org.

The 2011 Immigration Assembly was a collaborative effort by more than 18 community organizations to help inform, support and empower the immigrant community to make local policy change in Orange County.  More than 150 community members attended the November 19th event at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Santa Ana.  The information sessions covered a wide range of topics including the changing Latino demographics in O.C., parent involvement in education, know your rights, Santa Ana’s towing policy and safe zones in High Schools.  One attendee commented on the event, “I learned more so much at the Immigration Assembly. I was surprised by the wealth of information here.” The coalition members will continue to meet and hope to organize another Immigration Assembly in late 2012. 

Please contact Miguel Hernandez at 714.470.8178 or miguel@occcopico.org  for more information. 

After the Kelly Thomas beating and death, the Fullerton Faith and Community Forum, a new group led by OCCCO and the Fullerton Interfaith Ministerial Association (FIMA), held series' of listening conferences to engage the community in responding. The group shared testimonies and brainstormed on solutions to better serve the mentally ill and homeless.  Listening Conferences have been held at the Fullerton Collaborative, First Christian Church and Temple Beth Tikvah.  Another Listening Conference will be held at the Armory in December. The stories and ideas that people shared will be brought back to the City’s Task Force on Mental Illness and Homelessness.

Want to learn more? Contact Kerry at (714) 612-5028 or kerry@occcopico.org.

PICO Consultant Lindsey Hodel trained leaders from across Orange County and San Bernardino on how to make bold change through developing voters. Leaders set local goals for the cities of Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Anaheim and South County, in order to engage in a yearlong countywide campaign across Orange County.  Groups have begun to build local partners with school districts and other non-profits to look towards increasing their efforts.


Want to get involved in this year-long effort? Contact Andrew at 714.931.6041 or andrew@occcopico.org.

At this summer’s OCCCO Leadership Summit, OCCCO leaders sat together to brainstorm how to build power as an organization through voter registration, education and mobilization.  Folks recognize that in so many cases, just getting people together to talk about issues isn’t enough; if we want to have a significant impact and reach the ears of our elected officials, we need more voters who share our values. Leaders across the county have begun to develop strategic plans, build allies, and talk with community members about voting in 2012.
 
Want to get involved? Contact Andrew for more information: (714) 931-6041, andrew@occcopico.org.

The interfaith group based in Anaheim has now worked for over a year to urge the Anaheim City Council to pass the 5 Year Homeless and At-Risk Initiative, a policy document written and developed entirely by the group.  The plan makes 15 policy recommendations to the council, including the creation of a Homeless Outreach Team that teams mental health clinicians and PD, the creation of a ‘safe haven’ for the provision of services, and the construction of a multi-service center with resources and housing for people experiencing homelessness.  The Task Force has taken Mayor Tom Tait and City Councilmembers Galloway and Eastman to visit the PATH Mall in LA, and the group continues to speak at council meetings to ask the council to work with the Task Force to pass the plan.
 
Check out www.anaheimptf.org or contact Kerry at (714) 612-5028 or kerry@occcopico.org for more info.  

Meet Sandra Ortega, the newest member of the OCCCO family.  Sandra was recently hired to take over as the new full-time organizer in North County, working with Local Organizing Committees in Garden Grove, Fullerton and Anaheim.  Before coming to OCCCO, she was employed at Community Action Partnership of OC for 6 years, working with parent leaders to train and teach in areas related to leadership, advocacy and nutrition. She attends the Side-By-Side International Church in Santa Ana for over 5 years and through her church involves herself in the Lives Worth Saving ministry of gang intervention and domestic minor human sex trafficking intervention.  Sandra has been married for 20 years, with two children and two grandchildren.
 
Sandra can be contacted at (714) 931-6045 or sandra@occcopico.org.

Immaculate Heart of Mary and San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Churches invited students from the Orange County DREAM Team to offer testimonies on the challenges of reaching their educational and career dreams while being undocumented.  The IHM and SFJ communities were enthusiastic about supporting the Dreamers and signed over 500 letters for Gov. Brown supporting the California DREAM Act and President Obama for the National DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a piece of legislation at the national and state levels that allows youth brought here as children to gain access to all the benefits documented students have and to legally work in the this country so they can follow their dreams.  The federal DREAM Act would take care of that in one stroke.  Until then, the California Dream Act (parts A &B) would help them get access to private and public financial aide.  
 
Contact Miguel at (714) 470-8178 or miguel@occcopico.org for more information.

What - Que: Citizenship Fair - La Feria de CuidadaniaWhen - Cuando: Saturday, October 29, 2011 | sabado 29 de octubre | 9 AM to 4 PM
Where - Donde: Laborers Union Hall, Local 652
1532 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Questions - Preguntas: Claudia 714-621-0919 | Miguel 714-470-8178 miguel@occcopico.org

REGISTER TODAY - REGISTRO AHORA - on our Events page.

- Free assistance on completing the N-400 Citizenship Application | Ayuda gratis para completer la aplicación de Ciudadanía N-400
- Free Legal Advice | Asesoramiento legal gratis
- Free Passport Photos | Fotos de pasaporte gratis
- Opportunities to enroll in Free Citizenship Classes | Oportunidades para registrarse en clases gratis de ciudadanía
- Free educational materials | Materiales Educativos gratis

More information - mas informacion:  in English, en Espanol.  VOLUNTEER for the Fair!