This is What Democracy Sounds Like

The results of MCU organizing have directly benefitted Fran Collier's family. She has a passion for service and justice that gives her the strength to speak up boldly even when it's hard to.

Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email [email protected] to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

For Terry Knies, MCU is where he lives out his family's tradition of faith, activism, and service. As a son and grandson of union organizers, Terry has found his voice through the MCU Legislative Task Force by being an advocate in Jefferson City at the State Capitol.

Your passion also has a place at MCU. Call 314-367-3484 or email [email protected] to join the work. Or go to mcustlouis.org/give/ to support MCU.

On October 9th, MCU hosted a public meeting at Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood in the city of St. Louis. The theme of the meeting was Look Up And Live

Thirteen elected officials, candidates, or their representatives were in attendance at our public meeting to first listen to the stories of people from communities impacted by injustices in our society - and then secondly to publicly commit to working for solutions.

It's election season and we talk with DeMarco Davidson and Latrell Stanton about how MCU is engaging voters before Nov. 8th. Join Metropolitan Congregregations United at these two important events with candidates and elected officials. Justice is on the ballot.

October 9th - Look Up and Live Public Meeting. Register at bit.ly/MCULookUpLive

October 13th - Candidate Forum for MO 24th Senate District. Register at bit.ly/MCUdistrict24

Gov. Parson has called for a special session of the Missouri legislature in order to pass tax credits and cuts. But what is the impact on Missouri's already underfunded education, health care, and social service sectors? We talk with State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove, Traci Gleason of the Missouri Budget Project, and J-Mo from Metropolitan Congregations United about the impact of the proposed cuts and Missouri's out-of-date and unjust tax laws.

Join MCU on Sept. 22 for a candidate forum with those vying for the 24th state senate district. We will be asking about their commitments to justice. Register at www.bit.ly/MCUdistrict24.

Find and contact your state legislators at https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx

Learn more about the proposals from the Governor and their impact at the Missouri Budget Project: https://www.mobudget.org/

MCU needs you. Join us in insisting that local school boards go above and beyond to get the lead out of school drinking water. But how do we do that? J-MO, Organizer and Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU, tells us about the upcoming training on how to "Powerfully Engage with Boards and Commissions." The event will be on Thursday, September 8, over Zoom. Learn from community organizers from MCU, the Sierra Club, the Water Institute at St. Louis University, and Great Rivers Environmental Law. Sign up now at: https://secure.everyaction.com/-UZiMOGaBESiuskMNjV3fA2

Also, mark your calendars for September 22 for a Candidate Forum with the candidates for the Missouri State Senate's District 24. The event will be held at the Ethical Society of St. Louis.

MCU along with the Sierra Club are demanding that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reform the state's air permit process, allowing more transparency, more opportunity for community input, and taking into account the cumulative impact on the community. We talk with Catherine Le, an intern with the MCU Environmental Justice Task Force, and Rajiv Ravulapati, the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign.

Sign the petition to reform the Air Permitting Process: https://bit.ly/MOAirPermitReform

Join MCU to deliver the petition to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources: https://secure.everyaction.com/9YL-CaP7OEyJMHqSm7jbBg2

Track air quality in your neighborhood: https://airwatchstl.mcustlouis.org

What ID will you need the next time you vote? How do you obtain the necessary ID? What has changed with absentee voting? What are the changes to registering voters? We talk over all of these things with Denise Lieberman, Denise Lieberman, the Director & General Counsel at Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.

Important links for voting:

MO Secretary of State: https://www.sos.mo.gov/

St. Francis Xavier College Church ID Assistance: https://sfxstl.org/birth-certificates-and-ids

Missouri Voter Protection Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMissouriVoters

Text MOVPC to 66866 or email [email protected]

Listen back to highlights from the 2022 Air Quality Rally. The program was hosted by Miles Brenton and you will hear from Rev. Kevin Anthony, DeAndress Green, Mamie Cosey, Rajiv Ravulapati, Dale Wojtkowski, Zach Chike, and Fr. Michler. Sponsors included Metropolitan Congregations United, United Congregations of Metro East, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.

Take action:

MO Residents Demanding the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reform its air permitting policy: https://bit.ly/MOAirPermitReform

IL Residents demand your state representatives support the Illinois Environmental Justice Permitting Bill: https://secure.everyaction.com/kg2wc7-OGEO2d-VIzqVLMw2

Join the UCM Youth Leadership training on 8/6: https://secure.everyaction.com/WV9mdclXikmZiaKARjimdQ2

Join MCU on 9/8 to learn how to Powerfully Engage with Boards and Commissions: https://secure.everyaction.com/-UZiMOGaBESiuskMNjV3fA2

Join the IL Sierra Club on 9/17 for the Mississippi Earthtones Festival: https://downtownalton.com/events/mississippi-earthtones-festival/

BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME HEAT CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, THE AIR QUALITY RALLY ON JULY 23rd HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A VIRTUAL EVENT. YOU MAY STILL REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW.

Sister Dolores Sanchez and Adrian Stillman, of the MCU Environmental Task Force, talk about the March for Air Quality on July 23rd, air quality monitoring stations at area churches, passage of lead filtering legislation, and keeping our neighborhoods clean.

Register for the virtual Air Quality Rally at bit.ly/airrally22

Track your neighborhood's air quality at https://airwatchstl.mcustlouis.org/