Since 1976, we have organized to build a community that respects the dignity and wisdom of every person in Orange County.
Our Mission
OCCCO develops transformational leaders within diverse, multicultural, interfaith communities who together have the power to shape equitable public policy throughout Orange County.
Our Vision
Orange County is a community where ALL people live with dignity and thrive.
“Pray as though everything depended on God; act as though everything depended on you.”
Our work
OCCCO works to empower individuals and congregations to use their voice to make positive, lasting change within low-income communities of color. Since 2017, we have trained more than 200 faith-based community members through our Leadership Academy. We’ve had over 30,000 conversations with voters in low-income communities of color during the past five years and involved hundreds of youth in civic engagement. Our current work focuses on Housing with Dignity, Education Justice, and Immigration Rights. Sign up for our quarterly email newsletter for updates on our current work.
Origin Story
OCCCO was founded in 1976 as the Santa Ana Neighborhood Organization (SANO) to empower the low-income immigrant community through a grassroots neighborhood-based community organizing approach. In 1985, SANO's community organizing approach was transformed into a congregation-based organizing approach, which developed a countywide reach and rebranded as the Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO).
OCCCO is a member of the Faith in Action network which connects the efforts of faith-based low-income community organizations across the country. Today the Faith in Action network links over 45 organizations in 21 states plus the District of Columbia.