- LEADERS WIN MILLIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE -  In July, EPISO/BI leaders in Canutillo scored a major victory for sewer infrastructure, working with county commissioners and El Paso Water to dedicate 2 million dollars in ARPA funds for a sewerage project in Canutillo. Additionally, leaders from Montana Vista worked with their state legislator and EP Water to advance the second phase of their sewerage project this February. Both of these wins were decades in the making. Says EPISO/BI leader Suki Perez, "We've worked for years, knocking on doors in the heat and in the cold to get people organized."  - FIGHTING FOR FAMILIES - When the City of Socorro and TXDOT proposed an arterial connection to I-10, EPISO/BI leaders and residents immediately raised concerns that lower income families would be displaced.  After a year of negotiations, TXDOT expanded the number of route options from three to six.  Now, leaders are advocating for the route that minimizes impact on families, avoiding the displacement of those who are elderly and on limited income. - IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY - With accidents rampant and neighborhood property damage through the roof, over 100 leaders from St. Thomas Aquinas met with two city council members and their county commissioner to press for speed bumps.  Leaders won commitments for traffic calming measures and continue to organize for safety in their neighborhood.  - THE STATE OF EL PASO: A CIVIC EDUCATION SERIES - Fr. Rafael Garcia shares the work Sagrado Corazon (Sacred Heart) has done to welcome immigrants, and how churches can strengthen their own efforts to "welcome the stranger." Sagrado Corazon is the newest member of EPISO/BI.  Earlier this spring, EPISO/Border Interfaith leaders expressed an interest in learning more about issues in our community that impact all El Pasoans. The issues they identified were Education, Immigration and Health/Mental Health. Leaders stepped up and conducted research actions with different people in those fields. On June 13, 2024, 50 leaders gathered to discuss the state of education, and on August 22, over 100 gathered to learn more about immigration in El Paso, to volunteer and to take action to improve the lives of immigrants on the border. Read a brief summary of what we are learning so far.  For those interested in a fall reading group on the topic of immigration, please reply. We'll start with chapters from the book, Everyone Who is Gone is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer.  Next in the Series... Join us for a community conversation on the state of Health and Mental Health Weds, September 25, 2024, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Christ the Savior Catholic Church 5301 Wadsworth Ave, El Paso, TX 79924   - GET OUT THE VOTE! - VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING On Monday, September 9, 6:30 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, become deputized to register voters. The training will be conducted by the El Paso County elections department and will last 1 hour. Our voter registration and turnout efforts will be strictly nonpartisan.  To participate, you must register to attend. THE STATE OF LOCAL ELECTIONS On Thursday, October 10, 2024, 6:30 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas, we'll teach what is on the ballot locally, including bond measures, as well as distribute nonpartisan information on candidates for office. Come with a team from your institution to help us get out the vote! - RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR FUTURE - EPISO/BI leaders are beginning an individual investment campaign, with the goal of raising $25,000 over a 12 week period. We are looking for people who can invest according to their means on a monthly, recurring basis, or one time. Your investment will help us train a new generation of leaders and organizers. Help us spread the joy of public life! INVEST  

EPISO/BI members who live on Bauman Road in Socorro have been working tirelessly for over a year to keep their homes from being demolished. The City of Socorro and TXDOT have been planning to construct an arterial connection to the 1-10 that may run through their homes.  Leaders and neighbors are calling on the City and TXDOT to choose a route that affects fewer families, and avoids displacing those who are elderly and on limited incomes. [Excerpt] Neighbors in Socorro are fighting against a road expansion project that they say would end up demolishing about 100 of their homes. The road expansion project, called Arterial 1, would connect Socorro Road to Interstate 10 by turning a two lane road into four. There are different alternatives to the project but community advocate Lorena Silvestre, the leader of the El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization (EPISO) says one would affect more residents than the other. "One of them ...pass[es] along the Bauman Road and Vineyard Road and then alternative two and three goes further down to Clint," said Silvestre. Longterm Socorro Residents Concerned That Road Project Could Displace Them, KTSM [pdf] Socorro Neighbors Unite Against Road Project Threatening Their Homes, KFOX14 [pdf]