Leaders from CCISCO/St. Francis of Assisi Church in the City of Concord are aiming to eliminate the imaginary wall that prevents their community from reaping the harvest of their growing city.
CCISCO (Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization) is a federation of 25 religious congregations and five youth & parent groups representing 35,000 families.
MANY ARE FAMILIAR WITH CONCORD’S ATTRACTIONS: great parks, a fabulous farmers’ market, varied dining options and a vibrant community. Nevertheless, for those who live next door in “La Monument,” it seems as if there’s an imaginary wall surrounding their neighborhood, isolating them from Concord’s abundance.
The Monument Corridor Neighborhood, known as “La Monument,” houses more than 18,000 residents. Over half of its residents are Latino; 83 percent are renters. It is estimated that even though 93 percent of its residents are employed, almost half live under 185 percent of the poverty line, nearly triple the county rate. This translates into more than 8,500 Concord residents who can’t afford to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, utilities, health insurance, clothing and education.The growing diversity of cultures and needs has raised critical issues for Concord’s public agencies. How long will thousands of working families find themselves excluded from Concord’s ongoing development? How can we create sustained access to resources and opportunities for those on the other side of “the wall”?
Understanding the Division; Seizing the Opportunities
Some may think that these low-income working families are destined to stay at the margins. But given the opportunity, the most vulnerable can dream big, voice their hopes and put their values into action.
Irma Cardenas, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church and a leader with CCISCO, lives near the Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS), which is located a few miles from the Monument and is slated for redevelopment. Despite high profile news articles about the CNWS, Irma was not aware that it could improve her family’s quality of life or meet her community’s immediate needs. For instance, her brother, who works in construction, commutes an astounding four hours to work, each way. “My brother leaves every day at 5 a.m. Sometimes, when there is a lot of traffic, he won’t be back until 10 p.m.,” says Irma.
But at one of CCISCO’s regular meetings at the church, leaders discussed the CNWS after they were invited to participate in a forum with Con- cord’s City Council candidates. (Those elected would decide CNWS’s future, since the council has been designated as the Local Reuse Authority.) By the end of the conversation, it became clear that CNWS’s conversion process could include potential benefits for “La Monument” families.
For instance, imagine if Irma’s brother (and many others) could commute 15 minutes -- instead of four hours -- to work on the CNWS development?
Thanks to Irma’s leadership, 30 parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi Church attended the forum to present their petitions. The petitions included: 1. A commitment to establish a first-source hiring policy that will include training and fair wages; and 2. A commitment to build housing for low- and very-low- income families at the site. The candidates listened attentively and applauded the parishioners’ participation. All of the candidates committed to prioritize these issues.
The City of Concord is in a historic position: it can model equality and inclusiveness in the way it shapes its progress. CCISCO leaders such as Irma Cardenas and others are working hard to make sure that their voices are heard in this process. It’s safe to say that when people join together to work towards a common vision, the walls that divide communities will disappear on their own.
Our religious congregations come from seven different denominations and are based in the very-low-, low- and moderate-income communities in the county. There are active local organizing committees in Richmond, Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez and Pinole. CCISCO is also an active member of the PICO California Project and the PICO National Network, one of the largest faith-based grassroots organizations in the country.
For more information or to get involved, contact CCISCO at (925) 313-0206 or EBHO at (510) 663-3830.
Thank you to Christina Espinoza, Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organizations (CCISCO) for her contributions to this article.