JAM

Justice Action Mercy

Mission

We are religious congregations engaged in direct action to hold social, political, and economic systems accountable to do justice.

Past Accomplishments

• On-going cooperation for 'Hot Spot' Cards, an anonymous crime-reporting tool for concerned citizens, from city and county law enforcement. To date, over 350 Hot Spot cards have led to numerous arrests and a substantive decrease in criminal activity. In 2005, a Hot Spot Card led to an arrest in a homicide case.
• Pushed for an improved Kroger grocery store within the South Limestone Corridor area in 2005. To date, JAM has created a working partnership with Kroger officials, who have committed to expanding the quality of store merchandise and appearance.
• Challenged the Board of Education to research and implement the most effective, nationally recognized reading strategies to improve student achievement at the elementary level.
• Pushed for legislation by City Commissioners in 2003 to hold irresponsible landlords accountable for unsafe housing through mandatory inspections of all of their owned property, when any housing under that landlord's ownership does not match code standards.
• Persuaded Springfield City Schools and Head Start to establish 3 pilot preschool classrooms, to develop reading readiness skills for 51 low-income children. Later expanded the successful pilot preschool in the fall of 2003, serving 250 low-income children and families.

Year End Report

During the past year, JAM focused on building strong justice ministry networks within member congregations that represents Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths. JAM's annual support drive and dues raised $24,000 of its $119,000 budget. The organization sent fiftteen leaders and clergy to national and regional DART events, and engaged over 300 members from sixteen congregations in housemeetings that culminated in a successful Action on May 1st. At this Action, over 500 people turned out to successfully secure commitments around issues of crime and drugs, and improved access to jobs and transportation:

Specifically, a senior judge has agreed to work with JAM to develop a plan for the creation of a drug court to handle cases involving non-violent, substance abuse offenders to reduce drug-related crime rates and to relieve overcrowded jails. Additionally, the Board of Clark County Commissioners has agreed to create a revised county-wide transportion plan that will offer options for expanded routes and services to better meet the needs of the entire county.

A previous JAM initiative resulted in the passage of a half cent sales tax generating $3 million for a comprehensive economic development plan, and in December 2005 a Local Hiring Coordinator was hired to connect employers to local job seekers. JAM continues to receive ongoing cooperation from city and county law enforcement officials using the 'Hot Spots' device that has resulted in over 350 cards being turned in, one of which led to arrests and convictions in a murder case.

Current Membership

JAM's membership is comprised of 16 congregations of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths.

• An-Nur Islamic Center
• Central United Methodist Church
• Church of Jesus
• Christ Episcopal
• Covenant Presbyterian Church
• First Baptist Church
• Highlight Baptist Church
• Mt. Zion Baptist Church
• Restored Life Ministries
• Southside Mennonite Church
• St. Bernard Catholic Church
• St. John Missionary Baptist Church
• St. Joseph/St. Raphael Catholic Church
• St. Teresa Catholic Church
• Temple Sholom

Benefits to Membership

• Enables clergy, members, and neighbors of congregations to effectively act on their convictions to improve the systems impacting the quality of peoples lives.
• Involvement in winning long-term changes on specific community problems.
• Development of leadership skills.
• Strengthens relationships among congregants and with members of other congregations in the county.
• Enables members to publicly engage decision makers in the community.
• Develops relationships across racial and economic boundaries, by working side-by-side with diverse multi-cultural and interfaith communities throughout the county.

Contact Info

Joyce Christoppher, JAM Lead Organizer
JAM Office
201 N. Limestone St.
Springfield, OH 45503
PH 937-328-3378
Fax 937-325-4998
email: joyce@thedartcenter.org