In Our Community

Daily Progress Coverage: IMPACT
Local congregations to target health care, affordable housing

Tuesday, October 16, 2007: Read Story

Gathered in the sanctuary at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, the group known as IMPACT, which stands for Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by congregations Together, listened as Fran Ingram outlined the need for dental care for the area's poorer residents. Francis H. Fife, a former Charlottesville mayor, surveyed the IMPACT crowd from the rear of the sanctuary and said the group "certainly seems to have generated a great deal of interest." He said he cast his vote for health care. Last March, IMPACT brought 1,600 people to Charlottesville High School to lobby city and county elected officials for affordable housing and transportation goals. IMPACT plans a March 13 gathering of more than 1,800 people to be held at UVa to press for specific goals to be crafted dealing with health care and affordable housing needs for the area's poor. "The role of IMPACT is to bring a greater degree of justice and fairness to Charlottesville and Albemarle," said Fred Dielh of First United Methodist Church, which had 26 members present.