New Hope Missionary Baptist Church joined TMO in February of this year. This new institution is located in Northeast Houston and led by Rev. Tracy Phillips.

Congratulations Doug Pierre!

TMO leaders are informing communities that there is still time to enroll in the healthcare marketplace with sessions at Evangelist Temple, Assumption and Liestman Elementary (Alief "ISD). The deadline to enroll is March 31. still time to enroll in the healthcare marketplace with sessions at Evangelist Temple, Assumption and Liestman Elementary (Alief "ISD). The deadline to enroll is March 31. English presentation here.

Assumption leaders Maribel Guevara, Lourdes Badillo and Nolvia Artiga hosted a large Spanish healthcare session on Jan. 12. Spanish presentation here.

Leaders of TMO joined representatives from sister organizations of the West / Southwest IAF for two days of study with rabbinical scholar Dr. Tamara Eskenazi.

[Burton Bagby-Grose, a TMO leader at First Congregational, is pictured with scholar and author Dr. Tamara Eskenazi in Las Vegas on Feb. 1.]

Clergy and leaders read and discussed Torah commentaries on Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.

TMO leaders from across Harris County gathered Jan. 21 to craft an organizing strategy for 2014. Texas IAF Supervisor Sr. Christine Stephens framed a conversation about pressures on families and institutions needed to counteract them. Leaders decided to adopt the role of "talent scout" for the next four months.

The Houston Chronicle included the following in its editorial about immigration reform:

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, bottom right, speaks during a press conference at St Paul's United Methodist Church urging the House of Representatives to pass comprehensive immigration reform, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, in Houston. Individuals from The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) and members of an Interfaith coalition of Houston area religious leaders urged congress to keep families together, protect workers and "Dreamers," and provide a workable path to citizenship. These faith leaders find the "Safe Act" bill unacceptable, as well as any legislation that addresses only border security. (Photo Credit: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

Full Article, Houston Chronicle

Diana stood before the cameras and the microphones and in a quiet, nervous voice began to tell her story about coming to America. The 18-year-old, who will be graduating from high school this year as a member of the National Honor Society, spoke in perfect English. She spoke effusively about her love of Houston and Texas and America. If you were to meet her on the street, you would not have the slightest suspicion she had not been born in this country.

Full Article, Houston Chronicle

Houston clergy joined dozens of immigration reform supporters Wednesday to call for Congress to reject legislation that would permit tougher penalties and enforcement for an illegal presence in the United States.

At a news conference organized by The Metropolitan Organization, leaders also urged those who oppose the SAFE Act to contact their representatives in Congress and ask for comprehensive immigration reform...

[Photo Credit: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle]

Full Article, Houston Chronicle

TMO and the Houston Interfaith Sponsoring Committee recently graduated one hundred leaders from its healthcare bootcamps; all of which have committed to returning to their congregations and institutions to teach others about the federal healthcare marketplace. Congregations are also planning walks and neighborhood rallies to raise awareness. Click on graphic at right for updated presentation in English, Spanish version here.

For more information contact Lead Organizer Elizabeth Valdez: [email protected].

[Excerpt below]

At a news conference organized by The Metropolitan Organization, leaders also urged those who oppose the SAFE Act to contact their representatives in Congress and ask for comprehensive immigration reform.

This spring, a bipartisan group of senators proposed the first major overhaul of U.S. immigration policy since 1986.

The Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act, backed by House Republicans, would allow state and local governments to draft immigration laws that did not conflict with federal statutes. The bill, approved by the House Judiciary Committee this summer, also gives state and local law enforcement agencies more power to arrest and charge immigrants for overstaying visas or entering the country illegally while shifting a visa overstay from a civil to a criminal matter.

[Photo Credit: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle]

Houston Clergy Urge Lawmakers to Defeat Immigration Enforcement Plan, Houston Chronicle

Calling for humane immigration reform grounded in civil and human rights, some 40 Houston-area clergy came to the bimah at Congregation Beth Israel on April 23 to urge support for a bipartisan Senate immigration bill. In a press conference organized by The Metropolitan Organization, the religious leaders applauded the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S. 744), the first major immigration proposal in several years, aimed at comprehensively overhauling the nation's immigration laws....

Full Article, Jewish Herald-Voice