Just Cause Oakland and St. Peter’s Housing Committee to Merge

It is said that those who share a common direction and sense of unity can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. Motivated by the desire to build a more powerful grassroots force for justice, we have decided to merge with our sister organization in San Francisco, St. Peter’s Housing Committee, and create a bigger, fiercer organization. After 10 years of collaborative work with St. Peter’s, we have witnessed and been impressed by the powerful organizing and tenant advocacy St. Peter’s conducts with Latinos in the Mission District and across San Francisco.

We are inspired by a shared vision of deepening solidarity between African-American and Latino communities in San Francisco and Oakland, and contributing to the development of a vibrant grassroots movement.

Our two organizations have had a close relationship for years, as we have developed housing, anti-gentrification and community development related campaigns in our prospective cities. We have engaged in numerous joint discussions about our models, approaches and political analysis of the problems in our communities. Our members have participated in joint actions, and have interacted at conferences, meetings and other venues where we have done work in common. Finally, both organizations are active members of the Right to the City Alliance, a growing network of urban justice organizations, primarily combating gentrification. While we are not entering into this merger because of financial necessity, we understand that the economic crisis is bringing many organizations to the brink of bankruptcy.

Just Cause and St. Peter’s have weathered the storm well but we feel it is an excellent time to be merging, because we will become a stronger more efficient organization and will be able to navigate the changing economy even better as a larger, regional organization. These times are also marked by tremendous political opportunity. The entire economic model that runs this country is in question, and many significant political reforms are possible. By joining forces, we feel confident that we will be able to take advantage of the moment to advance bigger changes, and win more resources and power for the communities we work with in Oakland and San Francisco. Don't worry, our organizing in Oakland will continue to grow and we will not be changing our core areas of work or how we organize.

There are many decisions still to be made around the merger – not least of which will be our new name! But we have time. We are working hard with our members, staff and board to move the process forward with the goal of beginning an initial transition on January 1, 2010.