October 23, 2011. Newsplex.com.
Monday, members of IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together), will meet at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Alderman Road in Charlottesville. They will vote on one of three problems they want to focus on solving this year.
“I will call them problem areas, and we are looking for places where we think more can be done,” said John Frazee, IMPACT’s outgoing Co-President.
Every year, members of the 31 diverse congregations which make up IMPACT pick one problem in the community and work on finding a solution.
Monday, the group will vote on one of three issues: homelessness, mental health or jobs for recent graduates.
“We know a lot of people that are coming out of CATEC and other schools that could deal with a better leg up in the world,” said Frazee. “Making sure they can get through courses when they have kids or other things that occupy their time.”
With Occupy Charlottesville protests taking place in Lee Park and all over the world, Frazee says it is evident many want some form of change.
“The most interesting thing when I look at Occupy Charlottesville/Occupy Wall Street protests is that many times [people] are out there saying we want to see a change; we are not quite sure what that change is or what shape it will take, but we want to see some positive change,” said Frazee.
IMPACT will begin making a positive change Monday, as the group decides which issue to focus on solving this year.
The meeting will take place at 6:30 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and is open to the public. However, only members of IMPACT can actually vote. Once a topic is chosen, a research team will draft a proposal.
Then, in March, everyone in the community is invited to take part and vote on the proposal during an annual meeting.
To get involved visit IMPACT’s website.
