PACT and St. Joseph’s Medical Center co-hosted a public Town Hall gathering on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. The event was held at Central United Methodist Church and focused on the growing crisis of access to affordable healthcare coverage. Bob Benedetti of the University of the Pacific was the MC and several local area Clergy added prayers of petition. The event ended with everyone singing, “This Land is Our Land.” To see the media coverage click here.

On May 9-10, 2009 more than 50 Hmong leaders representing a dozen organizations across the United States came together for a two day national conference in Stockton. The group sought to strategize and seek best practical solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Thailand and Laos while urging the United States government to take immediate action by intervening in the situation.

The event was organized by the Hmong Leadership Network Local Organizing Committee of PACT Stockton and co-sponsored by PICO California. The 2 day conference was very strategically planned with intensive listening, training, exploring and learning from each organization’s mission statements and work related to the humanitarian crisis.

Professor Gene E. Bigler from UOP, a former Director of Foreign Affairs in South America with the Department of State in the Bush Administration, talked about his experiences and how the Hmong could best pursue solutions.

As a result of the conference, there was a steering committee established with the support of all the organizations and attendees present, specifically to work and address the humanitarian crisis.

For more information and questions, please contact: Tsia Xiong, Regional Community Organizer.

The Hmong Leadership Network is holding a 2 day conference for organizations that work with international issues pertaining to the Hmong refugees at Phetchabun, Thailand and Laos.

The Hmong Leadership Network and other community organizations across America are concerned about the well-being of families abroad in Thailand who are being mistreated by the Thai and Lao governments while seeking refuge in the Phetchabun Province. Without intervention by the United States they may be forced to return to Laos.

The 2 Day National Conference will focus on strategies, plans of actions, and steps to secure intervention by the United States as a possible solution to end the injustice and mistreatment of Hmong families abroad while engaging other countries for support and creating opportunities for further discussion to end the humanitarian crisis in Laos and Phetchabun, Thailand. Special guests with expertise in foreign affairs and public policy analysis including our local Congressional Representatives are invited to help us strategize.

For more information contact Tsia Xiong at (209) 261-2358.

Two hundred church leaders and schools officials filled Thessalonians Baptist Church to launch their Steps to Success Campaign on Saturday April 4th. Stockton Unified School District Superintendent Anthony Amato enthusiastically signed the pledge committing him to both support the effort and to engage the district in working with the congregations. Four PACT churches cosponsored the action, First Thessalonians Missionary Baptist Church, White Rose Church of God in Christ, Harvest Church Ministries, and Open Door House of Prayer. Ron Banez of Harvest chaired the meeting and Pastor Amelia Adams of Open Door gave the key background report which challenged the district and congregations to work with families to create a network targeted at reducing the 54% of Stockton Unified children who dropout. School administrators, church leaders, children and parents all signed pledges that commit them to specific tasks in creating a partnership of support for teachers, principals, parents, and students.

In April 2008, leaders, two clergy and organizer Loretta Thomas Robinson, held their first Youth Education Summit at White Rose Church of God in Christ.  There were 20 youth from First Thessalonians Missionary Baptist Church, White Church, Open Door House of Prayer and New Birth Christian Fellowship. And approximately 20 parents and 6 clergy present. Their focus was to address the enormous dropout rates amongst the African American students particularly focusing on the young men.

Participants, young and old identified and discussed the issues that youth were facing at school and at home that were major contributors of students dropping out school, or those who managed to graduate were not going on to college. Issues that were identified were:

• lack of parent involvement
• those parents who were involved did not feel welcomed at their child’s school
• parents not present in the home
• single mothers trying to take care of their family, and therefore not having time to monitor their children and trusting in their children’s teachers and school administration to do their job
• counselors not giving students the information that they need to make sure they are on track. Therefore, students finding out that they were lacking credits weeks before they graduated
• and lastly grandparents being the custodial caretakers.

Gloria Robinson a leader from First Thessalonians Baptist Church has four children in school, two of which are her grandchildren. (two in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary school). She knows the importance of having a good education. However, as a single mother, and having personal issues with her own children, it’s hard for her. She says she tries to help her son with his homework, but the level of work that is given to him, she has no understanding. And she cannot afford to get him private tutoring, it’s too expensive.  Her involvement with the education effort has given her enlightenment and hope. She expressed how happy she is to be involved in working with others to help change the outcomes of African American young men and women which are so dismal at this time. That day sparked a new beginning for all those who were present. Not only were they excited, but a sense of hope arose that day.

As a result of the Youth Success Summit, the African American Clergy Caucus was developed. Six churches became part of the caucus, First Thessalonians Missionary Baptist Church, New Birth Christian Fellowship, New Life Church, White Rose Church of God in Christ, Harvest Church Ministries, and Open Door House of Prayer.  Clergy met twice a month to plan and strategize on how to engage their families in their congregations to become involved in their child’s education as well as, strategies to engage Stockton Unified School District Superintendent, Anthony Amato.

They developed and implemented (letters of commitments) for parents, guardians, pastors, students, and school administrators. They planned their first public kickoff which took place on November 23, 2008. There were 150 in attendance. Parents, children K-12, and clergy made a public commitment to one another to be actively involved in the success of their students from each of their congregation. As well as holding one another accountable. The event sparked a wave of interest from other churches and parents who were not yet involved, asking to come aboard.

Clergy also met with SUSD Superintendent, and shared their vision and plans with him. They discussed ways in which the churches and school district can work together to achieve the common goal that both are striving for. Superintendent Amato was impressed and pleased with the clergy and their strategies aimed at Student Success within the African American community. He shared his goals and plans, and said he looked forward to working together with them and participating in their upcoming Pledge kickoff in 2009.