300 leaders of Austin Interfaith convened Mayoral and County Judge candidates for a teach-in and accountability session at Temple Beth Shalom which included challenges on Austin child poverty, affordability, investments in human development and local immigration reforms.  In addition to yes / no responses, candidates were given several minutes to explain how they would work with the organization to address a cited child poverty rate of 30%, documented by City of Austin demographer Ryan Robinson.  

Assembly night highlights included Mayoral candidate consensus on local immigration reforms (municipal identification and withdrawal).  Judge candidates agreed on very little, but did agree that expanding investments in job training programs like Capital IDEA and creating internships for Career Expressway students were valuable to the County and the taxpayers.  Strong stories on housing, immigration and Capital IDEA captured the attention of the press and galvanized the crowd.

[Photo Credit: Austin Monitor]

Full-Length Video, Austin Interfaith

Presentation on Taxes, Child Poverty & City Budget Priorities, Austin Interfaith

Austin Mayoral Candidates Offer Different Approaches on Affordability, Austin American Statesman 

Austin Interfaith Grills Mayoral Candidates on Affordability, Austin Monitor [pdf]

County Judges Differ on Issues at Interfaith Event, Austin Monitor [pdf]

The Campaign Continues: Catching Up with Mayor and County Judge Wannabes, Austin Chronicle [pdf]

Press Conference on City Budget Priorities, KXAN & Time Warner Cable

Austin Interfaith leaders stood on the steps of Austin Energy the first day of City budget negotiations, denouncing the proposed budget as immoral.  Said Oralia Garza de Cortes, “If our City is truly concerned about public safety, we should be placing that funding towards public institutions like libraries and programs for children and youth."

Leaders pointed to the list of budget priorities developed from hundreds of conversations on neighborhood walks, inside parish meetings and other member institutions.

Proposed City Budget is 'Immoral' Says Citizen's Group, KXAN

Faith Leaders Call for Change in Budget Priorities, Time Warner Cable 

Austin Interfaith leaders from the Equal Justice Center and Congregational Church of Austin hosted a civic academy, in collaboration with RAICES of San Antonio, to educate a crowd of about 100 about the dangers children are fleeing and challenges they face today.  Experts from the UT Austin Longhorn Institute for Latin American Studies laid out the political context of the Central American region while Ryan, from RAICES, shared some historical perspective on US policy towards refugees.  Two recent arrivals from Central America shared powerful testimonials about what they fled, bringing these issues to light. 

[Photo Credit: Diocese of West Texas]

In Flight from Central America, Austin Chronicle