Our Unique Contribution:

"Faith-Rooted" Organizing: Going beyond the use of congregations to access a constituency, we also draw on all of the unique resources of religious traditions and communities in our organizing model and in our contribution to a broader struggle. We bring the full spectrum of the gifts of faith to the innovative coalition of community organizations and progressive labor unions known as the "community-labor" collaboration. These gifts include:

Moral Authority: The faith community is politically, ethnically and economically diverse. When a broad spectrum of religious leaders stands with low-wage workers, their message is trusted by the larger community. The stories and symbols of religious traditions powerfully communicate the human and moral impact of injustice and the vision of a better world.

Inspiration: Low-wage workers fighting for justice risk employer retaliation. Religious leaders and congregations act as "chaplains on the field of the battle for justice", using ancient resources to inspire workers to sustain the struggle. Faith leaders also inspire corporate and political leaders to make decisions for the common good.

Circle of Care: Through congregations, a wide variety of people join in providing a circle of care, advocacy and support for workers engaged in the struggle. In the process, moral dialogue occurs, relationships of intimate solidarity are built, hearts and minds are changed, and uninvolved individuals become community activists.

Building Bridges: Different ethnic and cultural communities find common sacred ground in contributing the resources of their faith traditions towards a common vision. CLUE-CA brings Evangelicals, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Mainstream Protestants, Hindus and Buddhists of all races together around their shared concern about the crisis of working poverty and their joint commitment to economic justice.