January 13, 2012
Austin Interfaith Fights Energy Rate Hike on Churches & Poor
“Church leaders are banding together to fight a proposed Austin Energy rate increase that they say will hurt their ability to help the poor in the community.
Thursday morning, Austin Interfaith gathered and spoke during public comments to let the city council know they oppose the increase. ‘This could affect the community of faith’s ability to do the ministries they need to do,’ said Pastor Fred Krebs of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in East Austin.”
Austin Churches Unite to Oppose Energy Rate Hike, KVUE News
Austin Interfaith Statements, Austin Channel 6 [Citizen Communication Start at 0:30 & 20:25; Also at Item 107, Part 3 at 33:46]
Be Heard Today on Electricity Rate Increase, KUT
September 23, 2011
Austin Interfaith Victorious on Citizen Participation
“After months of complaints from Austin Interfaith over its limited ability to weigh in on funding for local nonprofits, the City of Austin now says that the group can give City Council members a piece of its mind.”
Austin Now Allowing Supporters to Weigh In On Non-Profit Contracts, Austin American Statesman
August 19, 2011
Institutions of Austin Interfaith Get City to Expand Construction Safety Training
Leaders from the Worker’s Defense Project, a member institution of Austin Interfaith, successfully lobbied city council members to pass a resolution that will protect and train workers on all city-owned construction sites, whether or not a third-party is the developer. Until now, city contracts did not require safety trainings where third parties developed city-owned property. The resolution also requires that a safety supervisor with 30 hours of training be present at construction sites.
At the Austin Interfaith Accountability Session this past April 800 people gathered, heard stories on a range of issues including unsafe working conditions and asked all candidates for city council if they would support expanded safety training. The candidates publicly answered that they would, and they kept their commitment—ensuring that all workers on city-owned construction sites, even when a third party developer is used, will be provided with an OSHA 10 hour safety training prior to working on the construction site.
August 3, 2011
Members of Austin Interfaith Weigh In On Texas Miracle
Institutional leaders Pastor Fred Krebs, Rev. John Elford, Policy Analyst Emily Timm and Lead Organizer Doug Greco weigh in on the Texas miracle and its effects on Austin residents.
Rick Perry’s Texas Miracle Includes Crowded Homeless Shelters, Low Wage Jobs and Workers Deaths, Huffington Post
August 1, 2011
Evaluation Update Confirms Solid Returns for Investment in Job Training: Capital IDEA
The Ray Marshall Center released the latest updates of a multi-year study of several hundred Capital IDEA participants, concluding that "longer term investments in skills training yields large, lasting returns in the labor market."
Local Investments in Workforce Development: 2011 Evaluation Update, Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources
June 30, 2011
Study Reveals Solid Returns for Investment in Capital IDEA Job Training
Researchers from the Ray Marshall Center developed a cost-benefit analysis for Capital IDEA; they found that returns to taxpayers from reductions in welfare and food stamp payments, and increased tax receipts, were fully recouped in 8.5 years. Total returns to taxpayers are estimated at 165% for the first 10 years and 501% over 20 years.
Return on Investment from Capital IDEA: Research Brief, Ray Marshall Center for Study of Human Resources
Other West / Southwest IAF Labor Market Intermediaries
June 17, 2011
Austin Interfaith Boosts Early Voting Turnout
Divine Intervention at the Ballot Box, InFact Daily
May 20, 2011
Austin Interfaith Fights Against Citizen Gag Order
Point Austin: Hard Choices, Austin Chronicle
Groups Seek Clarity on City’s Anti-Lobbying Ordinance, KUT News
Disappointed Crowd Seeks Answers on Social Services Funding Process, In Fact Daily
May 7, 2011
Austin Interfaith Knocks On Doors to Get Out the Vote
So Far, Another Sleepy Austin Election, KUT News
May 5, 2011
Austin Interfaith Joins Texas IAF Organizations in Push for Restoration of Investments in Education & Job Training
Rabbi Offers Scripture Message for Texas Lawmakers, San Antonio-Express News
Dallas Area Interfaith Says It’s Raining, Use State’s Savings to Ease Cuts, Dallas Morning News
April 14, 2011
Austin Interfaith & Central Texas Bishops Denounce Anti-Immigrant Legislation
Central Texas Religious Leaders Denounce Pending Immigration Bills, Austin-American Statesman
Religious Leaders Come Together Against Anti-Immigration Laws, ABC News
Latest Player in Sanctuary Cities Debate: God, Texas Tribune
Capital Area Bishops Advocate for Immigrants, Texas Catholic Conference
April 12, 2011
850 Austin Interfaith Leaders Pose Tough Questions to City Council Candidates
Interfaith asks tough questions at candidate ‘accountability session’, In Fact Daily
“Austin Interfaith’s Sunday night accountability forum easily will be the largest vetting this election season and probably the toughest crowd any Council candidate will face when choosing to say “no” to a particular issue….”
October 22, 2010
Two Hundred Austin Interfaith Voters to Walk Door to Door
by Joshunda Sanders, Austin American Statesman
October 1, 2010
Austin Interfaith Launches Voter Turnout Drive
In Dove Springs, a Drive for More Voters, Services, Austin American Statesman
Austin Interfaith Gets Out The Vote, Austin Chronicle
Group Begins Ambitious Voter Drive, KUT 90.5 Radio