As we celebrate the great legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was fatally shot and assassinated on April 4th, 1968, on the balcony outside of the second story floor of his room a the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, as he was standing in solidarity with the sanitation workers who were striking for more equitable and just wages, we reflect on the life of a man of faith who gave his life in the struggle of the poor, we wonder, “Where do we go from here?”
Some 54 years later, we are still in the fight for a more just and equitable society. Faith in Action East Bay is an organization of people of faith and spirit who stand in the tradition of Dr. King, guided by a shared moral narrative that breathes life and love into our bones and compels us to embrace a radical hope of what our state can be: A place in which all people can thrive and prosper as we share the common resources of our society.
We embrace a radical hope of what our state can be: A place in which all people can thrive and prosper as we share the common resources of our society.
We agitate and organize together with allies in the PICO California statewide network in order to achieve the hope of a more equitable and just state. In 2022 we are dedicated to the mission of building people power by means of relational organizing across the East Bay to achieve those goals by prioritizing housing justice and moral budgets, as well as secure the right to vote—all dimensions of Dr. King’s work.
While the state of California represents one of the most wealthy states in the United States of America, it is also characterized by some of deepest equity gaps in the country. A major issue is housing justice. Our housing system is designed to concentrate wealth, power and privilege. The housing crisis in this state is driven by racist policies and has resulted in limited supply of affordable housing units.
California has an immediate shortfall of up to 1.5 million affordable rental homes. Over the past 10 years, California has added 3.2 million more people than housing units. As a result we see a severe housing cost burden and displacement that is destroying the fabric of communities and resulting in more homelessness. Black and Latino Californians are more likely to experience housing cost burdens. Although Californians are only 6% Black, 30 % of those Californians who experience homelessness are Black.
Although Californians are only 6% Black, 30 % of those Californians who experience homelessness are Black.
At the heart of the organizing strategy of our organization is the establishment of a more just and equitable system of housing. In addition, we are committed to bring our moral vision to the establishment of a more just and equitable use of the abundant economic resources of our state to address the needs of families and communities that have been suffering from the historic disinvestment in those communities. This is, in part why our vision of the future is informed by the values of racial and economic equity and justice for all Californians.
The term Solidarity Economics is term that describes an economic system that is not concentrated in the hands of a few, but is characterized by a more equitable investment of the abundant economic resources of our state and nation. In addition to housing justice and an economy that is characterized by greater equity, 2022 is a year in which the threat to our democracy and the right to vote requires the attention of all who are like-minded in our commitment to democratic principles and practice.
These priorities are at the center of our response to the question, “Where do we go from here?”. As an organization that is dedicated to the moral values of racial and economic equity, and justice for all, we are building a movement that is multiracial, multi-faith, multicultural, and multilingual that embodies a commitment to inclusivity and which has as its hope the thriving and prosperity of all. May the spirit, memory and example of Marin Luther King, Jr., guide us on our journey.
Dr. George C.L. Cummings
April 5, 2022