Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization (ICO)

ICO is an interfaith coalition of Long Beach-area congregations united in pursuit of social justice for all residents of our community. Established in 1998 as an affiliate of the PICO National Network. ICO works through our member congregations in Long Beach to engage low and moderate income families in civic life and the democratic process through leadership training and congregation-based organizing.

 

ICO works to revitalize democracy by engaging, educating and organizing people to act on their faith values. We work with our member congregations to identify key issues – in health and health care, environmental justice, homelessness and housing, or immigrant rights – and to engage and energize local leadership to work towards resolution and social transformation.

 

ICO promotes congregation-based community organizing because it has no ideological agenda other than a radical belief in and commitment to democratic principles and a profound respect for the individual and human dignity. Organizing does not preach - it listens. Faith congregations are the concrete symbol of people in relationship mobilized to act on their values. Community organizing is not a panacea to the problems and ills confronting our communities, but rather represents a viable and effective method for finding the answer.

 

Working for Greater Long Beach ICO taught me so much about myself including how to organize, strategize and motivate people toward social change. I was born and raised in Long Beach, and I was inspired to work along side community members, making changes in he community that gave me so much.  Our work addressed relevant issues that the community identified such as health care reform, immigration reform, affordable housing, and air quality.

Working for Greater Long Beach ICO taught me so much about myself including how to organize, strategize and motivate people toward social change. Our work addressed relevant issues that the community identified such as health care reform, immigration reform, affordable housing, and air quality.