NAOMI: North-Central Area Congregations Organized to Make an Impact

NAOMI….is an interfaith Social Justice Organization.  We are grassroots and non-profit base our work in North Central Wisconsin.

NAOMI aims to bring together communities of faith to build community and to identify and to act on issues of injustice.  Faith communities convenanting with NAOMI are united based on shared values such as equality and human dignity.  We work with congregations and people of faith in collaboration with community partners and public officials so all have a voice and a role in bringing strong and just communities.

We seek to:

• Deliver a message of hope, healing, and unity as an interfaith community that reaches beyond the divisions of race, creed, and socio-economic barriers
• Building solid relationships with one another and with the greater community
• Identify and take action on root causes of poverty, oppressions, and injustice
• Be agents of change that build upon and create strong and just communities
• Empower and train leaders to respond to injustices at the local, state and national level

NAOMI is part of WISDOM, a Wisconsin network of ten affiliates throught the state.  WISDOM is a member of the Gamaliel Foundation, a national network that works to address issues of justic.  While NAOMI maintains its own board of directions, bylaws, finances, and selects its issues locally, our partnershp with WISDOM and Gamaliel allows us to work together at the state and national level.

As an organization that works to address systemic change, we are often engaged in public as well as political affairs.  NAOMI is comprised of members of all political parties; we do not endorse candidates or parties.  We believe in the need to build relationships with all elected officials and in the need to hold public officials accountable no matter what party they represent.

Yes.  NAOMI has a Religious Leaders Caucus comprised of religious leaders in faith communities within Wausau area working to do justice.  Bring together many faith traditions, we seek to share a message of hope and to build on those values that unite us in the community.  The Religious Leaders Caucus is the vision bearer for the organization and works to shape and forward the mission of NAOMI by reflecting on our faith and taking action to address injustice.

NAOMI has created task forces that act as action groups that plan and implement activies and events to address issues of injustice, poverty, and oppression.  Through the task forces, we aim to bring a message of hope and to take action toward positive change in our community.  Issues we address arise from the voices of those in our community and are supported by our member congregations.

Dental Health Task Force is addressing two major pressing issues the first being the lack of dental serices for the uninsured and second, the lack of timely availability for the insured.

Mental Health Task Force is addressing the issues that surround many people with mental health issues who have difficulty accessing transportation, especially on weekends, to important activities such as medical

appointments, church activities, supports groups, and the like.

Family Advocacy Task Force focused on the need for mandatory pre-marital counseling, the lack of proper nutrition among some school-age children, and assistance to families facing foreclosure.

Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP) task force seeks to re-direct non-violent offenders with substance use disorders or mental illness away from jails and prisons into effective community treatment programs.

If you have questions about NAOMI, you can contact John Prey, our parish representative.