Home is Blessing
Leaders at Faith in Action East Bay (FIAEB) and other organizations in the PICO Federation across the state are celebrating the passing of SB567 (renter protections) and SB4 (affordable housing on faith lands). One of those people is veteran FIAEB leader Mary Schlarb, who could be seen at housing actions for the Home is Sacred campaign throughout the year.
“I am elated! There is still a lot more work to be done. Now comes the implementation that will bring up more issues and more work. We are heading in the right direction.”
With close to thirty years of organizing experience, Mary can balance celebration with insight for the future work. She started organizing when she and her two sons moved from Redwood City to Union City and began attending Our Lady of the Rosary Church. What originated as concerns about neighborhood safety led to increasing involvement through Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR) which was founded by Fr. Jose Leon, the parish pastor, and other parishioners.
“My involvement was accidental. One of the COR founding members, the late Erma
Andrade, would call each month and ask me to attend their monthly meeting, which
usually led to talking at a city council meeting or other event. I could never say no to this
tiny dynamic lady!”
COR worked on issues in education, immigration, and housing. Just before the
pandemic, COR merged with FIAEB. Mary quickly became active as an FIAEB leader.
Mary brought with her many years of experience with COR, several travels with other
PICO leaders across the country for leader development events and meetings with our
California national elected officials in Washington D.C.
“FIAEB has given me a lot of experience I would not have had otherwise. It has made me more compassionate, more open to people’s problems.”
“COR and FIAEB have given me a lot of experience I would not have had otherwise. It
has made me more compassionate, more open to people’s problems. I own my home
and so it really hurts me when I hear people going through difficulties in housing. It is
just by blessings that I was able to get into this house on my own as a single mom. I
had help along the way so, in a sense, it is me paying it forward.”
Mary is the eldest of 11 children in a Catholic family. Her family moved to San Jose from
northern Texas when she was 11 years old. Her mother picked cotton and her father
worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. She now has four grandchildren.
“Just going to church is one thing, but to really get involved and work on the issues that
affect your community is another,” explained Mary. “I never realized how much my faith
influenced me until I became involved with COR and FIAEB. It has strengthened me to
be more outspoken to stand for others who have not found their voice yet and
encourage people like myself who thirty years ago had never spoken at a meeting. I
really believe that God wants me to be doing this work. It is a ministry to me. Just
listening and obeying, knowing I am here for a reason.”
