IIOS sprung out of the Santa Barbara Foundation as an interfaith answer to affordable housing and addressing the needs of their community. Since then they host annual celebrations, which inspire interfaith cooperation, understanding and activism. In order to expand the scope of interfaith activism in Santa Barbara County, in 2013 IISBC signed Memoranda of Understanding with two organizations: ECOFaith and HEAL, both reputable, unincorporated nonprofit associations that needed a strategic and operational hub. This consolidation has formed one strong organization to take a focused, hands-on approach to solving habitat, energy, and sheltering issues.
Interfaith Initiative of Santa Barbara County Cooperation Circle (CC) welcomes, stands with, and celebrates the major faith and spiritual traditions in the community, promoting understanding, respect, and cooperative activities while partnering with other organizations to realize our common values and goals. At this moment it is developing three main programs. The first one is ECOFaith: a coalition of diverse, local faith communities and individuals who are working together to lower carbon emissions and get on the path of sustainability. IISBC acknowledges that the Earth is in environmental peril and that collaborative leadership is needed to protect and preserve our living planet. The second project is HEAL: HEAL stands for Hope, Empowerment And Love and its purpose is to help identify and coordinate services to brothers and sisters without homes in the Goleta/Noleta and Isla Vista area, especially encouraging faith congregations to engage in advocacy, issue awareness, and volunteer opportunities according to the calling and resources of each. Finally, the third project is Compassion: Interfaith Initiative of Santa Barbara County advocates a compassionate approach to providing human services and reducing our carbon footprint by placing social and environmental justice at the center of everyday living and decision-making.
