Faith in Florida

Faith in Florida’s organizing model brings together congregations and people of all faith traditions in working-class neighborhoods that serve as the institutional base for organizing in their communities. Rather than bring people together simply based on common issues like housing or education, this broad-based organizing model makes values and relationships the glue that holds faith-based organizations together. We aspire to be a trusted source of information in communities, supporting community leaders to speak for themselves and solve their own problems by raising their voices with legislators and participating in elections. The power we have built over the last few years has led to elected officials across the state asking to receive our guidance on policy. Our work with leaders of these communities has led us to build a particular focus around the following issues:

1. Protecting democracy and ending voter suppression
2. Reducing gun violence
3. Promoting criminal justice reform and dismantling racism
4. Defending the rights of immigrant communities
5. Winning economic justice, including expansion of access to healthcare, public education, and affordable housing 
6. Protecting and promoting an equal education system

Through this work, we support our leaders in developing a local analysis to expand the electorate and grow their community’s power. This includes expanding our New Voter Academy, aleadership development program that engages with voters – with a particular focus on young people – from the time they first register through casting their ballot at the polls. Those same leaders receive training on how to run accountability campaigns around their issue priorities,including education on how the government works at all levels around issues impacting their communities and how to organize town halls and forums to directly engage with elected officials. We provide ongoing consultation to local organizations in leadership development, community outreach, team building, organizer training, campaign strategy, nonpartisan voter engagement, and public action. In addition, Faith in Florida builds partnerships with other organizations to create a broader community impact and a better Florida for all. Some of the biggest focuses of the communities we organize are expanding voter engagement, protectingvoting rights, and preventing gun violence.