This is What Democracy Sounds Like

Meet Jeanette Mott Oxford, Organizer & Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU. Organizing for justice has been in her blood for a long time. Raised in a small town in southeast Illinois and lead by her Christian faith, Jeanette has taken her passion for working for the people to the statehouse in Jefferson City. Now we are blessed to have her knowledge and drive as a leader at MCU.

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.

Meet Barbara Johnson, an organizer with the Metropolitan Congregations United Education Task Force. She has a lifelong passion for the well-being of children, mothers, and families. That passion inspires her to fight against racism and poverty threaten the safety and opportunities for kids and families.

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.

Public meetings, in-district meetings, and canvassing are all tools that MCU is using to organize and increase voter and citizen participation. We talk with LaTrisha Gandy, an organizer with MCU’s Juvenile Justice Task Force, and Jeanette Mott Oxford, Organizer & Lead Campaign Strategist for MCU to talk about these tools

Plus, learn how your congregation can host their own in-district meetings with your elected officials.

In the late 1990s, Bobby Bostic was sentenced on multiple counts to be served consecutively, adding up to 241 years - effectively a life sentence without parole. BUT NOW - because of a new Missouri law, Bobby has a chance at freedom through a parole hearing set for November. Listen again to our conversation with Israel Collier about Bobby's story. Then take action. Write in support of Bobby receiving parole to:

Institutional Parole Officer

Jefferson City Correctional Center

8200 No More Victims Road

Jefferson City, Mo. 65101

For more information go to: http://www.freebobbybostic.com/how-to-help.html

On October 2, MCU will host a public meeting at New Northside Church in Jennings, Missouri, where the community and the neighborhood clergy will present their concerns to the City Council. This meeting is part of a broader effort through MCU and the Jennings Clergy Coalition to break the school-to-prison pipeline in the community. In this program, we talk with two leaders in this effort, LaTrisha Gandy, an organizer with MCU’s Juvenile Justice Task Force, and Evangelist Bethany Johnson-Javois, Associate Pastor at Monument of Faith Church of God in Christ and the incoming president and chief executive officer of the Deaconess Foundation.

The MCU Environmental Justice Taskforce will deploy air quality monitors in impacted communities in partnership with local congregations. These will give local organizers the data to push for air quality improvements in neighborhoods where kids are most vulnerable. We talk with Beth Gutzler and Mayisha Johnson of the MCU Environmental Taskforce about this effort, canvassing neighborhoods, and organizing for healthy living spaces.

There is a push to make it illegal for public schools to teach the truth about American history and prevent schools from creating equitable and just spaces for children. We talk with educators about the necessity for teaching justice and equity in schools and how they work to create environments where it happens. We also talk about the politicization of the term "critical race theory" and the impact of those politics on schools. Our guests are Dr. Charlotte Ijei of the Parkway School District and Barbara Johnson and Lisa Thompson of the MCU Education Task Force.

On July 22, The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the voter-approved expansion of Medicaid is legal and Constitutional. But where do things stand now? When can Missourians begin to enroll? Is there enough money? What role do the Governor and the Legislature have to play? Could expansion be delayed again? We talk with Sidney D. Watson of the Center for Health Law Studies at the Saint Louis University School of Law and Richard Van Glahn about the status of Medicaid Expansion in Missouri.

On July 7th the MCU Legislative Task Force held a public meeting over Zoom to run down issues addressed this past spring in Jefferson City, learn how those issues directly impact real people, and to talk about how we as citizens can join together to take action.

On July 24th join MCU and United Congregations of Metro East for an Air Quality Rally at the McKinley Bridge. The day starts at 9 AM at the McKinley Bridge Roadside Park in Venice, IL. To let us know the details and why the event is being held, we talk with Sister Dolores Sanchez, Environmental Justice Organizer for MCU and Kentaro Kumanomido, Digital & Environmental Justice Community Organizer of UCM.

Be sure to join us as we march across the bridge for clean air for all on both sides of the River.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEjXa7y8Mc/yxRL_U6WpACAKvNyn7L2Ow/view?website

United Congregations of Metro East: https://www.ucmetroeast.org/