We believe in the power of organized people… to build stronger communities where justice and fairness are a reality for everyone.
Our March 9th Candelight/Prayer Vigil was a success!!!
More than 50 clergy and lay leaders came to pray in front of the Sheriff's office. In response to our prayers, Sheriff Wells has now agreed to meet with STREAM about the Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion program. Stay tuned for more details!
The event also received media coverage from multiple outlets. See what Channel 10 Tampa Bay and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune had to say…
March 9th Candelight/Prayer Vigil!!!
All Team Members and Supporters are invited to attend a Candlelight and Prayer Vigil on Thursday, March 9th at 6:30 pm outside of the Manatee County Sheriff's Headquarters!
600 301 Blvd W, #202, Bradenton, FL
(Directions: Head south on 9th St. past Lecom Field. Follow as it veers left and becomes 11th St./301 Blvd.
The Sheriff's Office is Just SE of the bus station and across from the DMV.)
Sheriff Wells has yet to meet with STREAM about implementing an Adult PreArrest Diversion (APAD) program as promised at our Nehemiah Action last April.
On March 1st, STREAM delivered over 500 letters urging Sheriff Wells to train his deputies and begin the APAD program from State Attorney Brodsky which has been launched in Sarasota County. See some photos below!
Join us in prayer and song as we reach out to Sheriff Wells to meet with us on this very important issue.
DEC 22 UPDATE!!!
See what the Bradenton Herald had to say about STREAM’s successful year and policy wins! A Manatee County Commissioner described us as “a force to be reckoned with” and a group that will get things done.
Check out other recent news to see what else we’ve been doing - including our Oct 26th prayer vigil/press conference.
We are now focusing on our January 23rd Research Kickoff - please let us know if you are interested in joining one of these issue teams.
Speaking of research, the Florida Housing Coalition has just released its 2022 Home Matters report and advocacy toolkit! See report highlights (the latest on our affordable housing crisis) here.
Interested in DART ALTI (Advance Leader Training Institute) training in Tampa on January 13th and January 20th? Please contact us for registration information - the cost is $50 for one or both classes.
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” - Proverbs 29:7
Many of us want to “do something” to solve problems in our community, but often lack an effective vehicle to do so. We work to address this gap and invite you to join us.
STREAM (Stronger Together Reaching Equality Across Manatee) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organizing group uniting faith communities to answer the call to seek justice and solve critical community problems in Manatee County. Our name STREAM reflects our vision of a community where justice flows like a never-failing stream (Amos 5:24). We believe “loving our neighbor” means standing up and acting to provide fairness and justice for all.
Unique to our approach is a focus on direct action to address the root causes of problems. We do not provide charitable services (often a temporary fix). STREAM works to create long-term solutions by changing problematic policies and systems that are significant drivers of poverty and injustice. Our current priority issues are affordable housing and criminal justice reform.
We currently have 15 member congregations with diverse religious, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds and who come from all parts of Manatee County. We are actively seeking new member congregations (and individual members).
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. - Amos 5:24
I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. - Amos 5:24
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! - Amos 5:24
Do you know what I want? I want justice – oceans of it. I want fairness – rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want. - Amos 5:24
But let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry. - Amos 5:24
No, no, we are not satisfied and will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. - Amos 5:24
Interested in joining us?
We would love to have you on our team and there are many ways to get involved. Whether you’re more comfortable contributing time to help advocate for our goals, money to help us grow, or energy to expand our membership, we need your help. Every member counts and makes creating change in our community possible!
Although our membership is rooted in faith-based institutions, our mission is not to push religious doctrine. Anyone who shares our values of justice and fairness is welcome to get involved. We set aside labels like red/blue or conservative/liberal that divide a community so we can work together on practical solutions for our common good.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
We selected 2 core issues to focus on in 2022 and 2023.
Affordable Housing and Homelessness
Criminal Justice
We will again gather data and identify potential solutions by meeting with community members, policy experts, and local officials. We will share proposed solutions with network members at our March Rally. We will meet meet with local officials and presented our new “asks” to them at the Nehemiah Action on May 8th.
“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
— Benjamin Franklin
