Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC), founded in 1990, is a multi-faith, multi-ethnic non-profit organization from the greater Brockton area.
BIC has grown into a regional force for change with 7 institutional members representing thousands of families. BIC has won a seat at the table of power and won important victories across a spectrum of issues. Our achievements range from home ownership and foreclosure prevention to public safety and diversity in public schools.
Our mission is to work collaboratively on issues chosen by the community to promote racial and economic justice through prophetic, faith-rooted community organizing. We advocate at the state level as MCAN and at the national level as Faith in Action. By building power locally through intentional relationships, we aspire to create systems and structures for the purpose of establishing a more equitable and just world.
Audience served?
BIC works to improve the lives of everyone in the City of Brockton, but specifically the underserved and overlooked.
What we’ve done in the past.
2023
Youth School of Liberation (Youth SOL) joins BIC. Youth SOL’s project, The School Food Team, started in October 2022 with the goal of improving the quality, nutritional value, and cultural relevance of school meals, both in Brockton Public Schools and across the state. The School Policy Team, starting in November 2022, organized with the initial goal of changing the Brockton High School attendance policy
2018 - 2022
Established the first gatherings of what would become the Co-op Cultivators of Greater Brockton
Created Mutual Aid Brockton in response to the 2020 Covid-19 epidemic
Established Second Chance Justice in 2020 to educate the public and mobilize community support for the commutation of William Allen's life without parole sentence
2012 - 2017
Launched a campaign supporting a citizenship effort. Over 500 turned out. Congressman Lynch pledged to create a pathway for citizenship for all 11 million aspiring citizens and to fight deportations of nonviolent offenders
Fought for a minimum wage increase that went into effect and rose to $9.00/hour. BIC leaders supported the collection of petitions - over 22,000 signatures across MCAN - Massachusetts Communities Action Network, and over 150,000 signatures with our partners across the state as a part of Raise Up Massachusetts
Introduced School of Prophetic Action (SOPA) training
Formed Sharon Interfaith Action (SIA) in 2017 to reach across economic, racial, and class divides to develop relationships and partner with those people most directly impacted by injustice
2008 - 2011
Helped pass a CORI reform Bill
Passed 3 Home Rule Petitions addressing foreclosure
Helped pass a statewide Foreclosure Bill to protect homeowners and tenants
Supported and saw through Congressman Frank’s $1 billion loan program for unemployed homeowners, included in the Frank/Dodd Wall Street Financial Reform Bill
Organized against immediate implementation of the Secure Communities Act in MA
2005 - 2008
Organized for the passing, saving, and increasing of the Shannon Grant - an anti-gang and anti-violence grant
Brought Police details to Legion Parkway, near Messiah Baptist Church, to address the troubled area
Joined Mayor’s Foreclosure Task Force to work on possible solutions to the foreclosure crisis
Worked to have a local CORI ordinance passed, as well as statewide legislation, to help ex-offenders more quickly integrate into society
Brought Know Your Rights, as well as Immigration Law and awareness seminars to Brockton
1999 - 2005
Implemented BIC Nehemiah Phase I: 8 affordable homes for hard working families were built
Organized city campaign to signup families earning less than $40,000/year for MassHealth insurance
Offered 1st BIC CityWide Congregational Development 1-on-1 campaign. Trained 100 leaders in relational organizing and building power through 1:1 individual meetings
Improved wages and training opportunities for five local nursing homes that were part of the outreach and negotiations with nursing home owners to participate in a ECCLI program
Organized to get city officials to expand funding for ESOL classes, reducing the waiting line in Brockton by 33%. These classes are still called BIC classes
1996 - 1998
Organized at the state and local level to establish free after-school programs
Created jobs – BIC with partnerships, formed local trade unions to provide apprenticeship programs for Brockton workers
1994 - 1996
Negotiated agreements with 3 banks to establish the Soft Second Affordable Mortgage Program for first-time homeowners in Brockton
1990 - 1994
Supported the opening of a new Health Center
Worked to reopen of the Cosgrove Pool
Helped bring community policing to Main Street near St. Patrick’s church. This led to the closing of a drug/prostitution house across the street which was eventually demolished and replaced with the Senior Center
Helped obtain statewide funding with a campaign that brought annual grant money to Brockton for police officers