For two years the Hollywood Seventh-day Adventist Church has been working alongside an amazing community organization called LA Voice. LA Voice is one local affiliate of the PICO National Network.
PICO is a national network of faith-based community
organizations working to create innovative solutions to problems facing
urban, suburban and rural communities.
With more than 1,000 member
institutions representing one million families in 150 cities and 17
states, PICO is one of the largest community-based efforts in the
United States. Together we are lifting up a new vision for America that
unites people across region, race, class, and religion
From The PICO Network about page.
Our affiliate works very hard on the issues that affect our members.
In Hollywood we are particularly focused on the issues of homelessness
and affordable housing but around the city our work includes youth
violence, citizenship, public safety, health care and education. Our
organization is comprised of 25 members congregations across the city.
And we are growing. Recent additions to our organizing work includes
the largest synagogue in the Western US - Stephen S. Wise Temple.
The video above was created by our church media team to help
explain to our own members what LA Voice is and how this work is the
work of the gospel in our community. LA Voice is now using this video to help explain their work to other congregations, foundations, and others in the community.
We
have been very blessed, as a congregation, to participate in God's work
in our community. I would encourage any Adventist congregation to get
involved in this vital work by visiting the PICO website and see if there is an affiliate in your town or city.
Cross posted at the Spectrum Blog.
UPDATE: Mireya Pena, the Hollywood Church's leader of our community organizing work, has written a really good post about her perspective on this work. You can read it at our church's community blog - We Are Hollywood.
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