We share core values of justice, empowerment and family. To live out these values we engage in faith-based community organizing and leadership training. We organize across Illinois with congregations, labor, and ethnic and grassroots groups.
Making Change Happen: Current IPA Justice Issues:
- Stopping triple digit interest CAR TITLE and PAYDAY lending and replacing it with affordable short-term loans from traditional lenders.
- Holding BIG BANKS ACCOUNTABLE through federal and state regulations, stopping home foreclosures and increasing community reinvestment.
- Creating new FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT initiatives that are focused on job creation.
- LATINOS UNIDOS PARA CAMBIO for Latino rights and comprehensive immigration reform.
- CIVIC ENGAGEMENT encouraging all citizens, especially underrepresented citizens, to vote.
Media:
Showdown in America (and video!)
NBC affiliate Peoria (and video!)
CBS affiliate Peoria,
Peoria Journal Star opinion, “payday loans, subprime mess, foreclosures share root problem
Justice Victories: Words to Action
IPA protest outside Bank of America as leaders negotiate with corporate officials on 3rd floor
Nobody ever got any justice by complaining about the lack of it. We believe scripture instructs us that we have to involve ourselves and our congregations in making our communities more just. It means we can’t sit as bystanders waiting for government or somebody else to step up when we see and hear of injustice in our midst.
We know that many families want to be involved in justice work but can’t seem to find a pathway to do it. Giving things to the needy doesn’t address the root causes of poverty, nor create better citizens or a more just community. Our approach is to determine for ourselves what change needs to happen and then work collectively to see it through. This means we help congregations learn how to do faith-based community organizing.
Engaging Decision-makers
We believe the power of people can make change in their neighborhoods, communities and nation. To do that we build power to be able to negotiate with those who make decisions as equals. Our power doesn’t come from wealth or influence, but in people of faith with a common agenda coming together to engage decision-makers on our issues and solutions.
IPA brings together congregations of many denominations and faiths, grassroots groups and labor together to speak with one voice on the critical justice issues of our time. In the last year IPA brought together over 1000 citizens in mass meetings with the Federal Reserve on community reinvestment (Decatur, IL 500 people, pictured), the US Department of Treasury on stopping home foreclosures in Peoria, IL and with other corporate and public officials.
Central IL Organizing Project (CIOP) goes statewide: Illinois People’s Action (IPA)
Founded in 1996, the Central Illinois Organizing Project was a powerful voice for the organized faith community on local and regional community improvement issues. And while CIOP was very successful, many of the issue campaigns included decision-makers in either the state Capitol or in Washington, D.C. It became a necessity to broaden the geographic scope of the organization to include the entire state.
In 2009 CIOP leaders began a year-long process to become a state-wide community organization now known as Illinois People’s Action. Our name indicates our breadth and action, and a sign of solidarity with our national affiliate, National People’s Action.
