TMO has solid track record of school and community organizing for academic achievement and fairer wages for school employees.
With the Houston Independent School District, clergy supported the lowest paid workers of the school district in a successful effort to raise the wage floor to $14/hour. In years past, leaders at Trinity United Methodist partnered with Blackshear Elementary to serve as mentors and to find needed resources for the school.
In Alief Independent School District TMO trained parent liaisons in how to improve parental engagement and build stronger relationships between educators and families. Parents met with success when they organized to remove abandoned buildings near an elementary school.
More on both initiatives below:
Alief ISD
TMO has developed a relationship with Superintendent Chambers to work with the district on increasing family engagement at five schools, Alief Middle School plus the following elementary schools: Youens, Holmquist, Leistman and Best. The goal of the organizing effort is to develop parent leadership and a constituency to create a strong and safe learning environment.
The organizing is done through leadership teams of parents, teachers, administrators and community members. There are also three TMO congregations partnered with schools - Memorial Drive United Methodist, Santa Maria Virgen Episcopal and Grace United Church of Christ. There are also some apartment owners partnering with us. TMO has also been attending the Superintendent's pastors meetings to develop more partnerships and community support for schools.
TMO has trained parent liaisons throughout the district in how to conduct individual and house meetings (small group conversations). Leaders have conducted three community walks as a way to engage and develop a relationship with parents.
These leaders have already had a couple victories. They successfully fought for the demolition of an 150 unit abandoned condominium building that was serving as a place for drugs and prostitution in the Best Elementary School zone. It was so dangerous for kids that teachers had to accompany the children that had to walk by the complex.
The parents at Best and community leaders organized walks in the apartments and spoke with over 400 families to ask for their support in reducing crime in the area. The organizing team held research actions with the police sergeant and their councilman to develop a strategy to address the issue. Parents working with TMO organized a meeting of over 100 people where they asked city councilman Mike Laster and the police captain to commit and work with the community to address the rampant prostitution taking place right across from Best Elementary school. As a result of that action there has been a significant reduction in prostitution.
A group of 20 teachers and the school principal plus TMO leaders from Memorial Drive UMC walked targeted apartment complexes to invite the parents of the incoming 6 graders for an orientation. Close to 300 parents attended the orientation. The strategy for this school year is to develop a relationship with those parents.
Houston ISD
TMO leaders at Trinity United Methodist have begun a relationship with two schools this fall. Trinity leaders, many of whom are retired teachers and principals, learned that many schools in the Yates High School feeder pattern are failing. There is also high principal turnover. The two schools leaders are working with are Blackshear Elementary and Ryan Middle School (now Baylor College of Medicine at Ryan).
In meetings with both principals, leaders have identified several ways to support the schools. Men at Trinity are becoming involved in the "Real Men Read" program at Blackshear. While Blackshear has a library, they don't have a librarian. Trinity is working with retired librarians and others to figure out how to staff the library. Reading is a big emphasis because last year only 33% of fourth graders passed reading.
Ryan is in essence a new school - the old school was closed and it re-opened as a magnet school with federal government funding. One of the stipulations of federal funding is that admission is not based on academic records but purely through a lottery system. Ryan has a lot more resources and parent involvement. The principal noted however that not a lot of students from Blackshear and other Third Ward schools applied.
Leaders are thinking of a two pronged approach. TMO has already asked the Blackshear principal to share the Ryan applications with all fifth grade parents. This would increase opportunities for children in the Third Ward to have access to a high level magnet program. The second part is to figure out how to support Blackshear students who do get into Ryan. Often, these students don't have a strong academic background and will need extra help to succeed at a magnet school.
TMO leaders will also be engaging parents and help develop a PTA because currently the school doesn't have one.
The Latest
Oct 18, 2024
[Excerpts]
During a press conference at Trinity United Methodist Church, leaders of The Metropolitan Organization ...said they were opposing an HISD bond for the first time in the group’s 44-year history due largely to the lack of trust and “meaningful input from community members” in developing the measure...
[said] Linda Hollins, a trustee at Trinity United Methodist Church, “Our children are relying on us, and so today, we call out HISD administration and the appointed Board of Managers for placing a bond proposal on November's ballot that lacks adequate input from all stakeholders: parents, teachers, pastors (and) community members.”
...Ruth Hoffman-Lach, a member of First Unitarian Universalist Church, criticized HISD for disclosing the bond details with “just five months” before Election Day. She said the district’s decisions should reflect the needs and aspirations of families, and the community deserves a transparent bond process where every voice is heard and every concern is addressed.
“We've seen firsthand how effective community engagement can be and can lead to successful outcomes, as demonstrated by our neighbors in Spring Branch ISD,” Hoffman-Lach said. “That bond was born out of years of dialogue, collaboration and a shared vision of students' values and futures. We must demand the same level of engagement and accountability from HISD.”
Coalition of Houston Religious, Community Leaders Joins Opposition to HISD's $4.4B Bond Measure, Houston Chronicle [pdf]
Press Conference Video Footage, The Metropolitan Organization
Jun 22, 2022
“It’s like hogs at the trough,” said Bishop John Ogletree, an official with the faith-based Texas Industrial Areas Foundation, which has opposed the arrangements.
Jun 28, 2019
In a budget process that "devolved into a clash of wills," according to the Houston Chronicle, TMO clergy and leaders leveraged a major wage win for workers: $14 per hour for 3,000+ of the lowest paid employees in the Houston Independent School District, employees who keep children safe, nourished, and schools clean.
In testimony to the HISD Board, Deacon Sam Dunning, Director of the Office of Peace and Justice in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston argued: "A budget is a moral document...it is time to treat all workers with dignity."
Rev. Carissa Baldwin-McGinnis of Northside Episcopal Church argued, "There is a price to be paid for allocating funds that is not equitable to all classes and that price will be paid by your hourly workers and their family members... in the form of hunger, inadequate housing, anxiety, fear and stress." Rev. Jimmy Grace of St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Rev. Darrel Lewis of New Pleasant Grove Baptist, Rev. Jacqueline Hailey of New Hope Baptist, Rev. Rhenel Johnson of St. Andrew's UMC and Chava Gal-Orr from Temple Sinai spoke at Board meetings and press conferences as well.
This spring, TMO was part of a delegation of 300 Texas IAF leaders that called on state legislators to increase spending in public education in order to retain the talent upon which public schools rely. After passage of HB3, which put millions of dollars into public schools across the state, TMO leaders worked locally to make sure Houston Independent School District used its funds for the lowest paid workers.
[Photo Credit: Top photos from footage by Univision]
Push for Pay Raises for HISD, KHOU
HISD Board Lays Out Compensation Package for 2019-2020 School Year, FOX News
Activistas Exigen Aumento del Salario Mínimo Para Trabajadores del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Houston, Univision
Houston ISD Trustees Approve $1.9 Billion Budget, Houston Chronicle
Video of clergy statements [first skip to 14:33 and then to 19:05]
Jun 26, 2019
TMO leaders held a press conference on Tuesday, June 18th at the Houston Independent School District (HISD) Administration Building to stand with workers in HISD. With the lowest paid workers being paid $12 per hour, and with $136 million additional dollars flowing into the school district, the time to stop perpetuating poverty in the district is NOW. TMO is calling for a starting wage of $15, and we need your support. Leaders have started a petition calling for a raise in wages to $15 an hour for the lowest paid workers. Petitions are being circulated and signed in member institutions with hundreds of signatures already obtained.
Rev. Jacqueline Hailey and Rev. Darrell Lewis (bottom photos) also spoke in front of the school board at the most recent HISD budget hearing asking for starting wages to be raised to $15 per hour. Leaders are continuing to schedule meetings, call and write to board members to directly advocate for the raising of wages for workers and support staff before the Board’s vote on Thursday, June 27th.
[Photo Credit: Top photos from footage by Univision.]
Push for Pay Raises for HISD, KHOU
HISD Board Lays Out Compensation Package for 2019-2020 School Year, FOX News
Activistas Exigen Aumento del Salario Mínimo Para Trabajadores del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Houston, Univision
Apr 11, 2019
Rev. Darrell Lewis from The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) and Rev. Olin Knudsen from Dallas Area Interfaith (DAI) testified before the House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee to oppose House Bill 3292. Both pastors argued that payday loans are immoral and spoke of how predatory loans trap families in their congregations in vicious cycles of debt.
Rev. Olin Knudsen, a retired Major in the United States Air Force shared that when he served in the military in Korea, no payday loan centers were permitted outside the base. In the United States, however, they are everywhere. He asked, "Why do we need more forms of predatory loans that prey on families? If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, then it is a duck!"
HB 3292 is a dangerous predatory lending bill which would open the door to new, unregulated high-cost cash advances. Specifically, HB3292 would exploit a loophole to provide a way for someone to “sell” a TV or a car and “lease it back“ by keeping the item and making payments every two weeks. The “seller” leaves a check for the price of the TV, say, which the company cashes can cash when “seller” gets behind in lease payments. Because you “sell” an item and “lease it back” it does not count as an actual loan. It operates like a payday loan, but would circumvent current payday and auto title lending ordinances.
The Network of
Texas IAF Organizations is calling on House members to oppose this bill and/or take their names off if they have already signed on.
,
Texas Fair Lending Alliance
Apr 05, 2019
50 TMO leaders joined 250 other Texas IAF leaders at the Capitol to call on state legislators to increase state finance for adult and K-12 education, including the ACE fund.
After a morning briefing on school finance, the Texas Innovative Career Education (ACE) program and other issues -- including healthcare, payday lending, and infrastructure in the colonias -- leaders were honored for their establishment of noteworthy labor market intermediaries, including Capital IDEA-Houston. Immediately afterward, they convened on the South Capitol steps. Legislators representing districts from across the state stood in solidarity with leaders and pledged to continue working for investments in people.
In photo above, the Rev. Dr. Rhenel Johnson is accompanies by TMO leaders and leaders from sister organizations, including Dallas Area Interfaith (DAI), San Antonio (COPS/Metro), Central Texas / Austin Interfaith, West Texas Organizing Strategy (WTOS), El Paso's Border Interfaith & EPISO, and the Rio Grande Valley (Valley Interfaith).
After the press conference, leaders broke out into smaller delegations to meet with legislators representing their geographic regions.
Organizations Call On State Legislators to Support Adult Education, Univision 62 [Spanish video]
Piden a Legisladores Texanos Más Fondos Para Apoyar la Educación de Adultos, Univision 62
Valley Interfaith: State's Share of School Funding Has Dropped From 50% to Barely 36%, Rio Grande Guardian
Mar 06, 2018
In the face of constituent stories about bayou flooding, DACA, the need for mental health facilities and the power of Capital IDEA, candidates for federal, state and county office made public commitments on mental health, infrastructure/flooding mitigation, public education, immigration and more.
In Congressional District 29 & County Precinct 2...
250 leaders packed the parish hall at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church for a nonpartisan accountability assembly with candidates for CD 29 and Harris Co. Precinct 2. DACA recipient Ms. Puente shared that as a student and nearing young professional, she relies on DACA to live outside of the shadows, an essential element for a bright and successful future. Impressed with Ms. Puente’s story, and others like hers from Assumption Catholic Church, All Saints Catholic Church, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church, candidates committed to fight for a pathway for DREAMers at the federal level.
In Congressional District 7...
and joined by leaders from Faith City Church, Chapelwood United Methodist Church and Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Congregation Beth Israel hosted a nonpartisan accountability assembly with 125 TMO leaders and candidates for CD 7. After hearing how the nearby bayou had wrecked surrounding neighborhoods during Hurricane Harvey, flooding for the third time in 3 years, candidates committed to championing Harvey recovery by bringing local, county, state, and federal entities together with TMO to expedite mitigation projects for this area.
In State House Districts 146 & 147...
nearly 100 TMO leaders from St. James’ Episcopal Church, Pilgrim Congregational UCC and Trinity East United Methodist Church assembled at St. James’ Episcopal to secure commitments from candidates for State House Districts 146 and 147. Mr. DuPont, a TMO leader and member of St. James’ Episcopal Church, expressed the need for more funding and oversight for mental health facilities in the area. The candidates agreed to work with TMO on understanding and improving these housing and mental health facilities.
In State House District 139...
close to 100 TMO leaders from Hope Episcopal Church and Santa Monica Catholic Church assembled at St. Andrew’s UMC to secure public commitments from state house district candidates to work with them on flood mitigation, infrastructure, public school, and immigration. Capital IDEA graduate, and Registered Nurse Tanesha Brown, shared how she went from making minimum wage to nearly six figures following her graduation from Capital IDEA. In emotional testimony, she thanked TMO and Capital IDEA for changing her life. Both candidates agreed to fight for $5 million dollars at the state level for Capital IDEA funding.
May 09, 2017
Since the JET Fund was established in 2009, at the urging of the Texas IAF, the state supported IAF-affiliated labor market intermediaries that navigated more than 800 lower-income, nontraditional students through community college.
The Adult Career Education (ACE) Grant program, the effort’s most recent permutation, now faces an uncertain future. In efforts to slash the state budget, Texas legislators are moving to eliminate all “special item” expenditures, even those that pay for special programs at colleges, over and beyond the normal higher education funding formulas.
“It has nothing to do with our program or the effectiveness of it,” said Elizabeth Valdez, lead organizer for The Metropolitan Organization in Houston.
A recently-released gold-standard study established that the Texas IAF’s flagship program, Project QUEST, was the only program in the nation to demonstrate sustained, sizable and statistically significant gains. In photo, a Project QUEST-supported student works with a patient.
[Photo Credit: William Luther, San Antonio Express News]
Proposed Higher Education Funding Overhaul Could Come With Collateral Damage, Texas Tribune
Senate Resolution, Senate of the State of Texas
Escalating Gains: Project QUEST’S Sectoral Strategy Pays Off, Economic Mobility Corporation
Study Affirms Project QUEST Achievements, San Antonio Express-News
Texas Job Program Shows Unusually Strong, Lasting Gains, Study Finds, Austin American Statesman [pdf]
Texas Innovative Adult Career Education (ACE) Grant Program: The Wise Investment for Proven Economic Development, Texas IAF
Mar 21, 2017
40 TMO leaders and Capital IDEA graduates joined over 200 Network of Texas (NTO) IAF organization leaders at the Texas state capital to talk to our state representatives and senators about restoring full funding of the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Fund (ACE Fund). Our delegation met with 20 legislators and/or their staffs asking them to support the ACE fund at its full $5 million, and also supporting bail reform, local control, and opposing ant-immigrant legislation.
Leaders from our network were guests of the legislature as a resolution was read in support of the ACE fund by five Texas House members including Representative John Zerwas, whom our leaders got to sign on to the resolution. Our entire delegation was asked to stand. Later that day the Senate also read a resolution in favor of the ACE fund. Now the fight is to get it fully funded in both houses.
Our NTO IAF organizations called for this funding at a press conference held on the South side Capital steps. Several legislators from across the state came out and spoke in support of the ACE fund. Capital IDEA graduates and other graduates across the state told stories of how the workforce initiatives and the funding helped change their lives, moving them from $10.00/hr part time work to careers earning as much as $70,000 per year! The average wage of a graduate from these programs is $20.66/hr.
Oct 11, 2015
At a pre-election accountability assembly attended by 600 TMO leaders
at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, top mayoral candidates mostly agreed to support TMO's inequality agenda, which included police staffing, road improvements and wages. All except one candidate pledged $1 Million out of the City budget for expansion workforce development program Capital IDEA-Houston.
Costello Highlights City's Budget Woes at TMO Forum, Houston Chronicle [pdf]
Exigen Respuestas de Candidatos a Alcadia, Univision
