Issues

Faith in Democracy:

FACE uses a uniquely democratic process to select the issues it will act upon.  Once a year, the congregations and other organizations of FACE survey their individual members to find out what issues are affecting their lives and what conditions they see in their communities which need change.  Once the listening process is completed, we look to see what issues are of greatest concern, form committees around those issues, and choose courses of action.  This process not only helps FACE to select its issues to act upon, but also aids its member organizations in addressing the concerns of their members within their own congregations/organizations. The process of active conversation helps to bring out the great wisdom in the people. In 2010 we recommitted to this process and identified a new set of issues and priorities.

Talk Story 2010:

We recognized that 2010 was an important year in the life of Oahu, especially with the political races throughout the islands. In order to ensure that our voice is heard above the crowd, we committed to a deep and sustained listening process. The 2010 listening process began in January where leaders were trained to host small group meetings – talk stories – in their own member institutions. Between January 23 and April 10th, leaders held talk story sessions. People participating came from every walk of life and every ethnic group in Hawaii and were held all around Oahu, from North Shore to Waimanalo, Waianae to Hawaii Kai.

The conversations centered on the future of Oahu – their vision and the roadblocks to that vision. The process culminated in an issues dialogue on April 11 at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church in Kalihi. 134 delegates from FACE member congregations prioritized 3 issues to work on in 2010/2011:

Education and Opportunity
Affordable Housing and Land Use
Jobs and Economic Development

We will continue to work on

Healthcare
Transportation Equity and
Comprehensive Immigration Reform