Mission, Goal and Activities of the Organization
The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) is an organization of institutions dedicated to developing power and leadership among citizens in order to transform democracy. TMO was formed in order to give a voice to people who are usually excluded from the major decisions that affect their lives. TMO offers people the opportunity to develop the leadership skills necessary to be full participants in society. TMO is a part of a larger network of organizations known as the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). The Industrial Areas Foundation is a nationwide network.
HOW WE ORGANIZE:
We organize by building trusting relationships between institutions and people of diverse backgrounds and by training leaders to organize within their institutions and to reate public relationships with local policymakers that help our member institutions speak and act for themselves for the common good of our local communities.
Organizing Process:
* Neighborhood Walks, help people to understand their neighborhood and surroundings;
Developing core organizing teams in member institutions who are trained to lead a listening campaign across their institution through individual meetings and house meetings. These meetings allow members to develop relationships, learn about the pressures facing families,identify leaders, and surface issues for potential action;
* Research Actions, to develop the expertise around an issue to make action effective and meaningful;
* Action, bringing public pressure to bear on the people who have authority to make a difference;
* Evaluation, helping leaders learn from their experiences.
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CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Healthcare
* Won a new dialysis clinic in Third Ward that expands the Harris County Hospital District's dialysis capacity by 67%.
* Restored and expanded the CHIP (childrend's health insurance) program in the 2007 Legislative Session.
* Improved access to the Hospital District including reduced parking fees at the BenTaub garage and streamlining the Gold Card application process.Housing
* Leveraged $3 million in federal funds for 100 affordable homes in the Near Northside.Public Safety
* Worked with the Mayor and City Council to increase the total police force to 5000.
* Gained improvements in police response to mental health crisis.Education
* Originated the City of Houston's After-School Achievement Program and has worked for 8 years to have the City expand and improve the quality of programs for low-income children.
* Worked to pass House Bill 3 in the Texas Legislature which will reduce the focus on TAKS testing in public schools.Workforce
* TMO in collaboration with Capital IDEA- Austin is working to develop a Job Training project for the Greater Houston Area that would provide access to long-term job training to low-income, underemployed, and under employed adults in the Greater Houston area.Immigration
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where 300 clergy from several denominations attended. Clergy included: Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Catholic Archbishop of Galveston-Houston; Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Conference of the UMC; the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas; Bishop Michael Rinehart of the Evangelican Lutheran Church of America; Rabbi David Rosen of Congregation Beth Yeshurun; the Rev. Mike Cole of the Presbytery of New Covenant. Together we released a Houston Interfaith Statement on Humane Immigration Reform and launched a campaign for immigration reform this year.