Issues
The issues of the Community Renewal Society are drawn directly from our member congregations. Churches identify the issues most directly affecting their communities and work with Civic Action organizers to build local, city or state wide campaigns to win real change.
High HOPES Campaign
The High HOPES (Healing Over the Punishment of Expulsions and Suspensions) Campaign is a coalition convened by Community Renewal Society and including Access Living, Blocks Together, Enlace Chicago, Organization of the North East (ONE), POWER-PAC, Southwest Youth Collaborative, and Trinity United Church of Christ. The coalition represents students, parents, teachers, faith, and community groups. The High HOPES Campaign was launched in november 2010.
Follow and Like the High HOPES Campaign on Facebook here.
Campaign Goal:
The High HOPES (Healing Over the Punishment of Expulsions and Suspensions) Campaign is calling on Chicago Public Schools to reduce suspensions and expulsions by 40% through the implementation of Restorative Justice programs and other proven strategies as called for in CPS's own Student Code of Conduct.
The Problem
In the 2008-2009 school year, there were more than 40,000 students suspended and 600 students expelled from Chicago Public Schools.1 This is roughly 1 suspension for every 10 CPS students. Students, parents, and teachers have noted that many of these suspensions were for low-level, non-violent behaviors. African-American male students, who represent only 23% of CPS students, represented 48% of suspensions and 57% of expulsions.¹ This disparity mirrors the over representation of minorities in prisons and jails.
> Read MoreResponsible Budget
Community Renewal Society serves on the steering committee of the Responsible Budget Coalition, fighting to provide adequate revenue to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our state.
Learn more at: www.abetterillinois.com
> Read MoreNursing Home Reform
For two years, the Civic Action Network and Senior Action Network have been leading the charge for nursing home reform in Illinois. Last year, we succeeded in passion Senate Bill 326, a landmark piece nursing home reform legislation. Thanks to the action of Civic Action and Senior Action churches, the bill included new regulations for adequate staffing that more than doubled the amount of care currently available to many residents at South side nursing homes. However, the bill did not include any provision for care by Registered Nurses (RNs), even though an analysis by The Chicago Reporter revealed that RN care is the most important factor in determining overall nursing home quality.
We are currently fighting to win these hours through the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). You can act now by calling or emailing the members of JCAR and telling them to vote for rules for SB326 that mandate that 20% of nursing care come from Regisetered Nurses.
> Read MoreJob Opportunities for People with Felony Records
Roughly 35,000 people are released from Illinois prisons each year.
Within 3 years, more than half of all of those released return to prison.
But we can do something to change that!
The difficulty in finding a job is one of the greatest challenges facing people with criminal convictions. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, God tells us that we should forgive others as God has forgiven us. Yet even after completing their time in prison, people with felony records remain unforgiven by our society. Our brothers and sisters with criminal records are often excluded from opportunities for meaningful employment, despite clear evidence that people who can find and retain jobs are less likely to re-offend and are better able to provide for their children and rebuild their families and lives. Sealing of felony records allows people to apply for jobs without consideration of their previous conviction. Currently, only the lowest level (Class 4) of drug felonies can be sealed, three years after the completion of a person’s sentence. Expanding record sealing to include more non-violent, drug related felonies would expand the chance for thousands of people to get a job, provide for their families and contribute to their communities. By reducing recidivism, it would save the state money and make our communities safer.
Some more facts regarding sealing of records and employment
- Creating job opportunities for people with felony convictions makes our communities safer. A 2005 Loyola University study found that those who attain 30 days of employment after leaving prison achieved a 67% reduction in recidivism.
- It is illegal for employers to consider a sealed record in making a hiring decision. Law enforcement, can still see a sealed record.
- Illinois spends an average of $27,165 to incarcerate an inmate for one year.
Contact your State Representative and Senator and tell them to support expanding the sealing of felony records for more non-violent felonies.
To learn more about how you can get involved, contact the Civic Action Network, (312) 673-3840, awiesendanger [at] communityrenewalsociety [dot] org
> Read More|
Featured Member: Rev. Jason Coulter |
 |
Get CAN News
Civic Action's newsletter.
Community Renewal Society
332 S. Michigan Ave. 500 • Chicago, Illinois 60604 Tel: (312) 427-4830 • Fax: (312) 427-6130 • Email: info@communityrenewalsociety.org
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
All Site Content ©2012 Community Renewal Society
