Parish joins interfaith activist group

Arguing that there is strength in numbers, notably in pressing for community reform and social justice, members of Christ the King parish in Guilderland have reached outside church walls to join a local civic coalition.

"Politicians respond well to public pressure," said Victor Bobnick, who chairs the parish's social justice committee. "But individual churches and organizations can't do much on their own other than educate. It takes muscle to get anything done. When you get together you can do things."

Mr. Bobnick represents his parish in a grassroots coalition of local congregations and community organizations called ARISE, short for "A Regional Initiative Supporting Empower-ment."

According to its literature, ARISE strives to strengthen communities in part by "mobilizing people of faith to be leaders in the reshaping of public policy" and by "empowering economically distressed and politically marginalized people."

Common values
"This fits in with Catholic social justice in general," said Mr. Bobnick. "It is part of our faith to take care of our neighbors."

"We advocate for those in need," he continued. "We pick our issues and find out who the influential people are, make connections and advocate for those in need. We establish relationships and talk about past accomplishments. They respect what we do."

Unlike charitable contributions of food and money that eventually run out, Mr. Bobnick said that ARISE concentrates on permanent solutions. The group and its members advocate with policy-makers and legislators for changes in health care, housing, education, immigrant rights, job training and community life.

ARISE is affiliated with the Gamaliel Foundation, a national network of community organizations that advises ARISE and provides help and training.

All together
The local ARISE group reports that it includes 35 organizations in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties. These include Catholic, Protes-tant and Muslim congregations, interfaith alliances and neighborhood groups who report a combined membership of 12,000 individuals.

"We have some clout behind us because we are not a single organization," said Mr. Bobnick. "There is power in the numbers we represent."

Dick Dana, past president of ARISE and a current board member, is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Albany.

"It's exciting that people realize there is so much common good," Mr. Dana said. "So much divides us but we put aside those issues and work on those we can agree on."
The group claims success in pushing for the hiring of minorities and women on a $187 million school construction project in Albany; working with BOCES of Rensselaer to form a job-ready program for students; lobbying for a $400 million state housing fund; presenting neighborhood concerns to mayors after "Holy Ground" walks through poor areas of the Capital District; and securing $250,000 for the Carver Community Center in Schenectady.

ARISE also successfully lobbied the New York State legislature for an additional one million dollars for the Liberty Partnership Program providing tutoring and other resources to help students finish school.

The red and black
"Despite our progress, there is much more work to be done," said Mr. Bobnick. "The more concerned Catholics, Christians [and other] people who are involved, the more we can accomplish."  

He acknowledges a major obstacle.

"People are reluctant to get involved with government," he said. "But Bishop Hubbard and the Pope said we have to get involved with the political realm. That's where things get done. When people are involved, government is inv-olved. It's a necessary overlap."
Mr. Bobnick welcomed the convergence of interests. "When you have ministers, imams and priests who are leaders it lends a certain weight," he said. "Politicians listen to them."

(10/30/08)