• Catholic Charities’ Step-Up California Draws Bi-partisan Support
• Communities Strive to Help Youth in Tough Economy
• Want to Help Set Up California’s Voting Districts?
• Suffering in Sudan Continues – Ask Congress to Help
• On the Web

Catholic Charities’ Step-Up California Draws Bi-partisan Support

Legislators from both sides of the aisle joined in a press conference Wednesday to raise awareness of the issues faced by those who live in poverty.  The simulation was sponsored by a coalition of agencies spearheaded by Catholic Charities of California.

The coalition is promoting Assembly Concurrent Resolution 110 (Conway, R-Visalia), which urges all Californians to work to cut poverty.  More than 65 people participated in the hours-long event held in the State Capitol.
 
The simulation helps people understand the realities of poverty by “experiencing” the difficulties of everyday life for those who live in poverty.  Attendees included legislators, staff and advocates.  Participants role-played someone from a low-income family facing the stressful tasks of providing basic necessities and shelter on a limited budget.  They interacted with others role-playing human service agencies reps, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, employers, police and others.  
 
With an increase in the demand for social services combined with cuts in state funding and a deteriorating economy, families are finding it more difficult to support themselves.   In this bi-partisan effort, the legislators called upon all Californian's to do what they can to help their neighbors in need, whether it be volunteering time, donating money or educating others.  Visit Step Up California to learn more.  
For more information, contact Linda Wanner, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Communities Strive to Help Youth in Tough Economy

Too few young people enter adulthood ready for college, work and life. National data shows that only four in 10 youth are adequately prepared for adulthood by age 21. Resiliency and youth development research indicates that families, organizations and communities can all help youth succeed if they provide young people with the basic tools, supports, and opportunities they need in order to be successful.

Since youth are developing 24/7, the community has a major a role in helping them be successful.   Volunteers serve as big brothers, big sisters, coaches, role models, or mentors.  Research also indicates what communities need to provide all youth to succeed -- safe environments, caring adults, opportunities for voice, civic engagement, hands-on experiences, and challenging and relevant skill-building, are all things that help young people develop to their fullest potential.

Click here to read about more ways to work with youth or here to learn about families in the Catholic social teaching tradition.  For more information, contact Mary Samaniego, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Want to Help Set Up California’s Voting Districts?

A safe political district is one that stays in the same party’s hands election after election.  In large part, say critics, that’s because the party’s are the ones that create the boundaries.   When districts take on strange shapes – grabbing different neighborhoods from unconnected parts of a city or crossing mountain ranges to reach into entirely different communities – the process is sometimes called gerrymandering.  It has been a factor in politics since the formation of this nation.

 In November 2008, California voters decided to try to prevent gerrymandering when they passed Proposition 11.  The measure called for a random collection of citizens to redraw district boundaries every ten years.  (The process always follows the official US Census.  Click here to read more about the importance of participating in the census.)

Advocates of citizen drawn districts believe that the process will be less partisan and increase the responsiveness of elected officials by increasing the competitiveness of elections.  In 2008, for example, not one of California’s 53 Congressional districts changed party affiliation.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Citizens Redistricting Commission, information and an application are available here.   For more information, contact Steve Pehanich, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Suffering in Sudan Continues – Ask Congress to Help

“Having experienced only 11 years of peace since achieving independence in 1956, Sudan faces enormous challenges,” according to Catholic Relief Services.  “More than 40 years of intermittent fighting led to the longest-running war in Africa, displaced several million people, and largely devastated the infrastructure across southern and central Sudan.  Oil revenues are now supporting a booming economy in Khartoum, but other areas of the country continue to lack even basic social services, roads, hospitals and schools.  Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Darfur threatens the current, fragile peace maintained between the north and south.”

The problems in Sudan have generated massive relief efforts from the international community, but upcoming elections threaten more instability.   A bi-partisan resolution in the Senate (SR 404) will urge the Administration and the world community to continue humanitarian efforts in this war-torn region.
The Catholic Legislative Network has joined with Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in an effort to advocate on behalf of the thousands suffering in Sudan.  Click here to send a message to our Senators about the importance of continued attention to this African nation.

Contact Steve Pehanich, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

On the Web

• Preaching and Promoting the Gospel of Life
• Health Care Reform and the Pro-Life Agenda
• La reforma del sistema de salud y la agenda Pro Vida
• CRS Relief Pours into Haiti