COPE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Program Coordinator

DemitaBurgessjoinedCOPEin2006andistheProgramCoordinatorforourHealthAccessbyprovidingMedi-CalEnrollmentsupporttomembersofthecommunitythroughoutreachandCovid-19VaccinationClinics.Ms.DemitaalsocoordinatesourCEPPhoneBankingTeamduringourseasonalcampaignswith"CaliforniaCalls"and"WeareCalifornia." Ms.DemitawasacknowledgedforherworkwithCOPEandCaliforniaCallsbyprovidinginformationtothecommunityandlettingthemknowthattheyalsohaveavoicetochangetheinequalitiesinthecommunity.ShegraduatedfromLomaLindaUniversityGatewayCollegeasaCertifiedCommunityHealthWorker.ShewaspromotedtoOrganizerandcompletedafive-yearHealthcareproject(SBCMORE),securingMediCalforall.

Job Titles:

• Parent Organizer

DevonahasprovidedfamilysupportservicesinSanBernardinoandRiversideCountiesformorethan13years.Shebringsavastknowledgeofearlychildhoodeducation,publicservicenavigation,andabroadnetworkofresourcesandcommunityconnectionswithinbothCounties.Inadditiontosupportingfamiliesaroundbirthsupport.Anotherhighpriorityissurroundingherselfwithcommunitymembers,andlocalandstate-wideleaders.Addinghervoicetothevoiceofthepeopleandadvocatingforchange.Atthistime,DevonaholdsthepositionasPresidentoftheDistrictAfricanAmericanAdvisoryCouncilandChairoftheCaliforniaBreastfeedingCoalition.

Job Titles:

• Member of the COPE BOARD of DIRECTORS

Job Titles:

• Deputy Director
• Deputy Director and Chief Strategy Officer With Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement

FeliciaJonesistheDeputyDirectorandChiefStrategyOfficerwithCongregationsOrganizedforPropheticEngagement(COPE)inSanBernardino,CA.Inthisrole,shesupportstheorganization'smulti-issueracialandsocialjusticeorganizingthroughcampaignstrategy,coalitionbuilding,policyadvocacy,grassrootsleadershiptrainingandfunddevelopment.Shehasspearheadedandfacilitatedmultiplecollectiveimpacteffortsbringingcommunitiesandinstitutionstogethertoadvanceracialequitythroughcreationofnewinstitutionalpolicies,practices,andinvestmentsinracialequity.Shehashelpedtoleverageandfundraisetobringover$15millioninorganizationalandregionalfunding.Shecurrentlyservesasaco-chairoftheInlandEmpireBlackEquityInitiative,isaregionalcoalitionofBlack-ledorganizationsdevelopingasharedagendaforpolicyandsystemschangetoupliftblackpeopleandcommunitiesacrosstheInlandEmpire.Asaco-chair,shealsohelpedtoestablishtheBlackEquityFund,apooledfundeffortandpartnershipbetweentheIE-BEIandtheInlandEmpireFundersAlliancetostrengthenandscaleBlack-ledandempoweringorganizations'sustainabilityandcapacitytoleadsystemschangework.SheservesontheadvisoryboardfortheCaliforniaBlackFreedomFund,afundinginitiativededicatedtoBlackpower-buildingandorganizinginCalifornia.ShewasrecentlynominatedtoserveontheStrategicAdvisoryCouncilwithEducationTrustWest,astatewideresearchandpolicyadvocacyorganizationfocusedoneducationalequityandjustice.Shealsocofoundedagivingcircleofgrassrootsdonors(B.L.A.C.C.)tosupportblackledcommunityorganizationsworkingonthefrontlinesofracialjustice. ShewasbornandraisedinSouthLosAngelesandisagraduateofMountSt.Mary'sUniversityinLosAngeles,California.SheresidesinSanBernardinocounty.

Job Titles:

• Youth Organizer

JewelPattersonisaLeadOrganizerforCongregationsOrganizedforPropheticEngagement(C.O.P.E.).ShejoinedC.O.P.E.in2016whereshedesignedandlaunchedagrassrootsorganizingandleadershipdevelopmentprogramforBlackyouthcalledR.E.A.L.(Race,Education,ARTivismandLeadership).ThroughtheR.E.A.L.ProgramandvariousC.O.P.E.Youthengagementsandactivities(suchastheYouthArtivismRetreat,BlackYouthHangoutandBlackRadicalUnityHub)C.O.P.E.hasraisedtheconsciousnessandcapacityinyouthacrosstheIE,ages14-29.ThroughouthertimewithC.O.P.E.,JewelhasreceivedherMaster'sinCounseling,andwasrecognizedbyAssemblymemberEloiseGomez-Reyes'officeasa30Under30honoreefor2020.AsaBlack,queerfeministcommunityorganizerJewel'sworkcontinuestofocusonservingtraditionallymarginalizedcommunitiesintheInlandEmpirebyusingorganizingandARTivism.

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant

Job Titles:

• Senior Pastor & Co - Founder of New Life Christian Church

PastorSamuelJ.CaseyistheSeniorPastor&Co-FounderofNewLifeChristianChurchinFontanawithhiswifePastorTamikaCasey.PastorCaseyalsoservesasthefoundingExecutiveDirectorofCongregationsOrganizedforPropheticEngagement(COPE).COPEwasfoundedin2000andhasbeendedicatedtobuildingeffectiveleadershipamongtheclergy,communitymembers,andlocalparentsthroughlocal,regional,andnationaltrainingthatbuildsthecapacityofindividualstorevitalizethecommunitiesinwhichtheylive,work,andworship.COPEhassuccessfullyledandorganizedoutreachcampaignsinsupportofkeylegislativepolicies,includingAB743,SanBernardinoCityUnifiedSchoolDistrictsTaskForceforAfricanAmericanStudentAchievement,LocalControlFundingFormula,Prop30,Prop47,andSchoolDisciplineReformthatwillultimatelyseektoeradicatetheSchool-to-PrisonPipeline,andCivicEngagementCampaignsthatseekstoengagevotersbeyondelectioncycles.Morerecently,heledtheReTHINKPublicSafetySBCoalitionindemandingthatSanBernardinoCountyDeclareRacismaPublicHealthCrisisonTuesday,June23,2020.

Job Titles:

• Emeritus
• Senior Organizer / Director of Civic Engagement

BenjaminBriggsservedastheDirectorofCivicEngagementProgramsandwasresponsiblefordevelopingandleadingtheorganizationsvotereducation,engagement,andelectoralwork.HehasbeenwithCOPEsinceitsbeginningandunderhisleadership,COPEhasamassedsignificantpoliticalpowereducatingandorganizingover10,000votersresultinginimportantpolicyshiftsintheInlandEmpireregionandthestateofCalifornia.Heisrespectedcommunityleaderservingonmultiplecommitteesinthe HeistheSeniorPastoroftheGreaterNewLightChristianChurchinPerris,California.PastorBriggsandhiswifehavethreechildrenandanabundanceofgrandchildren.

Job Titles:

• Member of the COPE BOARD of DIRECTORS
• President / Pastor, Eagles Wing Christian Church / Perris, CA

Job Titles:

• Member of the COPE BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Pastor, Highland Church of the Living God

Job Titles:

• Member of the COPE BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Pastor, Life Center Church / San Bernardino, CA

Job Titles:

• Program Coordinator

SonyaGray-HunnisaCommunityOrganizerwithCongregationsOrganizedforPropheticEngagement(COPE).Herworkasagrassrootsorganizerhasallowedhertoplayaroleinparentengagementandhousingjusticemovements.Intheseroles,shehelpedtoorganizeadiversecoalitionofparentstohelpwin$1.3millionappropriationsforparentengagementresultinginanewframeworkforparentengagementandthecreationofEnrollmentandResourceCenterinSanBernardinoCityUnifiedSchoolDistrict.ShealsoledlocallobbyingeffortstopushforrentcontrolpoliciesthroughProposition10and21;andworkedtopasslegislationtoaddressrentgouging,housingdiscrimination,anddisplacement.Workingwithstateandlocalhousingjusticeadvocates,shehasorganizedtohelppassrentmoratoriumsandotherprotectivemeasurestokeeppeoplehousedinresponsetothepandemic.Shecoordinatedanemergencyresponseaidprogramprovidingfood,transportation,andhousingsupporttomorethan100familiesexperiencinghardshipduringthepandemicandworkedwithlegaladvocatestosupporttenantsvictimizedbyforceddisplacement.SonyaisanewlyelectedDemocraticdelegaterepresentingthe40thAssemblyDistrict. Priortoherworkasacommunityorganizer,Sonyaworkedinearlyeducationasateacher.Asaneducator,sheobservedthemanystruggleschildrenandtheirfamiliesfaced.Shenoticedthatchildrenandtheirfamiliesweredemonstratingahigherlevelofanxietyduetopoorhousingconditionsorlackofstablehousing.Asaclassroomteacher,sheunderstoodthatmoreworkneededtobedone.Afterleavingearlyeducation,sheenrolledinschooltocontinuehereducationasanAmericorpFellow,whichexposedhertonon-profitsocialjusticework.Sincethen,Sonyahasbeenastrongchampionforgrassrootscommunitymembers,particularlyfamilieswhosevoicesareoftenleftoutoncriticalpolicymatters.Asamotherofsixchildren,Sonya'sheartiscommittedtoworkingforthebettermentofhercommunity.

Job Titles:

• Member of the COPE BOARD of DIRECTORS