Mission

COPA’s mission is to build leadership capacity in local institutions, enabling them to collaborate to solve community problems and to reinvigorate civic culture.

COPA is a non-partisan, broad-based organization of almost thirty religious congregations, labor unions, schools, and nonprofits. We organize to bring together a diverse cross-section of the region around mutual interests to achieve change for the common good.

The Big Idea

COPA leaders have conducted hundreds of meetings over the past year to gather research on the need for a Workforce Development Intermediary Project. In partnership with other nonprofit, government, educational and business leaders, COPA is beginning a multiyear planning process to launch a Workforce Development Intermediary Project. It will take 2-3 years to do the necessary planning, relationship building, research and organizing to launch a new program. This will include workforce and skills training, and wrap-around services that can include rental assistance, childcare, scholarships, job interview prep, funds for tuition and books, and more. The Project will strengthen the economy and transform lives by preparing individuals for in demand, high-road jobs and careers.

My name is Ana Luz Acevedo, I am a COPA leader at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Castroville. My participation in COPA has been a very transformative experience as a community leader. Just this year I had the unique opportunity to testify twice in Sacramento - first in front of Assembly Judiciary and then in front of Senate Judiciary on my experience as a young professional trying to find a place to live. I also sat down with officials and lobbyists and negotiated as equals about my needs, and the needs of my peers and community. Because of COPA I have agency in the future of my community.

- Ana Luz Acevedo