MOP’S WORK IN 2007 & 2008

In addition to local organizing on a variety of issues related to education, safety, health care, and housing, leaders from MOP’s 37 member congregations, schools and youth organizations are working together to affect public policy and practices in education and health care at district, state and federal levels.

Health Care

MOP leaders are working at national, state and local levels to help families, and especially children, get the healthcare they need at prices they can afford.

• National Level: Working with PICO, our national network, leaders have focused on passage of the SCHIP bill to provide healthcare coverage to 4 million of the 10 million uninsured children in the US, putting more money into CHP+ as the program is known in Colorado.

• State and Local Level: Leaders are working to reduce barriers and increase enrollment of Colorado children who are eligible for CHP+ or Medicaid. Many families either do not know that they are eligible or are discouraged by the difficult application process. MOP is working on both regulations and in “hands-on” ways, such as KidzBlitz, to enroll more children.

To learn more or to get involved contact Marilyn Stranske at 303-249-8115 or marilyn[at]mopdenver[dot]org or Ashlin Spinden at 303-746-8186 or ashlin[at]mopdenver[dot]org.

Education Reform

MOP leaders are in the midst of a long-term campaign to address the causes of Denver Public Schools performing at low-levels.

• Near Northeast Schools Plan: MOP leaders are working to create a comprehensive near Northeast schools plan that will take into account demographics, children’s needs, and ensure that schools can be competitive in offering different programs that meets the needs of the children living in this area of Denver.

• Student Based Budgeting: Mop leaders have been working diligently to create a weighted student formula to ensure that money follows the children and their needs, and that extra weights will be set that will provide extra funding for children that are low income, ESL, high achieving, and low achieving.

For more information and/or to get involved in one or both of these important issues please contact Patty Lawless at 720-297-7091 patty[at]mopdenver[dot]org.

The DREAM Act

MOP is working to secure greater access to higher education for all Colorado students. These efforts have been met with varying degrees of success due to the unique political and social climate in Colorado. While Colorado has some of the most aggressive anti-immigrant laws in the country, we see real opportunity with a Democratic controlled legislature and a new Governor. We believe now is the time to move a large campaign.

This campaign includes:

• Development, passage and protection of legislation that will secure access to instate tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, similar to legislation in effect in other states across the country.

• Support for the DREAM Act, federal legislation currently introduced in Congress that will pave the way for a pathway to citizenship and access to higher education.

• Altering and revising harmful anti-immigrant legislation that has postsecondary education consequences.

For more information, please contact Kristee Paschall, 303.884.6591, kristee[at]mopdenver[dot]org or Blanca Trejo 720.227.2072,blanca[at]mopdenver[dot]org

State Education Reform

This spring MOP joined Sheridan School District in filing a lawsuit aimed at restoring access to concurrent enrollment programs like 21st Century at Sheridan HS. Because of our lawsuit and Fast College Fast Jobs, the State Board revisited 5.18 this summer. The State Board made a bold step in support of concurrent enrollment through their complete repeal of 5.18. With this repeal, we believe it was the express intent of the State Board is to permit concurrent enrollment, including funding through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEO). The Board’s decision is exactly what we hoped to achieve. The families and students at MOP are very interested in creating and increasing pathways to concurrent enrollment in Colorado.

For more information or to get involved please contact Kristee Paschall 303.884.6591, kristee[at]mopdenver[dot]org

Citizenship Campaign

MOP leaders have been working diligently to move many issues of concern around immigration, although the opposition has been fierce. Therefore, MOP organizers recently attended a conference in California to better understand what PICO member organizations are doing nation wide to overcome this opposition. During this conference, it became very clear that our representatives are not going to put immigration at the top of the agenda unless more legal immigrants begin to vote.

MOP is currently part of a coalition of organizations in Colorado working with the Ya Es Hora Citizenship Campaign to help about 100,000 eligible immigrants apply for their citizenship, register to vote, and become civically engaged. This is enough people to turn the tables on immigration legislation for Colorado; while our collaboration with national efforts could change the way, immigration legislation looks throughout the nation! This is about the American dream, and it is about creating fair and just laws for everyone.

For more information, please call Jaci Braga at 303-912-5303, or e-mail jaci[at]mopdenver[dot]org