For perhaps the first time in the history of Ventura, faith leaders from many traditions united on common ground in their work to end homelessness. In May, 2009, over a dozen clergy members stood on the steps of City Hall to encourage city leaders to show bold leadership on this issue. In November, 2009, they unveiled an ad campaign initiative which brought faith communities and people who are homeless together to end homelessness. The ad itself featured fourteen members of the Ventura Interfaith Ministerial Association (VIMA) whose diverse traditions all share an emphasis on caring for those in need.
"It's not a lack of knowledge or resources that keep us from ending homelessness, it's a lack of political will and a community culture which makes it acceptable for some to be denied the basic goods and services needed for survival,” explains Reverend Jan Christian, Minister of theUnitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, who directs Lift Up Your Voice. "Instead of creating spaces where we all come together and have a sense of our underlying unity, our current culture is to homogenize our public spaces and set up adversarial relationships. Until we have positive experiences with one another and find ways to work together for a common goal, we will not fulfillthe promise of community. Once we learn to do that, all sorts of things will be possible."
Photo Credit and Identification
Photographer: Linda Kennon
Left:
Pastor Jim Ayars, Father Craig Chapman, Captain Bill Finley, Rick Pearson,
Rabbi John Sherwood, Tom Shilton, Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller
Right:
Deacon Ed Mills, Reverend Marilyn Miller, Reverend Jan Christian, Reverend John Martin
Father Jerry Kahler, Rev. Dave Schulze, Sutadhara Tapovanaya
Lift Up Your Voice 
