Pope Francis jokes about his bad knee during a 2022 meeting with representatives from the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation. El Paso's Silvia Camacho is third from right. (Photo courtesy of Rabbi John Linder) [Originally published in El Paso Matters] Father Pablo Matta was just a young seminarian when he attended an El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization meeting at Santa Lucia Catholic Church (now St. John Paul II) in 1985. At the meeting, local leaders were gearing up for a big fight – thousands of people in the colonias of El Paso had been sold parcels of land with the promise of utility services – water, sewer and gas – only to learn that they had been swindled by unscrupulous developers. That early meeting turned into a decades-long movement by EPISO/Border Interfaith to bring water and sewerage to tens of thousands of people in communities like Montana Vista, Canutillo, Socorro and Sparks. The efforts of early, brave leaders changed the lives of El Pasoans and added hundreds of millions of dollars to the El Paso economy, much more if the multipliers of new housing, schools and businesses are added to the equation.  The organizing also changed Father Matta and fundamentally shaped the way he pastored to his people. Father Matta has been a leader for more than 40 years with EPISO/Border Interfaith, a grassroots organization dedicated to forming leaders from diverse institutions in the habits of public life. 

- 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