This is What Democracy Sounds Like

The results of MCU organizing have directly benefitted Fran Collier's family. She has a passion for service and justice that gives her the strength to speak up boldly even when it's hard to.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

For Terry Knies, MCU is where he lives out his family's tradition of faith, activism, and service. As a son and grandson of union organizers, Terry has found his voice through the MCU Legislative Task Force by being an advocate in Jefferson City at the State Capitol.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

On October 9th, MCU hosted a public meeting at Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood in the city of St. Louis. The theme of the meeting was Look Up And Live Thirteen elected officials, candidates, or their representatives were in attendance at our public meeting to first listen to the stories of people from communities impacted by injustices in our society - and then secondly to publicly commit to working for solutions.

It's election season and we talk with DeMarco Davidson and Latrell Stanton about how MCU is engaging voters before Nov. 8th. Join Metropolitan Congregregations United at these two important events with candidates and elected officials. Justice is on the ballot.October 9th - Look Up and Live Public Meeting. Register at bit.ly/MCULookUpLiveOctober 13th - Candidate Forum for MO 24th Senate District. Register at bit.ly/MCUdistrict24

Gov. Parson has called for a special session of the Missouri legislature in order to pass tax credits and cuts. But what is the impact on Missouri's already underfunded education, health care, and social service sectors? We talk with State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove, Traci Gleason of the Missouri Budget Project, and J-Mo from Metropolitan Congregations United about the impact of the proposed cuts and Missouri's out-of-date and unjust tax laws.Join MCU on Sept. 22 for a candidate forum with those vying for the 24th state senate district. We will be asking about their commitments to justice. Register at www.bit.ly/MCUdistrict24.Find and contact your state legislators at https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspxLearn more about the proposals from the Governor and their impact at the Missouri Budget Project: https://www.mobudget.org/

MCU needs you. Join us in insisting that local school boards go above and beyond to get the lead out of school drinking water. But how do we do that? J-MO, Organizer and Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU, tells us about the upcoming training on how to "Powerfully Engage with Boards and Commissions." The event will be on Thursday, September 8, over Zoom. Learn from community organizers from MCU, the Sierra Club, the Water Institute at St. Louis University, and Great Rivers Environmental Law. Sign up now at: https://secure.everyaction.com/-UZiMOGaBESiuskMNjV3fA2Also, mark your calendars for September 22 for a Candidate Forum with the candidates for the Missouri State Senate's District 24. The event will be held at the Ethical Society of St. Louis.

MCU along with the Sierra Club are demanding that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reform the state's air permit process, allowing more transparency, more opportunity for community input, and taking into account the cumulative impact on the community. We talk with Catherine Le, an intern with the MCU Environmental Justice Task Force, and Rajiv Ravulapati, the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign.Sign the petition to reform the Air Permitting Process: https://bit.ly/MOAirPermitReformJoin MCU to deliver the petition to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources: https://secure.everyaction.com/9YL-CaP7OEyJMHqSm7jbBg2Track air quality in your neighborhood: https://airwatchstl.mcustlouis.org

What ID will you need the next time you vote? How do you obtain the necessary ID? What has changed with absentee voting? What are the changes to registering voters? We talk over all of these things with Denise Lieberman, Denise Lieberman, the Director & General Counsel at Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.Important links for voting:MO Secretary of State: https://www.sos.mo.gov/St. Francis Xavier College Church ID Assistance: https://sfxstl.org/birth-certificates-and-idsMissouri Voter Protection Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMissouriVotersText MOVPC to 66866 or email info@movpc.org

Listen back to highlights from the 2022 Air Quality Rally. The program was hosted by Miles Brenton and you will hear from Rev. Kevin Anthony, DeAndress Green, Mamie Cosey, Rajiv Ravulapati, Dale Wojtkowski, Zach Chike, and Fr. Michler. Sponsors included Metropolitan Congregations United, United Congregations of Metro East, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.Take action:MO Residents Demanding the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reform its air permitting policy: https://bit.ly/MOAirPermitReformIL Residents demand your state representatives support the Illinois Environmental Justice Permitting Bill: https://secure.everyaction.com/kg2wc7-OGEO2d-VIzqVLMw2Join the UCM Youth Leadership training on 8/6: https://secure.everyaction.com/WV9mdclXikmZiaKARjimdQ2Join MCU on 9/8 to learn how to Powerfully Engage with Boards and Commissions: https://secure.everyaction.com/-UZiMOGaBESiuskMNjV3fA2Join the IL Sierra Club on 9/17 for the Mississippi Earthtones Festival: https://downtownalton.com/events/mississippi-earthtones-festival/

BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME HEAT CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, THE AIR QUALITY RALLY ON JULY 23rd HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A VIRTUAL EVENT. YOU MAY STILL REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW.Sister Dolores Sanchez and Adrian Stillman, of the MCU Environmental Task Force, talk about the March for Air Quality on July 23rd, air quality monitoring stations at area churches, passage of lead filtering legislation, and keeping our neighborhoods clean.Register for the virtual Air Quality Rally at bit.ly/airrally22Track your neighborhood's air quality at https://airwatchstl.mcustlouis.org/

This is Part 1 of our legislative update, reviewing the just completed Missouri Legislature general session. J-MO, Organizer and Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU, and Allyn Harris Dault, of the MCU Legislative Task Force, the ups and downs of this spring, including voting rights, nurseries for new mothers who are incarcerated, public school funding, sexual assault survivors rights, the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, and controlling utility rate increases on those with limited incomes.

This is Part 1 of our legislative update, reviewing the just completed Missouri Legislature general session. J-MO, Organizer and Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU, and Allyn Harris Dault, of the MCU Legislative Task Force, the ups and downs of this spring, including removing lead from school drinking water, protecting the initiative petition process and Medicaid expansion, and the attempt to restrict the teaching of truth in school.

Did you miss the MCU gala 'Dancing In The Streets"? Listen to powerful testimonies from Bethany Johnson-Javois, President & CEO of Deaconess Foundation, Barbara Johnson, MCU board member and organizer, Rev. Dr. Wendy Bruner, MCU Board President, DeMarco Davidson, MCU Sacred Votes Lead Organizer, Sarah Rose, MCU Treasurer, and Fran Collier, MCU organizer. We also recognized the long-term work of Rev. Dietra Wise Baker, Rev. Susan Sneed, and Jai Johnson.Your contribution supports the work of these amazing people as we increase voter turnout, break the school-to-prison pipeline, get lead out of school drinking water, track air quality, and hold those in power accountable for creating a just and equitable community where all can thrive.Give now at https://secure.everyaction.com/ejChtOI04U-HfLpTOd4L_g2

Tenants are joining together to protest poor living conditions in their apartments. Congregations are tracking the air quality in their neighborhoods. MCU organizers Myisha Johnson and Beth Gutzler bring us up to date on all of the action from the Housing and Environmental Justice Task forces.Join MCU for the Housing Task Force Kick Off Event, May 31st at 7:30 PM over Zoom.Join MCU for the Clean Air Rally and March, July 23rd at the McKinley Bridge Roadside Park.For more information contact Myisha Johnson at myisha@mcustl.com or Beth Gutzler at beth@mcustl.com

You and your congregation are invited to "Dancing in the Streets" on May 19th, the 2022 MCU fundraising gala, featuring dinner, dancing, organizing, fundraising, and community building. In this episode, hear what MCU means to our organizers as we work to create a better life for all residents of the St. Louis region. You can support these powerful organizers by joining us on May 19th at the Polish Heritage Center for Dancing in the Streets. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/MCUGala.

Listen to another presentation from the 2022 Marilyn Stavenger Social Justice Symposium. Denise Lieberman, Director & General Counsel at Missouri Voter Protection Coalition describes the struggle for voting rights in the United States and in Missouri and the current threats to voting rights in bills before the state legislature.Learn more about the Deaconess Foundation at https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMissouriVoters/If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

Listen to presentations from the 2022 Marilyn Stavenger Social Justice Symposium. Through the Psalms, Dr. Clint McCann, Evangelical Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Eden Seminary, shows how the work for justice is the desire of God. And Bethany Johnson-Javois, the President and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, challenges participants to understand how citizens can feel that their daily lives are disconnected from voting, and a new approach is needed to increase participation.Learn more about the Deaconess Foundation at https://deaconess.org/Learn more about Eden Seminary at https://www.eden.edu/If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

MCU and other members of the national Gamaliel Network will be meeting in Memphis, TN, April 21-24, for a Get Out The Vote canvassing event ahead of the Tenessee primaries. MCU Executive Director, David Gerth, and MCU Sacred Votes Organizer, DeMarco Davidson tell us how the issues in Memphis are similar to issues in St. Louis. The weekend promises to build national relationships and energize local organizers for the August and November elections.Learn more about the Gamaliel Network at https://gamaliel.org/If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

Join MCU, Peace United Church of Christ, and Eden seminary for the 2022 Marilyn Stavenger Social Justice Symposium. Register at www.eden.edu/events/marilyn-stavenger-justice-symposiumWe talk with MCU Board President, Rev. Wendy Bruner about the program and Julie Burchett of Churches Together for Justice of Webster Groves about activities related to the Symposium that put the symposium's values in action.This year's symposium is entitled, “Rooted in Justice: Claiming Our Dignity, Embracing Our Power.” Featured speakers will be Bethany Johnson-Javois, President & CEO, Deaconess Foundation, Denise Lieberman, Director & General Counsel, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, J. Clinton McCann, Evangelical Professor of Biblical Interpretation, Eden Theological Seminary.

The Missouri legislative session is in full swing and today we talk about the attempts by the legislature to stifle the teaching of historical truth in classrooms and the attempt to change the initiative petition process. Our guests are J-MO, Organizer & Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU, and Allyn Harris Dault, a leader with the MCU Legislative Task Force.Quick links to participate in our legislative actions:Stop Suppression of Honest Teaching About Racism: take action to protect academic freedom and comprehensive education about racism and U.S. history: https://secure.everyaction.com/uI-KumCa5Emig4m5YiLqmw2Protect Our Initiative Petition Process: Email your legislators now and tell them to oppose any effort to censor Missouri voters by making it harder to put issues on the ballot: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-our-initiative-petition-processIf you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

The Missouri legislative session is in full swing and today we talk about MCU-backed bills to remove lead from school drinking water and expand expungement access for the formerly incarcerated. We also take a look at redistricting fights and the attempt to roll back Medicaid expansion. Our guests are J-MO, Organizer & Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU, and Allyn Harris Dault, a leader with the MCU Legislative Task Force.Quick links to participate in our legislative actions:Get the Lead Out of School Water: Add your name to the MCU testimony in support of a bill to remove lead from school drinking water: https://secure.everyaction.com/x8fHKd9TDEC0rW_-PGCiIQ2Encourage your Missouri State Representative to co-sponsor the bill: https://secure.everyaction.com/bPj_nma070m2R_X8oddJQw2Stop Illegal Dumping: Join MCU in calling for St. Louis area leaders to strengthen enforcement of laws fighting the illegal dumping of trash in our neighborhoods: https://secure.everyaction.com/2fekWb3ohEWKpr3dLt385g2If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

People we know and trust are our biggest influences when making decisions, including voting decisions. DeMarco Davidson, the Lead Organizer for the MCU Sacred Votes campaign, describes how this natural trust can be harnessed to create a more active and informed voting public.

Affordable, stable, and safe housing creates stability with work, school, health, and wellbeing. But if housing is expensive, inconsistent, or dangerous, families are uprooted, children suffer, and quality of life declines. Myisha Johnson is MCU's new Housing Justice Organizer. We talk about the importance of a Tenant's Bill of Rights, the lack of affordable housing in St. Louis, unhealthy property, fighting evictions, and how to find help.For help with unhealthy environments, discrimination, increased rent, or eviction, these are resources available in St. Louis:Equal Housing Opportunity CouncilLegal Services of Eastern MissouriSt. Louis Mediation ProjectHomes For All St. LouisMissouri Housing Development CommissionIf you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

Take a listen to highlights of This is What Democracy Sounds Like from May through August of 2021. Guests include Rev. Susan Sneed, Jim Sahaida, Sean Hadley, LaTrisha Gandy, Rev. Bethany Johnson Javois, Richard Van Glahn, Sidney D. Watson, Dr. Charlotte Ijei, and Barabara Johnson.If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

Take a listen to highlights of This is What Democracy Sounds Like from March and April of 2021. Guests include Karmahn Leach, LaTrisha Gandy, DeMarco Davidson, Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, Sister Dolores Sanchez, Beth Gutzler, and Emiline Giles.If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

Take a listen to highlights of This is What Democracy Sounds Like from January and February of 2021. Guests include Israel Collier, Joshua Saleem, Latrell Stanton, Rev. Darryl Gray, Rev. Jon Stratton, and Richard von Glahn.If you are ready to join us in the work for justice in the St. Louis area, contact us at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.comYou can learn more and contribute to Metropolitan Congregations United on our website: mcustlouis.org. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and events.

Over 20 MCU Congregations met with their elected representatives in the past six months, including city, county, and state officials. Hear the concerns congregations brought forward and hear what these elected leaders are focused on. Also, learn how MCU will turn these meetings into action through relational voter outreach in the 2022 election season. Then contact MCU at 314-367-3484 or office@mcustl.com to let us know that your congregation is ready to mobilize people.Register for the Jan. 18 - MCU Annual Meeting at: bit.ly/3dXrUsVMark your calendar for Relational Voter Training, Jan. 25, Jan. 29, & Feb. 5

Meet Thomas Payton, a life-long St. Louisan. He is driven by the desire that his children and grandchildren do not face the racism that he has faced. And for Thomas, love for others and love for justice are the core of following the way of Jesus.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

For Allyn Harris Dault, participation with MCU has been an opportunity for spiritual and relational growth through vulnerability. Allyn is a member of the Metropolitan Congregations United legislative task force and believes politics is an opportunity for people of faith to step forward to express their values.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

Meet Marge and John Asbury who have a lifetime of commitment to children and families. In MCU and its predecessors, they have engaged in police accountability, pay-day loan reform, and Medicaid expansion, just to name a few. All of which are efforts to create a healthier and more just environment for children and families.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

Meet Jeanette Mott Oxford, Organizer & Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU. Organizing for justice has been in her blood for a long time. Raised in a small town in southeast Illinois and lead by her Christian faith, Jeanette has taken her passion for working for the people to the statehouse in Jefferson City. Now we are blessed to have her knowledge and drive as a leader at MCU.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

Meet Barbara Johnson, an organizer with the Metropolitan Congregations United Education Task Force. She has a lifelong passion for the well-being of children, mothers, and families. That passion inspires her to fight against racism and poverty threaten the safety and opportunities for kids and families.Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email office@mcustl.com to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

Public meetings, in-district meetings, and canvassing are all tools that MCU is using to organize and increase voter and citizen participation. We talk with LaTrisha Gandy, an organizer with MCU's Juvenile Justice Task Force, and Jeanette Mott Oxford, Organizer & Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU to talk about these toolsPlus, learn how your congregation can host their own in-district meetings with your elected officials.

In the late 1990s, Bobby Bostic was sentenced on multiple counts to be served consecutively, adding up to 241 years - effectively a life sentence without parole. BUT NOW - because of a new Missouri law, Bobby has a chance at freedom through a parole hearing set for November. Listen again to our conversation with Israel Collier about Bobby's story. Then take action. Write in support of Bobby receiving parole to:Institutional Parole OfficerJefferson City Correctional Center8200 No More Victims RoadJefferson City, Mo. 65101For more information go to: http://www.freebobbybostic.com/how-to-help.html

On October 2, MCU will host a public meeting at New Northside Church in Jennings, Missouri, where the community and the neighborhood clergy will present their concerns to the City Council. This meeting is part of a broader effort through MCU and the Jennings Clergy Coalition to break the school-to-prison pipeline in the community. In this program, we talk with two leaders in this effort, LaTrisha Gandy, an organizer with MCU's Juvenile Justice Task Force, and Evangelist Bethany Johnson-Javois, Associate Pastor at Monument of Faith Church of God in Christ and the incoming president and chief executive officer of the Deaconess Foundation.

The MCU Environmental Justice Taskforce will deploy air quality monitors in impacted communities in partnership with local congregations. These will give local organizers the data to push for air quality improvements in neighborhoods where kids are most vulnerable. We talk with Beth Gutzler and Mayisha Johnson of the MCU Environmental Taskforce about this effort, canvassing neighborhoods, and organizing for healthy living spaces.

There is a push to make it illegal for public schools to teach the truth about American history and prevent schools from creating equitable and just spaces for children. We talk with educators about the necessity for teaching justice and equity in schools and how they work to create environments where it happens. We also talk about the politicization of the term "critical race theory" and the impact of those politics on schools. Our guests are Dr. Charlotte Ijei of the Parkway School District and Barbara Johnson and Lisa Thompson of the MCU Education Task Force.

On July 22, The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the voter-approved expansion of Medicaid is legal and Constitutional. But where do things stand now? When can Missourians begin to enroll? Is there enough money? What role do the Governor and the Legislature have to play? Could expansion be delayed again? We talk with Sidney D. Watson of the Center for Health Law Studies at the Saint Louis University School of Law and Richard Van Glahn about the status of Medicaid Expansion in Missouri.

On July 7th the MCU Legislative Task Force held a public meeting over Zoom to run down issues addressed this past spring in Jefferson City, learn how those issues directly impact real people, and to talk about how we as citizens can join together to take action.

On July 24th join MCU and United Congregations of Metro East for an Air Quality Rally at the McKinley Bridge. The day starts at 9 AM at the McKinley Bridge Roadside Park in Venice, IL. To let us know the details and why the event is being held, we talk with Sister Dolores Sanchez, Environmental Justice Organizer for MCU and Kentaro Kumanomido, Digital & Environmental Justice Community Organizer of UCM.Be sure to join us as we march across the bridge for clean air for all on both sides of the River.https://www.canva.com/design/DAEjXa7y8Mc/yxRL_U6WpACAKvNyn7L2Ow/view?websiteUnited Congregations of Metro East: https://www.ucmetroeast.org/

Funding for Raise the Age, improvements for the expungement process, outlawing choke holds, tracking of use of force by police, new requirements for hiring officers, and reporting bad officers. Did you know all of these things passed this past legislative session in Missouri? We talk with State Senator Brian Williams about the measures he sponsored and passed. Plus, we get an update on Medicaid in Missouri.

On June 19th Join us in Jennings for a day of Juneteenth celebration and action. Click the link below to register. In this program, MCU organizer LaTrisha Gandy and Associate Pastor Bethany Johnson-Javois give a preview of the day's events and the long-term commitment to building power and relationships in Jennings. The day starts at 9 AM at Monument of Faith Church of God in Christ at 5400 Janet Ave.https://secure.everyaction.com/USbaPpg5jki57QChQnmMBA2https://fb.me/e/1uHVA1p7GTo learn more about the MCU Participatory Defense support group:Text #LoveYouth to 31996https://mcustlouis.org/events/justice-for-you-families-impacted-by-the-juvenile-courts/To learn more about Monument of Faith Church of God in Christ:http://www.Blowwindblow.org/https://www.facebook.com/themonumentors

A continuation from MCU's recent Environmental Justice Public Meeting. This program took place on April 29th over Zoom. This program is lead by Sister Dolores Sanchez, and Beth Gutzler, lead environmental justice organizers for MCU, Kentaro Kumanomido the Digital & Environmental Justice Community Organizer of United Congregations of Metro East, and Father Vince Nyman and Ken Denson, members of the MCU environmental task force.To Connect:Sierra Club Missouri Chapter: https://www.sierraclub.org/missouriUnited Congregation of Metro East: https://www.ucmetroeast.org/Community First Plus: https://www.facebook.com/Community-First-Plus-102954245173621

This program features excerpts from the MCU Environmental Justice Public Meeting from April 29th. You will hear from Emmiline Giles, the lead environmental justice organizer with MCU, Rev. Kevin D. Anthony a leader on the MCU environment justice task force, Leah Clyburn the Beyond Coal Senior Organizer with the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter, Kentaro Kumanomido the Digital & Environmental Justice Community Organizer of United Congregations of Metro East, Mamie Cosey, a resident of Sauget, IL, and Myisha Johnson, a co-director of Community First Plus. The guests speak on the day-to-day direct impact of pollution and environmental racism on residents of the St. Louis region.To Connect:Sierra Club Missouri Chapter: https://www.sierraclub.org/missouriUnited Congregation of Metro East: https://www.ucmetroeast.org/Community First Plus: https://www.facebook.com/Community-First-Plus-102954245173621

In 2013, MCU joined with several other community organizations dedicated to racial equity in the workplace and signed a historic community benefits agreement or CBA with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District or MSD. Learn how this agreement, centered around a decades-long infrastructure project, guaranteed work to minority and women-owned businesses, that workforce numbers would equitably represent the minority/female community population, and training for this specialized work would be funded to ensure a new generation of sewer, tunnel, and water-treatment workers.We talk with Rev. Susan Sneed and Jim Sahaida of MCU and Sean Hadley of MSD about the tough negotiations to get to this agreement and how the agreement has benefited both the community and MSD.Read more:https://mcustlouis.org/news/work-and-economic-equity-community-benefits-agreement-with-msd/https://msdprojectclear.org/about/diversity/programs-resources/community-benefits-agreement/

In August of 2020, Missouri voters approved an amendment to the state constitution to expand Medicaid coverage to an additional 230,000 Missourians who lack health insurance. The Missouri legislature is ignoring the will of the voters and refusing to fund Medicaid expansion. We talk about the excuses given by our elected officials and how hard-working Missourians will be hurt if legislators fail to do their duty. Our guests are  Richard Van Glahn of Missouri Jobs with Justice and Traci Gleason of the Missouri Budget Project.Take action with Missouri Jobs with Justice:https://www.mojwj.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-medicaid-expansion-in-missouri/Learn more about the fine details of Medicaid Expansion and the Missouri budget:https://www.mobudget.org/

Environmental Justice is a large systemic issue that requires long-term, purposeful community work. MCU Environmental Justice organizers Emmaline Giles, Beth Gutzler, and Sister Dolores Sanchez talk about the power available when affected people organize to fight for a healthy environment where they live, work, and play.Read more about environmental racism in a 2019 report published by Washington University in partnership with Action St. Louis, Arch City Defenders, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, and the Sierra Club. https://law.wustl.edu/interdisciplinary-environmental-clinic-authors-study-on-environmental-racism/

What is environmental racism and how does it impact our communities? This is one of the questions that will be addressed at the Mothering the Earth Symposium on May 1. In this episode, we preview that topic with symposium speaker, Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould of Missouri Fath Voices and Rev. Wendy Bruner, Pastor of Peace UCC and Board President of MCU.For more information on the Symposium: https://fb.me/e/dj6V99ykvTo register for the Symposium: tinyurl.com/peace-symposium-registration

Raise the Age funding, Medicaid expansion, the right to protest, and expungement expansion - all of these issues are currently being decided in the Missouri legislature, and all of them will directly impact vulnerable Missourians and our ability to fight for them. We replay recent interviews we've had with those close to these issues.Now is the time to raise your voice to your State Senators and Representatives. Contact them now about these issues. Decisions that impact your life will be decided in the coming weeks.Find your legislators here:https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspxRaise the Age, HB1242:https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1242&year=2021&code=RContact the Senate Appropriations Committee about Medicaid expansion:https://www.senate.mo.gov/aprp/Obstructing traffic while protesting, SB26:https://www.senate.mo.gov/21info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=54105537Expungement Expansion, SB61:https://www.senate.mo.gov/21info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=54105450

Men and women who have been convicted of a crime and have severed their sentences, including probation and parole, are still burdened with perpetual punishment. No matter how long ago, a past conviction can prevent a person from being hired, finding employment, or obtaining loans. Expungement removes this obstacle, but it applies to a limited number of people and can be expensive. Missouri Senate Bill 61 seeks to expand eligibility and make the expungement process easier.Latrel and Tracy Stanton, organizers from EXPO St. Louis, lead this discussion on Senate Bill 61. They talk with Johnny Waller, who current expungement laws have impacted, Martin Hutchins of Arch City Defenders, and Senator Brian Willams, the sponsor of Senate Bill 61.https://www.senate.mo.gov/21info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=54105450https://www.facebook.com/EXPOSTLhttps://twitter.com/ExpoStL

Every community has problems and concerns that need to be addressed. And every community has the power to make changes to improve the community. But do we know what we want and who the decision-makers are? MCU is conducting transformative conversations in impacted communities so that MCU and citizens can clarify what change needs to happen and who can implement that change. We talk with DeMarco Davidson, Lead Organizer for the MCU Sacred Votes campaign, about the ins and outs of transformative conversations and how this tool can focus the people's voice. Just ask the residents of Georgia, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.To get involved, contact DeMarco Davidson at demarco@mcustl.com.