From Issues to Wins

Since 1990, Pima County Interfaith has leveraged over $100 million dollars on behalf of Pima County families, deepening public funding for affordable housing, workforce development and adult education, healthcare access, public K-12 education, after-school and summer programs, local parks and recreation centers.

PCI decides what issues to address by:

  • Engaging with hundreds of people in member institutions, and the community, about what issues affect their families
  • Identifying shared concerns after hearing from various institutions
  • Researching possible opportunities to act on identified issues (for example, understanding the district, state, and federal decision makers regarding high-stakes testing)
  • Working with elected representatives or decision-makers to tackle issues

Some of the concerns identified one year can be addressed the next in a state legislative session.


Track Record

PCI has a track record of success in:

LOCAL SOLUTIONS

  • Passed a City Ordinance prohibiting the sale of SPICE, and a statewide law outlawing SPICE.
  • In 2023, PCI worked with City and County law enforcement to secure Parish IDs for vulnerable members of our congregations.

HISTORIC MEDICAID EXPANSION & HEALTHCARE ACCESS

  • Through the Arizona Interfaith Network (AIN), PCI worked with legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass Medicaid Expansion.
  • During the pandemic, we collaborated with the Pima Co. Health Dept. to deliver hundreds of vaccines and COVID tests in the community.

PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING

  • In 2015 and 2016, PCI passed a $65 million facilities bond for the Amphi School District.
  • In 2018, PCI worked with State legislators to extend Prop. 301, continuing a one-cent sales tax for education funding.
  • PCI was a founding partner of “Invest in Ed.”, which brought and ensured passage of Prop. 208, and created leverage in the legislature resulting in an additional $1 Billion in base funding for schools.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING VICTORIES

  • In 2015, we worked to secure an expanded bond package which included $20 million for affordable housing, including workforce development and neighborhood reinvestment.
  • During the pandemic, we secured emergency City & County rental assistance for families and worked to curb evictions through resource information sessions.

NON-PARTISAN GET OUT THE VOTE

  • In 2018, our leaders helped increase voter turnout by focusing outreach efforts in Tucson precincts with historically low levels of participation.


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