News
Local Media Reports on ACTIONN
Northern Nevada Business Weekly,
State grapples with shortage of healthcare workers
, May 27, 2013
The jobs crisis in healthcare is threatening to get worse as providers in Nevada, like in much of the
country, struggle to fill positions ranging from cardiologists and registered nurses to lab technicians
and medical coders. The problem is not new, but it is being exacerbated by a surge in demand from an
aging population and an expansion of Medicaid. ... part of a new health care task force launched last
week by Acting in Community Together in Organizing Northern Nevada, a broad coalition of religious groups
founded last year with a goal of expanding jobs in the area. The Healthcare Jobs for the Future Task Force
includes Nevada Assemblyman David Bobzien, the mayors of Reno, Sparks and Carson City and representatives
from Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Renown Health and local school districts.
Reno Gazette Journal,
Price of becoming citizen questioned in Reno, June 1, 2013
More than 1,200 supporters of immigration reform filled St. Therese Church of the Little Flower last week,
some of them with their immigration status depending on the outcome of congressional consideration of the issue.
Reno Gazette Journal,
Path to Citizenship Public Assembly Draws Crowd in Reno, 5/29/13
A crowd of more than 1,000 in St. Therese-Little Flower Church erupted into applause when
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., rose to speak. "I have spent more time on
immigration than any other issue," Reid said. "Because to me, it's a very personal one."
KTVN Channel 2 (CBS),
Campaign for Citizenship – Senator Harry Reid, 5/29/2013
Today's "path to citizenship public assembly" was held at the Little Flower Catholic
Church in Reno... and included speeches from Senator Harry Reid and Nevada State Senate
Majority Leader Mo Denis.
KRNV Channel 4 (NBC),
Hundreds Gather at Immigration Rally , 5/29/2013
Immigrants and multi-faith neighbors shared their stories of hardship and struggle during the event.
Senator Harry Reid attended the event along with other community leaders and politicians.
Crowd Exceeds 1,200 to Call for Immigration Reform
Reno, NV— U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid joined a standing room only crowd of over 1,200 where 16 speakers called on Congress to pass fair and affordable immigration reform on Wednesday, May 29th at Little Flower Catholic Church in Reno during a Public Assembly.
Senator Reid shared the immigration story of his father in law from Russia and how he has worked on immigration reform more than any other issue this year. He declared, “Immigration is a moral issue, not a political issue.” At that the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause.
The stories of four immigrants were shared. One, Sam, a 17 year old Hug High School student, described how when his dad was picked up by immigration, he had to work 3 jobs to support his family while attending school. If his dad is deported, he isn’t sure how he will be able to attend college.
Eight year old, Christian, shared how he is worried about whether his dad will get deported and the impact on his life. He said he was trying to be brave to talk about immigration reform because he knows it is important.
Nevada Majority Leader Senator Mo Dennis, spoke about why immigration reform is a justice issue. He discussed how his father immigrated to the US from Cuba and that we are a land of immigrants.
The type of immigration reform needed was outlined by Rev. Neal Anderson, minister of the Unitarian Universalist of Northern Nevada and Cory Hernandez, a leader with Immigration Reform for Nevada and a member of St Teresa of the Little Flower Church. The path includes affordable, just and fair legislation. Currently proposed is a $4,000 combination of fees and fines for each individual to become a citizen, payable within one year. That is not realistic for a family struggling financially to survive.
Ms. Hernandez share,“The reason I moved to the United States twelve years ago was all about safety. I was living in Mexico in a place where the drug cartels were in charge of everything. I didn’t want my children to see this, to witness all the violence, so we left our country for the U.S.”
Because Senator Heller and Congressman Amodei did not agree to participate, they were addressed as the “empty chairs.” The crowd was told to remember this when the next election came around.
Bishop Randolph Calvo, of the Catholic Diocese of Reno, spoke enthusiastically about the need for immigration reform this year and called on Congress to pass a fair, affordable reform measure. Bishop Luther DuPree, Jr., of the Church of God in Christ Diocese, gave the closing prayer for justice for needed immigration reform.
The U.S. is now facing a third generation of children growing up in homes with undocumented family members. The Path to Citizenship reforms proposed by the coalition promotes citizenship for all as an American value that is good for our families, communities and economy. Seven years is consistent with current law and is considered a reasonable amount of time for a person to successfully go through the process of taking on the responsibility and rights of becoming an American citizen.
The Campaign for Citizenship—represents Americans of faith and aspiring Americans who believe that full citizenship rights for 11 million aspiring Americans is the only response to our broken patchwork of immigration laws consistent with the American values of freedom, fairness and family.
For more information on, please visit www.piconetwork.org/issues/campaign-for-citizenship and www.justiceforimmigrants.org/index.shtml or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Health Care Jobs Task Force Launched
ACTIONN launched its Health Care Jobs of the Future Task Force May 24, 2013. Attended by leaders
from the health care providers (employers) and educational institutions, Carson Mayor Bob Crowell
described how growing our health care trained professionals is a sustainability issue so more young,
college educated young people don’t flee the state in search of opportunities that don’t exist in Nevada.
read more ....
ACTIONN Awarded Proclamation
by Nevada Senate
On Friday, April 19th ACTIONN was awarded a proclamation by the Nevada Senate, recognizing ACTIONN’s leadership in transforming the way we do business, educate our children, and create jobs in our community.
Improving Education
In Northern Nevada
ACTIONN’s public assembly to push for implementation of Parent Teacher Home Visits on Tuesday, April 2nd, at the Unitarian Universalist of Northern NV was a huge victory. Over 200 leaders from 32 faith communities joined together to support improving education in Northern NV.
Support from educational decision makers requested a yes or no answer to support for this year's request by Superintendent of Washoe County Schools, Pedro Martinez, for funding for $200,000 for Parent Teacher Home Visits. Both Washoe County School Board of Trustees President, Barbara Clark, and Board of Trustees Member, Estela Gutierrez, agreed to do so, as well as to support increases in funding for the next 5 years.
Listen to ACTIONN's Rev. Neal Anderson and Pat Fling on the radio.
click here for interview on PSA Today with Jessical Levity
Founding Convention Report
See report by local media. Click on this link:
http://www.ktvn.com/story/19778668/grassroots-event-to-help-counter-high-unemployment
On Tuesday, October 9th ACTIONN held its founding convention at Little Flower Catholic Church in Reno.
This historic event set the stage for the diverse faith community in Northern Nevada to work together
to create change.
Nevada is at the bottom of all states in the US for high school graduation rates and at the top for
unemployment. We have had a culture that devalues education and an economy built on industries that
will never recover from the decline they are experiencing.
The 512 participants were there to express their support for ACTIONN's founding platform to improve
education and create jobs in Northern Nevada. The participants included 3 Bishops from the Church of God
in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.), Roman Catholic, and Episcopal faiths, as well as 28 different faith communities
and many clergy and religious leaders.
We received strong commitments from the elected and appointed officials to work with us to create jobs
and improve schools. We will now followup with them to implement the changes we need.
ACTIONN ~ Acting Together in Organizing Northern Nevada ~ develops leadership of people of faith at the grassroots level to achieve power for positive change. Bringing people together across racial, economic, and religious lines, ACTIONN listens to the stories of the people in Northern Nevada through over 32 participating congregations and is deeply rooted in the stories of our people and our shared faith values. ACTIONN leaders connect with civic and political leaders to build relationships, identify common concerns, find solutions and take action to improve the quality of life and expand opportunity for all Northern Nevada families, especially the most vulnerable. ACTIONN expands the everyday person's ability to grow into leadership, to develop analysis, to be strong partners with public officials and policy makers to impact long term measurable systemic change.
ACTIONN is supported by the PICO National Network, a national network of faith-based organizations.
with more than 1,000 member institutions representing one million families in 150 cities and 17 states.
PICO is one of the largest community-based efforts in the United States and together we are lifting
up a vision for our region and country that unites people across region, race, class and religion.