What does COPE offer?

COPE offers the training, tools and experience to your congregation/organization in formulating public policy responses and program innovations to solve pressing problems in your community. We accomplish this through local and regional trainings, and through mentoring relationships and technical assistance provided for clergy and lay leaders. We also engage participants by forming policy committees to craft public policy solutions that are in the interests of our constituents. Once a proposed solution has been deemed viable, ordinary people from within the ranks of COPE congregations/community organizations engage in community organizing activities to win the policy solutions.

How can public policy work and community organizing help me in meeting needs in my community?

Community organizing enables your congregations/community organizations to have a voice in the policies and programs that impact your community. The first lesson that you must learn is that every government and/or corporate practice that impacts your community is established as a result of a policy decision. Programs evolving out of public policy decisions are designed to meet the immediate needs of individuals in your community. These programs may or may not meet the needs of your families. Therefore you must have an organized voice in these policy and program decisions.

What type of community organizing do you engage in? What are your limits?

COPE and its congregations proactively engages in faith and community-based organizing efforts. COPE does not participate in partisan political activities.

What is the basis for your work?

COPE operates under the assumption that all Americans have the right and responsibility to participate in the public policy and program decisions that affect their daily lives.

How are your strategies or tactics similar or different to those employed in the Civil Rights Movement?

COPE employs post-Civil Rights Movement strategies and tactics to meet its mission. COPE draws on the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement to demonstrate that ordinary people that commit themselves to enacting equitable public policies and programs can achieve extraordinary benefits that improve the lives of all Americans.

Does your work exclusively address the needs of ex-offenders and their families?

Not at all, COPE works with a wide range of constituencies. However, COPE recognizes that the conditions of ex-offenders and their families provide an intersection to impact a multitude of problems facing the communities where its groups live, work and worship. Housing, healthcare, education, employment, youth development and personal responsibility are just a few of the issues that arise out of working with ex-offenders and their families. What do you mean by “prophetic” engagement? COPE defines “prophetic engagement” as a process that reminds congregations/community organizations that it is their right and responsibility to organize themselves into permanent organizations to protect the interests of those that are often marginalized in their communities. Prophetic engagement also requires congregations/community organizations to remind, partner and compel public policy makers to enact policies and programs that ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, creed or economic status, participate fully and equitably in the opportunities that arise out of these policies and programs. Why do you focus on African Americans? Do you work with other ethnic groups? COPE will absolutely work with all ethnic groups but, in 2000, COPE made a conscious institutional decision to focus its efforts primarily on African Americans after observing the interests of blacks being neglected, marginalized and/or under-appreciated by mainstream organizing networks. We partner with a variety of stakeholders and advocates concerned with urban revitalization. What is your relationship with the government? Do you receive government funds? COPE invests significantly in creating public/private partnerships. Some partnerships require government participation. Who are your supporters? Congregations, community organizations, academics, foundations and corporations support the work of COPE’s. What are COPE’s role and responsibilities as an intermediary? COPE’s role is to provide culturally competent capacity building and support for our affiliates. COPE is responsible for ensuring that its congregations/community organizations participate fully in public life. What are the requirements, including costs, for being an affiliate? COPE requires that congregations/community organizations commit themselves to building broad-based, multi-issue organizations to revitalize, protect and service the communities where they live, work and worship. COPE ask that each of its partnering congregations and organizations to seed a nominal fee. COPE secures funds from foundations, corporations and individuals to support its training, technical assistance and capacity-building services. The cost of trainings and services is, therefore, minimal.