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FAQs about TMO

Below you will find some of the Frequently Asked Questions about TMO. If the question you have is not listed below, please go to our Contact Us page and ask it there. We would appreciate hearing from you.

1. What is the purpose of TMO?
2. How long has TMO been around?
3. What affiliations does TMO have in place?
4. Is TMO a non-profit organization?
5. Who belongs to TMO?
6. Is TMO a faith-based organization?
7. Is TMO political?
8. What kind of an agenda does TMO embrace?
9. What are some of the issues of concern to TMO?
10. How do I join TMO?
11. How often does TMO meet and where?
12. Does TMO have a website that I can look at?
13. Are there any dues to become a member?
14. How does TMO raise its money?
15. Do I need any special skills to become a leader/member of TMO?
16. Does TMO sponsor any kind of “actions” in the larger community?
17. Do I need any special training to be a member of TMO?
18. Who are the member organizations today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Answers

1 - To develop capacity for change among people who are disenfranchised and teach people to advocate on their own behalf.

2 - It was founded in 1975 when the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza asked Dominican Sister Christine Stevens to address social justice according to the recommendations of Vatican II. The first year of its formation, TMO enlisted 62 member churches and became a strong voice in the community.

3 - TMO is a sister organization of the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a network of community –based organizations in 12 Texas cities that work on statewide issues.

4 - TMO is a 501 c (4) non-profit organization. Additionally TMO is affiliated with the Houston Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (HISC) which is a 501c (3) non-profit organization.

5 - We are broad-based organization of institutions, consisting of congregations, churches, unions, non-profit organization, schools and other institutions that are striking for their diversity. TMO members are Hispanic, Asian, Anglo, and African-American and currently include Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish and Church of God in Christ Congregations. TMO is dedicated to negotiating across the racial, economic, and religious lines that ordinarily divide communities.

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6 - Yes. It involves members of diverse faith communities, who are committed to acting on the call to justice that is central to thier faith traditions.

7 - Absolutely, but TMO is non-partisan, never endorsing candidates or political parties, but embracing fully the art of politics – the discussion, debate and active participation necessary for persons to take collective action to reclaim their birthright as citizens in a democratic country.

8 - We are multi-issue, working on a diverse agenda of issues that comes from hundreds of individual and small group conversations in and around member institutions.

9 - Currently, the TMO Standing For Families (SFF) Agenda covers Education, Healthcare, Affordable Housing, Immigration, Public Safety, Tax Reform and Work & Wages. Click here for the entire SFF.

10 - Individuals do not join TMO, if you are a member of an institution who has interest in joining TMO, leaders should speak with an organizer.

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11 - TMO does not have regular meetings, community change has no calendar. Meetings happen as needed.

12 - Absolutely, TMOhouston.net

13 - Member institutions pay dues, normally 1% of their institutional budgets.

14 - TMO’s annual budget, which consists of minimal administrative expenses and the talent of professional organizers is raised through a combination of dues, grants and corporate/captial fund raising campaigns.

15 - TMO leader skills include curiosity about other people.

16 - Actions occur throughout the city, on multiple issues. Upcoming actions can be found on the TMO in Action or the Calendar pages.

17 - No one needs special training to have a sense of justice, mercy and faith, but sometimes it helps. Training sessions occur periodically with leaders and organizers.

18 - See TMOhouston.net


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