Biography : Tom Amato

Tom Amato is a veteran of over 25 years of faith based community organizing. After working as a science teacher in Maryland public schools, Mr. Amato was one of the first Maryknoll Lay Missioners working with cooperatives in Nicaragua and doing human rights advocacy in the US. He worked with South Bronx congregations organizing on safety, transit and housing issues before coming to California. Since 1985 he has worked with the Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO). Mr. Amato was the founding director of PICO faith based projects in San Jose, Sacramento and Stockton. He has worked on issues of housing, education, safety, urban development and health care. He currently directs PACT for Stockton one of California's most diverse organizing projects with work in seven ethnic communities. PACT leadership includes Catholic, Protestants, Buddhists, and Muslims.