Welcome
CCISCO
Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization
CCISCO helps everyday people win extraordinary victories, not by speaking for them, but by providing a vehicle for them to speak, act and engage in the public arena for themselves. Since 1996, we have been organizing a voice for justice and equity in Contra Costa. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, interfaith federation of 25 congregations and youth institutions representing over 35,000 families. 
CCISCO is a 501(c)(3) Organization – Donate Today!
Latest News
Reclaim Contra Costa’s Future Voter Campaign
The Initiative to Fund California's Future (Prop 30) would raise around $7 billion to fund education and public safety. If this measure does not pass, our communities will be deeply affected by further budget cuts to education and public safety. That is why CCISCO Leaders and volunteers are conducting phone banking, precinct walks, and poll checks to ensure we reach our goal of turning out 6,000 voters on November 6th. Over 15 congregations and institutions throughout the county will be anchoring this effort.
Over the last few weeks and until the November election, CCISCO will be hosting phone banks from Monday-Thursday from 6pm-9pm at our Antioch (202 G St.) and Richmond (1000-B Macdonald Ave.) offices. We will also be organizing weekly canvass walks to get the word out about Prop. 30 and make sure our community goes out to vote on November 6th!
Click here: To sign up for phone banking or canvass walks
Saturday, September 29th – 9:00am – Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 684 Juliga Woods St., Richmond, CA 94804 (directions)
Saturday, September 29th – 9:00am – St. Anthony Catholic Church, 971 O'Hara Ave., Oakley, CA 94561 (directions)
If you are interested in learning more about our civic engagement campaign please contact your local organizer or Teresa Flores at (925) 759-7402 or teresa@ccisco.org.
Contra Costa Unites to Move Forward and Invest in People, Not Prisons
Martinez, California- The Contra Costa Community Corrections Partnership took an important step forward in postponing the proposed jail expansion and investing in alternatives to incarceration at their executive committee meeting this morning. A broad and diverse group of faith and community leaders packed the meeting and every speaker during the public comment period applauded the movement to halt the jail expansion.
"I'm prepared today to say let's hold off on the West county sprung structure expansion or whatever you want to call it, if that helps to move the discussion forward," Sheriff David Livingston stated during the CCP meeting. The move was met with praise from both other CCP members and sustained praise and applause during the public comment period. During the meeting Sheriff Livingston also cited the importance of moving forward on funding critical re-entry services.
In addition, the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee established a process to define their operational plan to guide funding allocations. The committee is scheduled to meet next week and is charged with bringing back recommendations within the next 60 days. CCISCO faith leaders from around the county and formerly incarcerated leaders who have transformed their lives gave passionate testimony in support of the new direction.
"In his statement of the meaning and purpose of his public ministry, Jesus declares that he would invest his resources in people, not prisons, and he called this good news for the poor," Rev. Kamal Hassan, pastor of Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church stated during the meeting. "Telling us that you would like to create more jail cells for our mothers, fathers, daughters and sons is not good news for the people of Contra Costa County. This is because a society that invests its scarce resources in jails has to also commit to filling those jails and keeping them filled. Incarceration then becomes an obligation and recidivism an expectation. On the other hand, a society that invests in bail reform, human services, housing, and jobs for ex-offenders makes community based solutions an obligation, and safe return and reintegration an expectation. This is good news for the people of Contra Costa County."
At the close of the meeting State Senator Loni Hancock emphatically stated, "This has been an extraordinary meeting, and I hope everyone realizes what a tribute to democracy this whole process has been. I am in awe of you guys, I'm in awe of this community and the testimony you've given. And the fact that it is really coming together with such promise for developing a whole new system. The whole promise of AB109 is not to replicate the failed system of the state level, but to build a new system that will break the cycle of crime and poverty and violence and put people on another track. Everybody talks about it almost nobody has done it successfully, and it sounds to me like Contra Costa is on the road to doing it successfully. You will make history if you do that, you will be a model for other places that are struggling with these tough issues. Just thank you, every single one of you for what you've done here."
Jeff Rutland, a leader with the Safe Return Project which has been playing a leading role in the push to halt the jail expansion stated at the meeting, "We look forward to working with Sheriff Livingston to develop alternatives to incarceration and re-entry services so that we never have to build a new jail structure in Contra Costa County." The next Community Corrections Partnership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 4th in Martinez.
