Resources
Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) is an interfaith, multi-racial community organization of 80+ member congregations impacting more than 700,000 people. We are committed to achieving social, economic and racial equality a the local and regional level. We believe that all people should have access to a living wage, quality education, good housing, affordable health care, and a safe place to raise their children. Our Metropolitan Agenda was developed, and is currently being implemented to achieve our immediate goals in the three main issue areas of Economic Development, Health Care, Transportation and most recently, Education.
The interfaith base of MCU includes African Methodist Episcopal, Baptists, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, United Church of Christ, United Methodists and other congregations within the St. Louis metropolitan region. Trinity's Session voted to join MCU in 2005.
The St. Louis region has experienced many changes in the past few decades. Unfortunately, many of these changes have contributed to the decline of the urban core and its surrounding suburbs. As the population continues to relocate to the fringes of the region, so do the resources. The stress on poor and working-class families manifests itself in many areas, of which some are very visible and others are hidden. The relocation of people results in:
Now is the time to redirect resources back to the core, before its too late. Through our leaders and membership, MCU focuses on raising the standard of living for the poor and working class, providing opportunities for all people, de-concentrating poverty and rebuilding and sustaining the inner core. Our track record of success is recognized locally and nationally.
As a metropolitan organization, bringing together all of its member congregations, MCU is working on the following:
Health Care: working on federal funding for SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) and passing ICHIA (Immigrant Children Health Improvement Act), which would lift the five-year ban on legal immigrant children having access to federal health care.
Education: working on state funding for proven dropout prevention programs, an issue brought forward by our Mid-County Cluster. Currently, the MCU Education Task Force is working with Sen. Joan Bray's office to draft legislation on this topic. Also, MCU is keeping in engaged with St. Louis Public Schools.
Immigration Reform: working on building support for the DREAM Act and building the base to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Economic Development: working on passing a Work Force Development ordinance in St. Louis City and County to increase job opportunities in our area.
At the Mid-County Cluster level: Responsible Development and Affordable Housing were raised as the new issue areas for 2007.
Want to find out more or get involved? Talk to me (bfraga@mcustl.org) or Trinity members Jim Person, Diane O'Brien, or Larry Pontius.
MCU Mid-County is putting together its first Community Resource Guide ad book to raise funds for general revenue. They will be distributed to all MCU Mid-County member congregations, prospective ands new congregations and at the fall community meeting. Ad prices range from $50 to $500.To be featured in this guide or for further information, please contact Bolivar Fraga at 314-367-3484, or bfraga@mcustl.org.
...on Sunday, Sept. 23rd from 11am-5pm at St. Cecilia Church (5418 Louisiana, 63111), offering free legal assistance for lawful permanent residents applying for citizenship.
The educational task force has narrowed its original list of six problem areas to two specific needs in mid-county:
The St. Louis YMCA Literacy Council has concluded that the only measure that has significant impact on children's reading ability is if they live in a home where there is a commitment to learning. Getting and keeping parents involved in their children's education is crucial to a successful school experience, but often parents see schools and libraries as alien and unfriendly places. What can MCU do to encourage parents to take a more active role from very early in their children's lives?
U.S. law states that one percent of Title I funds for education must be spent on programs to encourage parental involvement. Are they being spent in fact? How? What is the result? Should funds be increased?
The health care task force has focused on "health literacy" and is developing a plan to spread information on health care to consumers allowing them to make intelligent choices about their care. The next task force meeting is scheduled for July 13, 6:30 p.m. Come one, come all!
For more details, speak with any of the core team members: Melissa Kreishman, Lisa Bernhard, Betty Burnett, Tom Serfass. Luise Hoffman, Kitty Underwood, or John Roman. The next full-scale community meeting will be September 24, 3-4:30 p.m. It is not too early to mark your calendars.
Trinity members brought out the party hats and noisemakers to celebrate the MCU Mid-County Cluster Issues Assembly at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, January 8. Thirty-four Trinity members joined members of the other congregations in the cluster (First Presbyterian, Samuel United Church of Christ, Christ Church of Christ, University United Methodist and Unity Christ Church) to hear proposals for possible issues the cluster will take on in 2006. The issues presented were those discovered from each congregation's listening campaign last year. Trinity's own Spirit Sorenson presented the topic of Public Education at the assembly. Each congregation then caucused to determine how they would allocate their votes among the issues. All the votes from all the congregations were counted to determine the two issues that the cluster will work on in 2006: Public Education and Health Care.
The next step in the process is to develop a Task Force for each of these two issues. The Task Force will research the issue, select a specific issue to be addressed within the broad problem and start to act. There will be a training session for the Task Forces on Thursday, January 26, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Samuel United Church, 320 North Forsyth in Clayton. Many who attended the Issues Assembly have signed up for the training, but it is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about what a Task Force is and how it works. We hope to see you there!
MCU wants the following provisions to be included in the MODOT bid specifications for the Highway 40/I-64 reconstruction project:
Postcards and petitions addressed to MODOT are in the Narthex. We need your signature. Help create jobs for those who need them!
January 8th 2 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
7200 Delmar Blvd.
The MCU Mid-County cluster will hold an Issues Assembly on Sunday January 8th at 2 p.m. to decide on the issue that the cluster will work on during the coming year. Each member congregation will present the issue they've determined is the most important. Trinity will present the case for focusing on public education. Other issues to be presented are race and poverty, viable employment, fair access to health care, uncontrolled development, and environmental problems. All congregations are invited to this meeting and each member present will have a vote.
This is why it is important that you are present - the more Trinity members at the meeting, the more likely the issue important to us will be selected. This should be a fun afternoon - the assembly is run like a political convention with all the politics and excitement we can generate. Childcare will be provided for children under ten. Children ten and older may participate and vote.
Look for a sign-up sheet at the church or contact John Roman, Kitty Underwood, Luise Hoffman, or Tom Serfass to let them know you will attend.