Jericho for Justice

JERICHO's History

Martha McCarthy, SSS -- Biography

JERICHO'S Current Board of Directors

Jericho brings together diverse interests together through two organizations:

JERICHO: A Voice for Justice and
JERICHO: Education for Justice.

Through A Voice for Justice focused advocacy at the state capitol actively engages the legislators and the Governor in developing legislation that ensures economic justice. In local Senate and Assembly districts, Jericho's membership keeps legislators informed of their concerns for those living in poverty.

Education for Justice informs its membership on California's public policy issues through seminars, workshops and publications; trains its members with the necessary advocacy skills to work in the public policy arena; and views its educational activities as a springboard for action on key issues of economic and social justice.

JERICHO's History

JERICHO was founded in 1987 by Sister Sheila Walsh under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Social Service. JERICHO's purpose has been to protect the interests of poor people in California by equipping concerned citizens with advocacy tools for systemic change. From its beginning, JERICHO has provided focused advocacy at the state capitol and in legislative districts to effect structural change in public policies that affect those living in poverty.

Recognized for its effective work by a bi-partisan host of legislators, JERICHO is the only statewide, interfaith, non-partisan, grassroots public policy organization in California founded specifically to educate and advocate on behalf of low-income individuals and families. It has been a collaborative force from its beginning-offering people of conscience an opportunity to ensure fairness in state legislation.

Sister Marti McCarthy is Jericho's current Executive Director, and Debra Montiero Ortega is Legislative Assistant.

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Martha McCarthy, SSS

Sister Martha McCarthy, a member of the Sisters of Social Service, is executive director for JERICHO. Prior to this position she was JERICHO's Director of Education for three years.

Sister Marti has developed and directed programs to serve and empower low-income and homeless women, seniors and people with mental illness for more than 30 years. As executive director, she is responsible for the over-all management of the organization and its two boards, the development of public policy responses to issues of economic justice, and is a registered lobbyist for her advocacy at the state capitol.

Prior to joining JERICHO, she served as Lake County program director for Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa, California, where she was responsible for programs for seniors and low-income people. Earlier, as an independent contractor with three interdenominational organizations, she organized Bay Area communities to address welfare restructuring in California.

From 1992 to 1998, she directed Elizabeth House in Oakland, California, a residence for women and children in transition from homelessness, addictions and abuse. From 1987 to 1992 she served as a co-director of Bread & Roses -- a shelter, multi-service center and meal program for homeless people in Olympia, Washington and co-founded a low-income housing development corporation.

As founder and executive director of Transitional Living and Community Support (TLCS) in Sacramento, she created a continuum of community-based services that maximized independence for mentally ill adults. With her leadership, TLCS developed the first continuum of residential services in the state for homeless people with mental illness.

As community services adviser and Model Cities program representative with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 1976 to 1978, she assisted city governments in Kansas and Missouri in developing social services and community facilities, and provided workshops and training materials for local governments and citizen groups. In her work with Midwest Training Network she developed workshops that raised awareness of poverty issues.

Sister Martha was awarded the Professional of the Year by the Sacramento Area Mental Health Association for her work in developing innovative mental health services. She was appointed to the Kansas City Model Cities oversight board after being elected by residents of the district in which she worked. Sister Martha holds a bachelors degree in psychology from Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, and a master's in communication studies, with emphasis on organizational communication, from California State University, Sacramento.

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