Genesis Receives 2010 “Voices of Conscience” Award
For Championing Transit Justice and Public Accountability
Genesis received the “Voices of Conscience” award from Public Advocates, Inc. during their 39th Anniversary dinner celebration at Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. Public Advocates, Inc. is a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization, "...that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, and transit equity."
Genesis, in concert with strategic partner organizations, Urban Habitat and Transform (who also received this recognition), influenced a first of its kind decision featured in the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers. Working together, a complaint was filed with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), calling attention to the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) cavalier disregard of federal civil rights obligations. We persuaded the Federal Transit Administration to uphold Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requiring the use of federal funds to address the needs of poor and minority residents.
The FTA found multiple civil rights violations and in a landmark move, $70 Million in federal stimulus funds was pulled from BART’s controversial airport connector and redistributed to sustain essential operations at ailing transit agencies to meet the needs of low income and working class people. This is a victory for Genesis and for the people of the Bay area. In addition to filing the complaint, 100’s of Genesis leaders attended and testified at Metropolitan Transportation Commission meetings to explain the transit needs of people in our communities. For further reference see links to newspaper articles in our “News and Events" section.