R2W Voices

Critical Faith
Learning Praxis 2007

Los Angeles, California

R2W Congregational Leaders Interns (CLIers) visit a day laborer hiring site near a Home Depot in South Central Los Angeles, hosted by the Intitute for the Development of Popular Education (IDEPSCA). IDEPSCA conducts leadership activities through popular education at sites such as these.

CLIer Victor McKamie Jr. (center) said,"Man, here we are in my neighborhood and I know that folks don't know about these workers and their struggles."

Following this visit, in January 2007, Victor invited IDEPSCA to his church, New Testament Church of Christ Holiness. He organized a meeting with skilled craftspersons from New Testament and IDEPSCA organizers and workers. Select New Testament members will offer trade skills to workers trying to increase their value as contractors. More importantly, Victor initiated a small but siginificant linkage between two communities that rarely work and struggle together for justice. As immigrants face encroachments upon their human rights in the U.S., they need the solidarity of peoples of color who understand the nature of their struggle.

Oakland, California

The struggle for equity in housing and a peaceful neighborhood is explained by Sophat Kong, Oakland-based muralist and PANA Congregational Leader. The CLI 2006-07 crew is at the site of the substandard housing in which "Pat" was raised. His Cambodian community, with the assistance of New Hope Covenant Church, organized amidst conditions of poverty, racism, and gang violence and against slumlords and indifferent city authorities to develop an affordable, decent living space for approximately 30 families of color. They succeeded in 2005 after a 3 year organzing effort. Pat is an R2W alumnus from 2003.

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