The Faith and Works Statewide Collective is a left-of-center activist and voter mobilization group based in Birmingham, Alabama. The organization describes itself as “non-partisan” and does not endorse any candidate or party, but uses justifications and language associated with left-of-center ideologies. 1
Faith and Works is a project of the Black Belt Community Foundation. Donations to Faith and Works go through the foundation. 2
Leadership
Faith and Works was founded by Cara McClure. According to Faith and Works’s website, McClure worked in her family’s cleaning business and had a successful network marketing business until her divorce left her homeless. In 2013, she was working in real estate during the conclusion of the trial of George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of murder on grounds of self-defense in the killing Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American youth. After the acquittal, McClure’s son criticized her and her generation for failing to maintain a civil rights movement. 3 4
This inspired McClure to become involved with the nascent Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Over the following years, she co-founded Birmingham, Alabama’s chapter of BLM and became the statewide coordinator for BLM. McClure’s activism focused on expanding voter access, opposing voter identificaton laws, collecting funds for bail, and protesting police brutality. McClure also became involved in non-BLM left wing activism, including increasing the minimum wage and opposing predatory lending. McClure collaborated with Greater Birmingham Ministries, Stand as One, Faith in Action, Shut Down Etowah/Alabama’s Immigrant Rights movement, NAACP Alabama, Alabama Arise, and SONG Alabama. Later, McClure participated in a U.S. Department of Justice program to build trust between the police and local communities, and she was appointed to the mayor’s public safety task force. 3 4 1
Prior to the 2016 election, McClure worked on the Democratic presidential primary campaign of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for five months. In 2017, she ran as a Democratic candidate for Alabama’s Public Service Commission while earning endorsements from Black to the Future, the Working Families Party, and MoveOn.org. That year, McClure founded Faith and Works to “register and organize” Black voters in Alabama. 3 1
In 2023, McClure ran in a special election to the Alabama House of Representatives. She came in fourth in the Democratic primary with 15.2 percent of the vote. 5
Projects
Faith and Works Civic Engagement
Faith and Works Civic Engagement focuses on Fath and Works’s original goals of educating, mobilizing, and registering voters. 1
Electoral Justice Project
The Electoral Justice Project focuses specifically on mobilizing Black voters and strives to “rebuild the lost connection between social justice and the Church.” 1
In Defense of Black Lives
In Defense of Black Lives is a coalition of local groups in Birmingham dedicated to “[dismantling] institutional anti-Blackness against all Black lives” in the criminal justice and political systems of Birmingham. 1
In Defense Bail Fund
In Defense Bail Fund pays bail for arrested Black women in Birmingham. It also advocates for abolishing pre-trial detention. 1
Faith and Works Bailout
Faith and Works Bailout pays bail and general financial assistance to arrested Black mothers. Since 2017, it has supported 20 individuals with $250,000. 6
(Re)Vote
The (Re)Vote Black Church Community Voter Project is a project to mobilize “infrequent,” “non-frequent,” and “low-propensity” Black voters through their churches. By 2026, (Re)Vote intends to create 300 “social and civic action ministries.” 7
References
- “About Us.” Faith and Works. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://faithandworkscollective.com/about-us/.
- “Donate.” Donate Now. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/faithandworks.
- “Cara (McClure) McClure.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-mcclure2024/.
- “Project CommUNITY: Local mother Cara McClure’s activism inspired by her son’s criticism.” WVTM13. February 4, 2021. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://www.wvtm13.com/article/project-community-local-mother-cara-mcclures-activism-inspired-by-her-sons-criticism/35417609.
- “Cara McClure.” Ballotpedia. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Cara_McClure.
- “Who We Are.” Faith and Works. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://www.freeblackmamasbham.com/#who.
- “Revote.” Faith and Works. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://faithandworkscollective.com/revote/.