Keeping a Finger on the Pulse
Kimberlee LaGree Ross
formerly Senior Contract Policy Officer, World Vision
When it's your job to secure government funding for projects and you work for a large faith-based organization, you need to keep close tabs on Capitol Hill developments that could affect your work.
You get that information in two ways—through constant research and a strong network. For Kimberlee LaGree Ross, an important part of her network is the Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom (CPRF), a Center for Public Justice initiative led by Stanley Carlson-Thies and Stephen Lazarus.
Powerful Information
Kim served as a Senior Contract Policy Officer and a regulatory researcher for World Vision a Christian relief and development organization focused on helping children and families escape poverty and injustice. Working in Washington, D.C., she was an early member of the CPRF, a diverse alliance of faith-based organizations. The alliance is devoted to preserving the freedom and autonomy of religious organizations that partner with government and/or are affected by government regulation.
The Coalition meets monthly, working with citizens, government leaders, and the media to advocate policies that promote true government neutrality and full religious freedom for people of all faiths. One of its key concerns is preserving the freedom of faith-based organizations to use religious criteria in hiring staff members—whether or not an organization accepts government funds.
"The Coalition is the only organization out there that's bringing together faith-based organizations to discuss the regulations that affect them," says Kim. "We get together to discuss congressional bills and, often, to hear from Senate staffers about the general tone on the Hill. That's really powerful information."
Value of Relationships
The CPRF isn't Kim's only link to the Center for Public Justice (CPJ). In 2000, while working on her master's in public policy at Pepperdine University, Kim worked on welfare reform projects as a CPJ intern.
She reconnected with CPJ staff when she joined World Vision in 2003. "I made it a point to call and discuss the faith-based initiative with them, because it's such a complex area. I'm always able to bounce ideas off of them, and they're always providing new insights."
Kim appreciates CPJ's willingness to help her make contacts. "Washington is a difficult place to get in the door, and on the Hill, they all know Stanley. He has helped me get meetings in the White House and with the Senate HELP [Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions] Committee," Kim says.
"Something like that doesn't happen every day. My director and I were able to meet with several senators and their staffers and speak with them about faith-based hiring rights—and we had CPJ there for legitimacy."
CPJ is respected because of its professionalism and depth of knowledge, Kim says. "Even though they're working on this hot-button topic [the faith-based initiative], CPJ is seen to be truly non-partisan. This allows them to get in and talk to local and state governments, as well as federal agencies, and bring issues from an educated perspective. The tenor of this issue really hinges on education, and CPJ has the ability to talk, educate, and re-educate when the media gets it wrong."
From Novice to Specialist
Kim first became interested in public policy concerning government funding for faith-based organizations when she worked in development at a Christian nonprofit in California. Her interest grew when she saw both candidates in the 2000 presidential election identify faith-based initiatives as a key issue.
Today, as a specialist in the subject, she still relies on CPJ's expertise. "When I have a question about something that's happened on Capitol Hill, my first call is to CPJ staff. ... A lot of what they do—there's no payment for it," she adds. "I appreciate that they always take the time."
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