News
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.
"The time has come to bring social justice to Nevada. Justice for our children who have an uneven start in school. Justice for our youth who drop out of high school, as a result of a Nevada culture that devalues education. Justice for our people who want to work, but the high rates of unemployment give them no prospects...That is why ACTIONN was created... Thank you for this proclamation and recognition for ACTIONN and our work together," remarked Rev. Neal Anderson in accepting the proclamation for ACTIONN.
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.
Testimonials were provided by Ken Rackely, 3rd grade teacher at Alice Smith Elementary School, Liz Motter, retired Washoe County school teacher, Jennifer Tobias, 3rd grade student at Veterans Elementary school, and her mother Adrianna Rojias.
As Rev. Rich Smith, First Congregational, said, "Celebrate the work we've already accomplished towards making Parent Teacher Home Visits a reality. Thank you to all our ACTIONN leaders and decision makers who are working to eliminate poverty and unemployment by improving education for our children. And thank you to all of you who have joined in this work!"
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.