ISAAC
Purpose

Donations - Help Support ISAAC

Affiliations
Gamaliel
Gamaliel of Michigan (MI*Voice)

Member Congregations

People

Executive Committee
Board of Directors

Task Forces

United Region
Kalamazoo River Clean-up
Transportation

Education

Housing

Calendar

Newsletters

Issues
Kalamazoo County Transportation Millage

Inclusionary Housing

The Nurse-Family Partnership

The Deceptive 'Michigan Civil Rights Initiative

Workforce Development

Universal Healthcare

ISAAC Issues Convention

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
247 West Lovell St. (Between Rose and Park)

Help determine the issues ISAAC will pursue in 2008 and 2009.
Hear the results of "Faith and Democracy Conversations" this past year.
Help ISAAC member congregations choose how to distribute their votes
Join one of the issue task forces formed that evening

Faith & Democracy in Action!
In preparation for the ISAAC Public Meeting October 23, 2008 .
Save the date!

April 2008 ISAAC Newsletter
*****

Health Care Campaign Underway!

ISAAC is working with Gamaliel of Michigan, AARP, MichUHCAN and other partners to put a Constitutional amendment on the November 2008 ballot: “The State Legislature shall pass laws to make sure that every Michigan resident has affordable and comprehensive health care coverage through a fair and cost-effective financing system. The Legislature is required to pass a plan that, through public or private measures, controls health care costs and provides for medically necessary preventative, primary, acute and chronic health care needs.”
450,000 signatures are needed by the end of June—join us! Host a Health Care Sunday/Sabbath at your congregation

Nurse-Family Partnership Funding Re-instated!

A coordinated, determined effort by the Nurse-Family Partnership Community Coalition (composed of the Great Start Collaborative, Greater Kalamazoo United Way, Kalamazoo County Department of Health & Community Services and the ISAAC Education Task Force in partnership with our area legislators and community leaders) has resulted in reinstatement of State funds rescinded a year ago! These State funds enable federal and private matching funds to also be allocated. The Nurse Family Partnership Program can now begin in Kalamazoo County. 100 new mothers will be served each year by this evidence-based program that reduces infant mortality and improves the life outcomes of at-risk new mothers and their babies.

Workforce Development Funding Won!

New local construction trades pre-apprenticeships are now being funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation, for minorities, women and people with low incomes! Gamaliel of Michigan affiliates, including ISAAC, worked for this outcome for two years. Locally, the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative and ISAAC, with numerous other partners, co-convened the Southwest Michigan Regional Workforce Development Project to guide the local recruitment and training. Funding has been approved and recruitment and testing for the training has begun. The initial 5-week training is scheduled to begin in mid-April--a first step on a skilled trades career path.

Kalamazoo River Clean-up Coalition Progress Made

An unprecedented meeting was held with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to discuss the draft of the remedial investigation report for the Portage Creek/Allied Disposal Site. The EPA committed to connect the Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition with the Redevelopment Coordinator regarding plans for returning the site to productive use. This is remarkable because the EPA is only required to clean up the site, not return it to use. ISAAC United Region Task Force leaders have been active members of the Coalition for the past year, working for the conversion of creek and river brownfields into productive, people-friendly use.

Friends of Transit Progress Made

Ridership on the three new Portage routes increased by 39% from May to October 2007. The next challenge for Friends of Transit, which includes ISAAC United Region Task Force, is to get the November 2008 County-wide millage approved. The millage will maintain the expanded service in Portage, expand Care-A-Van service hours, end the 1-mill levy on Kalamazoo City homeowners, and complete the transition from the Kalamazoo (City) Metro Transit Authority to the Kalamazoo County Transit Authority. Join us in working to pass this millage and create seamless transportation options throughout the County!

Inclusionary Housing & “Housing First” Progress Made

ISAAC brought David Rusk, national expert on Inclusionary Housing, to talk with local officials last May, and is getting his message out: “Some of the nation’s biggest builders know they can make money at this [including a modest percentage of low-price units within market-rate developments]. Even in a soft market this can work, when there’s a rezoning, for example.” The ISAAC Housing Task Force is also working with the LISC Affordable Housing Partnership to increase our community’s commitment to “Housing First”, the rapid placement of homeless people into permanent housing—which not only improves their lives but saves taxpayer money spent on emergency rooms and nursing homes.