Title
Recognizing the work of Interfaith Action to mobilize volunteers in the faith community and declaring July 26, 2018 to be Interfaith Action day.
Body
WHEREAS poverty rates in Saint Paul are staggering; 70% of the children in Saint Paul Public Schools are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, and the Met Council estimates that 40% of the people who live in Saint Paul live below 185% of the federal poverty level; and
WHEREAS to attain a living wage in Saint Paul, it is generally necessary to have a post-secondary credential of labor market value; and
WHEREAS to earn that credential, it is generally necessary to pass placement examinations such as the Accuplacer, ACT, SAT, or MCA examinations used by the Minnesota State Colleges and University system and most other postsecondary institutions; and
WHEREAS many students try to earn a post-secondary credential, borrow student loan money to fund the effort, and then fail to earn the credential because they are either unable to earn passing placement scores or progress out of developmental courses that do not count towards certificates or degrees; some of them go back to low-wage jobs and then end up having their wages garnished to pay for their student loan debt; and
WHEREAS the sectors that work together to try to build an infrastructure of opportunity in Saint Paul need help; despite the best efforts of government, business, and foundations, so much is left undone; and
WHEREAS key non-profits in Saint Paul know how to help students and working adults move forward, including:
• Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
• CommonBond Communities
• Daily Work
• East Side Learning Center
• Neighborhood House
• Reading Partners
• Saint Paul Public Library
• Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul
WHEREAS these non-profits have evidence-based approaches that are proven to work; and
WHEREAS these non-profits are held back in their work by an insufficient volunteer labor force; and
WHEREAS Saint Paul’s interfaith faith community potentially provides a vast untapped labor source of people who seek effective anti-poverty volunteer opportunities to bring their faith to life; and
WHEREAS Interfaith Action’s “Opportunity Saint Paul” program mobilizes these volunteers in the faith community, matches them with effective anti-poverty volunteer opportunities, supports the volunteers with education and community-building to help them fully engage and develop in the work, and strengthens faith communities in the process; and
WHEREAS the Saint Paul City Council considers this work to be of enormous importance to Saint Paul, and considers the interfaith faith community, Interfaith Action, and the seven nonprofit partners to be key allies in building an infrastructure of opportunity in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS the Saint Paul City Council hopes that Interfaith Action and its programming will grow in years to come; and
WHEREAS the pilot year of Interfaith Action’s Opportunity Saint Paul program will conclude on July 26, 2018;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council is dedicated to building opportunity in Saint Paul, and hereby declares July 26, 2018 to be Interfaith Action day in our great city.