Interfaith Impact Network prepares for public action
By Art McDonald

Some 15 or so years ago, a faith-based organizing model went sour here in Pittsburgh and the memory of that misguided effort caused much concern when Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) came into being a little over two years ago. Those of us who helped make this new faith-based effort a reality, and who were here during those years of turmoil over Denominational Ministries Strategies (DMS), were aware that we would face some justified skepticism. Nevertheless, we thought it a new and propitious moment, and proceeded to form a partnership with a Chicago-based organizing Institute, Gamaliel, in order to make the most of this new moment and broadly-based initiative.

Unlike the previous effort, we determined at the outset to make PIIN inter-racial and interfaith. To date, we feel as if we have developed the beginning stages of exactly that. The only frustration is that it is a slow and arduous task to build such diverse and solid organizational capacity when many simply want to act. But with a strong leadership team and sound strategic advice from our consultant, we feel that the process has been successful — at least to this point.

After slightly over two years of organizing, we have an organization of approximately 33 member groups, representing Jewish, Muslim, Christian (Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, AME, AME Zion, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Church of the Nazarene), Unitarian Universalist and Quaker. It is also strongly inter-racial with approximately 10 primarily African-American congregations and several integrated religious organizations.

Out of these member organizations, we have had 30 or so individuals attend the week-long intensive training for organizers, facilitated by Gamaliel, with another 10 to go to Cleveland for training in July.

In January, we hired our first full-time community organizer, Evans Moore, a Pittsburgh native, and we are currently funded by the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Presbyterian Church USA. At the moment we are waiting to hear about funding proposals submitted to the Sisters of Mercy and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Although we have not yet taken any concrete action as an organization, we have formed task forces on education, criminal justice, low-income housing, economic development and transportation. These task forces were formed to conduct preliminary research on possible issues for action.

The big news at the moment is the upcoming Issues Convention, which will take place on Sunday, August 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Charles Lawanga Roman Catholic Church on Kelly Street in Homewood. At this gathering, we anticipate as many as 500 members from our 33 organizations to choose two or three issues to research and act on by the end of this year.

There is tremendous excitement and energy as we are finally ready to address issues of concern to the wider community. If all goes well and we are able to follow up the convention with highly-focused task groups on the issues chosen, we hope to have a major public action before this year’s election.

One fairly new organizing concept developed out of the national community organizing network is that of metropolitan organizing — the notion that much decision-making power is to be found regionally, not just locally; therefore communities must form wider organizing networks to effect significant change.

In this vein, Gamaliel has affiliate groups in the Shenango Valley and Erie in Western Pennsylvania and is attempting to begin groups in Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre. The ultimate goal is to form a coherent state-wide organizing network. Such a vision has great potential.

Currently, PIIN meets every second Thursday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Wesley Center AME Zion Church, 2701 Centre Ave., Hill District, and there is a spiritual leaders’ breakfast every third Thursday of the month, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1000 Bryn Mawr Ave., Hill District.

To learn more about PIIN, contact Evans Moore at 412-255-0664 or PIIN2001@aol.com.