Faith-based training - How it works

Gregory A. Galluzzo, national director of the Gamaliel Foundation in Chicago, discussed faith-based organizing with groups in the Mahoning Valley during a Tuesday visit. He visited Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Chapter 1849; Family Service Agency; Tabernacle Baptist Church; and Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods.

Mission: The Gamaliel Foundation’s mission is to assist local community leaders to create, maintain and expand independent, grass-roots and faith-based community organizations so that ordinary people can impact the political, social, economic and environmental decisions that affect their lives; to provide these organizations with leadership training programs, consultation, research and analysis on social justice issues; and to be a network for mutual learning environments and working coalitions.

In communities: Churches are already organized and established in communities and promote social justice. Gamaliel offers training for people of faith to teach them practical skills to advance their work in social issues. For example, ACTION is already established as an organization. “ACTION is on the rise,” said new organizer, minister Rosetta Carter of Triedstone Baptist Church. ACTION recently got a $25,000 grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to hire its organizer and continue its Crime and Safety Campaign. Carter, who has taken Gamaliel training, said the faith-based organization is working on issues brought forth by residents concerning corruption, abandoned houses and toxic paint, predatory lending, crime and safety. Carter escorted Galluzzo to his stops in the Valley.

The foundation: Gamaliel Foundation focuses on issues of health care, immigration reform, housing, transportation, and jobs and economic development.

Web site: www.gamaliel.org