To start the year, on January 24^th, 2010 over 300 people joined together for BCU's Brooklyn Works! Economic Justice Campaign. Clergy and congregational members from the Catholic, Episcopal, Reformed, Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ, Lutheran, Jewish, and Muslim faith traditions supported the need for affordable healthcare reform, humane immigration reform, and the need to make Brooklyn's economy work for its residents.  Andrea Batista Schlesinger of the Drum Major Institute, Joseph Fleming of the PICO National Network, and Congress Member Yvette Clarke provided context for the current state of the economy and where we go from here. Hundreds of BCU members stood when asked if they had been impacted by unemployment, foreclosures, the loss of health care, and credit card debt. John Kemp, Chair of BCU, committed the organization to push forward on health care reform by making calls today to legislators, continuing our vigils for immigration reform, and taking steps to research and move actions on economic justice.

Recent campaigns include:

• Obtained a commitment for funding for a telephone bridge to connect to socially isolated seniors in the Shore Ridge NORC

• Worked with the DOT and MTA to move a bus stop, ensuring ease of access for local seniors

• Held Mayoral Candidate and Congressional Candidate forums, introducing hundreds of local constituents to their choices for local leadership

• Formed several tenant associations to better inform tenants about their rights

• The successful passage of a bill to protect immigrants from fraudulent immigration practitioners in New York State and City, and educated immigrants on the new law.