GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE JOHNSON ANNOUNCES OUTREACH MINISTRIES TO FAITH AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

MONTGOMERY, Ala. , AUG. 23, 2009 – Bill Johnson, Republican gubernatorial candidate, announced today that one of his major focuses if elected Governor in 2010 will be outreach and partnering with faith and community-based organizations.

“Because of our belief in small government, Republicans are many times labeled as being unsympathetic and uncompassionate toward those who are underserved and struggling,” said Johnson.  “It’s not that we don't care; we in fact care very much.  We just don't believe government programs are always the best way to help.” 

During the past six and a half years, Johnson has led the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).  In his role as ADECA director, he envisioned and implemented a number of programs through which state government can leverage limited resources by partnering with organizations whose mission is to minister to or serve others.  For instance, his launch of the Community Partnership for Recovery and Renewal (CPR) engaged the faith community in re-entry efforts.

Following Katrina, Johnson led an effort to partner with faith and community-based organizations in disaster response.  “Having lived through six hurricanes and one tornado,” said Johnson, ”I have witnessed first-hand the tremendous outpouring of support extended by our faith community and corporate partners.  I saw a tragedy after Katrina as great as the one left by the storm.  Hundreds of volunteers, able and willing to assist in recovery efforts, arrived at the coast to serve.  Unfortunately, they arrived at the same place at the same time and found nothing to do.”

Johnson explained that many of these volunteers came from faith-based communities across the country after having taken a week off from school or work, traveling hundreds of miles in a church bus and sleeping on church floors.  Johnson concluded, “I believe there is an opportunity to maximize this great desire of people to help others by coordinating the response effort with the faith community and corporate teams.  A state-led effort will fully utilize manpower by distributing volunteers across all affected areas and will more effectively meet the urgent needs of our citizens.”

Other partnering opportunities between state government and faith and community-based organizations is outreach to both our youngest and eldest populations.  In 2008, Johnson’s agency adopted theMentor Alabama program, formerly managed by the Office of the Attorney General.  This program has over 10,000 members volunteering for some 200 organizations across the state.  Through Mentor Alabama, background checks are conducted on every participant who registers to work with our children and youth.

In addition to mentoring our youngest citizens, Johnson believes faith and community-based organizations can best meet the needs of our aging and eldest citizenry. 

“Thanks to the advancement of knowledge and healthcare, our aging populations are living longer, more productive lives than the generations before us,” Johnson continued.  “Our senior adults are vital members of our communities—bringing a lifetime of experience, knowledge, skills and work ethic to our state.  We have a tremendous opportunity to engage our seniors in mentoring and education assistance to our young people. In addition to engaging our seniors in mentoring youth, outreach programs through our faith community can meet transportation, shopping and other needs, allowing our seniors to maintain an independent lifestyle in their own homes.”

Another government/faith partnering opportunity that protects our communities and empowers former inmates to become productive citizens is Alabama's CPR Network. 

“One of the greatest social challenges facing our society is substance and drug abuse—a contributing factor in 85% of inmates currently incarcerated,” said Johnson.  “Alabama, like most other states, is struggling to maintain the current level of correctional services. Adding additional services through state government to better prepare inmates for release and re-entry into our communities is certainly not an option.” 

Johnson explains that the majority of newly released inmates are in need of substance abuse counseling, finding gainful employment, locating shelter and transportation, and finding moral and spiritual support—all elements necessary to prevent them from re-offending and landing back on the taxpayer payroll in prison.  In 2008, under Johnson’s leadership, ADECA launched the CPR Network to engage the faith community in re-entry efforts.  This program’s goal is to help break the vicious cycle of recidivism by providing assistance to inmates re-entering our communities.  Over 900 people and organizations stepped up to the plate and joined the CPR Network.

Johnson continued, “As Governor, I would not only continue the existing CPR program, but further develop this partnership by encouraging faith-based organizations to adopt a “Celebrate Recovery” or similar program for their communities.”   In addition to the substance abuse programs, Celebrate Recovery offers support for other emotional needs, as well, such as loss of a loved one, personal terminal illness, divorce and loss of employment.

Other key issues and ministries proposed by Johnson can be found at www.billjohnson.org.

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Bill Johnson, former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is a Republican Candidate for Alabama Governor in 2010.  Johnson has been a member of Governor Riley’s cabinet since 2005 and led Riley’s grassroots efforts for his successful races for Congress in 1998 and Governor in both 2002 and 2006.  Johnson has worked with state and local-level economic and workforce development efforts; was instrumental in launching the Black Belt Action Commission, of which he was director during the program’s initial two-years; was active in launching the Rural Action Commission; and was the impetus for development of the Community Prison Re-entry (CPR) Network.  Johnson, the son of a career military and civil servant, is a native of Birmingham.  He and his wife, Kathy, live in Prattville and are the parents of three children.