| What do the initials in PACT stand for?
What is PACT?
What is community organizing?
Why the focus on congregations and faith?
What kind of congregations does PACT work with?
Can individuals join PACT?
Where does PACT get its funding from?
Is PACT aligned with a political party?
What issues does PACT work on?
Who makes decisions in PACT?
How does a faith institution get started with PACT?
What do the initials in PACT stand for?
People Acting in Community Together
What is PACT?
PACT is an inter-faith, grassroots organization that empowers every-day people to create a more just community. We believe that real democracy can only be achieved when everyday people have the skills, organization, and opportunity to advocate for themselves in the public arena. Through PACT, people from different ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds learn to work together to solve the most pervasive social problems of our day, such as failing public schools, housing that is too expensive for thousands of working families, lack of affordable health care, and unsafe neighborhoods and poor services.
What is community organizing?
Community organizing is a systematic approach to addressing the root causes of social problems. It is a process by which people investigate and act together to change their communities and society. Through community organizing, people meet others who share similar values and interests. Together they identify common goals and learn tools to build organizations and participate in public life.
Why the focus on congregations and faith?
Faith is central to our work for many reasons. While we experience faith in very different ways, many of us share a common belief that the community and the world in which we live in can look different. The belief in the unseen is a powerful ingredient to overcoming the apathy and resignation that often stands in the way of improving communities. Many of us find strength and guidance in our faith to take the risks necessary to act on behalf of ourselves and others. And in many of our neighborhoods faith institutions hold together the fabric of community life and thus provide a strong social and financial basis for a broad-based community improvement effort.
What kind of congregations does PACT work with?
PACT member organizations include Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Non-Denominational, Jewish and Unitarian Universalists.
Can individuals join PACT?
Not directly. PACT is made up of affiliated congregations and schools. People are members of PACT because they belong to or live nearby an institution that belongs to PACT.
Where does PACT get its funding from?
Funding comes from member dues, foundation grants, corporations, and individual donations. All donations to PACT are tax-deductible. PACT does not receive government funding.
Is PACT aligned with a political party?
PACT is non-partisan and is not aligned explicitly or implicitly with any candidate or party. We do not endorse or support candidates for office.
What issues does PACT work on?
PACT works on issues such as housing, education, public safety, immigration reform, neighborhood revitalization, youth and senior services, and health care that directly affect the quality of life in communities.
Who makes decisions in PACT?
The issues that PACT works on are determined by volunteer community leaders who form organizing committees at each of their respective member institutions. Decisions regarding city- and state-wide organizing efforts are made through large group meetings with representative from throughout PACT’s volunteer leadership base. PACT’s Board of Directors is made up of two leaders from each member institution.
How does a faith institution get started with PACT?
Contact PACT Executive Director, Matt Hammer, to set up a time to meet or to find out about attending a PACT Faith Leader’s Caucus.
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