Advocacy
About Our Work
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s advocacy work informs systems change at the local, state and federal level by leveraging the expertise of staff and the experiences of program participants to advocate on behalf of those who are hurting to be empowered, valued, and healed. Through this engagement, LMM can continue to provide transformational services while reducing the need for safety net services.
Responding to Changing Policy & Legislation Impacting Our Mission
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about federal programs, Lutheran Services, and the impact they have on our community. We see this an important opportunity to share the work that our organization does to serve those who are oppressed, forgotten, and hurting, many of whom rely on federal and other government resources to provide them stability. We are calling on the community to join us in our advocacy with, and for, our neighbors who are most in need. Here are the ways you can help:
- Stand with us, in this moment, when people need to know about work that Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry provides and how it impacts the community.
- Communicate to your networks (social media, family, friends) how important it is to have a strong social services safety net.
- Talk to your elected officials and ask them to support organizations like LMM and the work that we do.
- Check out the latest LMM updates below:
Advocacy Priorities
Through the guidance of our yearly priorities, LMM puts our ideas into action. This year, our Office of Advocacy hosted the Charles R. See Forum on Reentry, led voter engagement efforts, participated in multiple Cleveland Reentry Week events hosted on site and more. Each advocacy action taken by the Office of Advocacy is deeply rooted in the experiences, challenges, and needs of LMM’s program participants.
Recently, LMM hosted the third annual Charles R. See Forum on Reentry, which honors Mr. See’s 44 years of service at LMM and his work leading the innovative and nationally recognized Community Reentry program.
The program took place at the City Club of Cleveland and featured keynote speaker Andre Ward, Associate Vice President of the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy at The Fortune Society.
Below is a sample of advocacy activities led to advance LMM’s advocacy priorities. To learn more about these efforts, email LMM’s Advocacy Director William Tarter, Jr. at wtarter@lutheranmetro.org or sign up to receive LMM Advocacy Alerts.
Advocacy in Action
- LMM published an op-ed in the Cleveland Plain Dealer: Tenant protections like ‘Pay to Stay’ create stability during pandemic and beyond.
- LMM partnered with Enterprise Community Partners, The Fair Housing Center, and Legal Aid to advance a local ordinance to ban source of income discrimination.
- LMM signed onto a COOHIO letter asking DeWine to allocate $100 million for rental assistance.
- LMM opposed federal efforts to weaken disparate impact protections.
- LMM opposed federal efforts to increase enforcements of mixed status housing.
- LMM hosted the annual Charles R. See Forum on Reentry featuring author, activist, and returning citizen Susan Burton. The forum honors the career and continued legacy of Mr. See who worked at LMM for 44 years.
- LMM hosted the first ever People’s Reentry Assembly which brought together more than 45 people impacted by the criminal justice system to identify strategies to lessen the housing barriers facing returning citizens.
- LMM Workforce Development Program Director Malika Kidd authored an opinion piece Returning citizens who’ve done their time are a valuable, untapped part of the workforce, which focused on the importance of fair chance hiring.
- Policy Matters Ohio featured participants in LMM’s Chopping for Change program in blog: “Chopping for Change” shows the power of addiction treatment.
- LMM planned a Mayoral Forum on Housing and Homelessness to provide residents the opportunity to learn the candidates’ plans for ending homelessness in Cleveland. The forum was screened for individuals experiencing homelessness at the Men’s Shelter and at NEOCH’s office.
- LMM launched A Push Towards Justice blog series which invites submissions from LMM staff partners, community members, and program participants on topics related to race and racial equity.
- LMM hosted“Getting into Good Trouble through Civic Engagement: A Forum for Restored Citizens on Holding Elected Officials Accountable After the Ballot. The forum, which included representatives of ClevelandVotes, individuals with lived experience, and a retired judge, encouraged returning citizens to register to vote, and be informed when voting.
- To encourage civic engagement among LMM program participants, staff, and community supporters, LMM issued weekly advocacy alerts leading up to the general election. This outreach culminated with a conversation between U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Charles R. See about how voting connects to civil rights, and a video from U.S. Senator Rob Portman encouraging people to vote.
