In this Easter season, FORCE leaders are spearheading advocacy efforts for people with criminal records who have turned their lives around to have the opportunity to work in local schools. Help us keep the momentum going before the next crucial deadline.

Good morning, my name is Floyd Stafford and I’m a FORCE leader. I live on the west side of Chicago, and am currently attending The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. When I graduate in June, I will be filled with excitement and will hopefully

Help increase employment opportunities for people with criminal records. Make phone calls to the following State Representatives TODAY.

Tania, a single mother of two children, Carlos (6 years old) and Hugo (8 years old) recently lost her child care. The state program that helps low-income and working families with child care costs is out of money.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain pondered his responsibility for another human being in front of God. This question, spoken thousands of years ago, is now the question that we, the people of Illinois, must also answer.

Faith leaders and community residents who have been victims of police abuse marked Ash Wednesday by calling for the City of Chicago to repent for police violence at the Mayor’s office today.

The next chapter in the story of the City of Chicago is currently being written. Unfortunately, history tells us very few people will participate in shaping the city’s future.

Nearly 1,500 people from CRS congregations and neighborhood organizations across the city filled Liberty Baptist Church on Chicago’s south side yesterday to take action in the spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Current laws make it illegal for employers in schools and park districts to hire qualified, law-abiding candidates because of past mistakes, no matter how old the offenses.

Time is running out for the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation to raise the minimum wage. There are only 3 days left to take this important step.

The state’s current funding for schools falls woefully short of what is needed to provide a quality education for students across the state. And, the resources that are available are not distributed in an equitable manner.

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez continues her approach of deadly inaction, refusing to work with the Reclaim Campaign to reform our broken justice system and prevent violence in our communities.

Today, we are marching to State's Attorney Anita Alvarez's office, on behalf of the thousands of Cook County residents to deliver Deadly Inaction: A Proposal for State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to Prevent Violence.

Nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty. Vote yes to raise the minimum wage and help to Get Out the Vote for the November 4, 2014 election.

This will be a close election. Take action and vote early today for the mid-term election. Talk with people in your church about the importance of voting. Our votes can make a difference.

On Saturday October 4, the Reclaim Campaign held a public meeting where Cook County Commissioners commitment to actively seek a $1 million increase for the violence prevention, intervention, and reduction grants in the 2015 Cook County Budget.

This is good news, but we still have much more work to do. The current budget increases spending on the Cook County Jail by $27 million but makes no increase for preventing violence in our communities.

An important part of Community Renewal Society’s (CRS) work is to bring together congregations to fight for social justice. Every fall CRS holds an Annual Membership Assembly to set priorities for our organizing and policy work. On Saturday, October 4, CRS membership voted to initiate two new campaigns and renew three campaigns launched in 2013.

We’re committed to strengthening our community by getting voters registered. As part of our 2014 voter registration drive, Community 

Renewal Society has joined thousands of other organizations across the country to celebrate National Voter Registration Day on September 23, 2014.  

There is plenty of evidence that our current public safety strategy is not working. It's time for Cook County to invest in preventing violence instead of reacting to it. We cannot arrest ourselves out of this problem.

As we learned from the Civil Rights Movement, united and organized people can achieve life changing results. Every voter, every vote and every election matters. Join us to build our power and raise our voices together for justice.