October 31, 2012. The Florida Times-Union.
The call to action was clear.
After a rousing 90-minute assembly that sounded more like a revival, 750 or so social activists left St. Paul AME Church Tuesday night to spread the word about their mission and find 2,250 other people to join them.
They had identified what they viewed as the most pressing issues facing Jacksonville — homelessness, students not reading at their grade level, youth crime and jobs. They had researched them and recommended solutions.
And they had passion.
“Who cares?” their leaders asked repeatedly.
“We care!” they responded.
All they needed was more people, more power, to press community leaders into action. The goal was to become 3,000 strong by April 22 when their next assembly will be held.
“What happens when we work together?”
“Great things happen!”
The assembly was held by ICARE, the Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment, a coalition of about 35 diverse Jacksonville congregations who push local governments to address community problems.
The 15-year-old group long ago recognized the strength in numbers, said James Wiggins, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
“The challenge of justice has more to do with capacity than desire,” he said. “We must come together as one body.”
And one loud voice.
“Will you remain comfortable or take a stand?” asked Missy Hart, pastor at Mandarin United Methodist Church.
On the homeless and jobs issues, they took a stand with Mayor Alvin Brown, who attended the assembly.
He spoke about his efforts to establish a day center for the city’s 3,000 homeless people, which has been an elusive community goal for 10 years and is being pushed by ICARE. He said a site search is under way and pledged to open the center by the end of the year.
“It is the right thing to do. It’s what God expects us to do,” he said. “It is not going to take Mayor Brown 10 years.”
The group also took a stand on jobs, particularly for Northwest Jacksonville, where unemployment is double that of the citywide rate. ICARE wants cooperatives of employee-owned, for-profit companies that support “anchor” industries. Brown said he plans to fund a potential roundtable to discuss the concept with industries.
“We’ll get it done,” he said.
Also, the group plans to take stands with the Clay County School Board, law enforcement and the local juvenile justice system on its recommendations to address student reading achievement and youth crime.
