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Religion

Interfaith group recommits to pursuit of social justice

Members of a grass roots organization recently met to discuss progress in achieving goals for county residents.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published October 30, 2005

An interfaith group continues to pursue social justice issues for residents countywide.

As more than 500 Christians and Jews gathered in a Largo church a few days ago, they celebrated their achievements and recommitted themselves to the tasks ahead.

This was the fourth meeting of their grass roots group, Faith and Action for Strength Together. During last week's session at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, members learned that progress had been made in areas of transportation and education.

Earlier this year, FAST had asked the Metropolitan Planning Organization to create a central telephone number for senior citizens who needed special transportation. Brian Smith, the director of MPO, told the crowd that the new number will be implemented early in 2006.

The program will work in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging.

The state's new voluntary pre-K program was another concern. The organization had asked Janet Chapman, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County to provide funds to help low-income families take full advantage of the program.

The state program offers only 540 hours of pre-K, or three hours per day. FAST asked for financial assistance so that parents could keep their children in the program for the entire day.

Chapman arranged for children in low-income families to remain at centers for as long as 10 hours a day. She also got the word out about the program.

Progress has been slower on FAST's request for shelters at six bus stops throughout the county. One is being built, but the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is still trying to get permission from private property owners to install several more.

In the coming year, the grass roots organization plans to tackle affordable housing.

The group got its start in the summer of 2003. Assisted by Direct Action and Research Training Network, or DART, a national organization that helps communities work for social, racial and economic justice, several congregation leaders decided to work together to form the countywide group.

Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg and Bishop Edward R. Benoway of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America attended last week's meeting.

The Rev. Robert Schneider of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor said Episcopal Bishop John B. Lipscomb and the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), support the program.

Schneider, one of the organizers, said Lynch recommended FAST for a $40,000 grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

The group considers one of its greatest accomplishments the fact that Christians of various denominations and a Jewish congregation are tackling important issues in Pinellas County together.

The Rev. Clarence Williams of Mount Zion AME Church in St. Petersburg said the organization will be able to demonstrate that it is "a voice to be reckoned with in the county."

At present, FAST is made up of 25 congregations, from north and south Pinellas County, with members who speak English and Spanish.

[Last modified October 30, 2005, 01:13:18]