In 2016, we were called together to engage in honest and hopeful conversations about racism, responding both to national events like the killing of Philando Castile and to the lived experiences of neighbors in our own community. Through a series of forums, we gathered people of many backgrounds and perspectives, not only to name the brokenness we see, but to prayerfully seek a better way forward.
As we listened deeply to one another’s stories, we began to recognize how stereotypes, bias, and injustice shape our lives and our community. These conversations invited us into self-examination and compassion, reminding us that our faith calls us to love boldly, to pursue justice, and to honor the dignity of every person as a child of God.
From this shared journey, we invited our community to commit to the Interfaith Community Diversity, Justice, and Peace Pledge. In doing so, we affirmed that diversity is a gift, that racism is sin, and that we are called to live lives rooted in justice, inclusion, and peace.
Guided by the relationships we formed and the Spirit at work among us, we felt led to continue this journey beyond conversation into faithful action. This led to the formation of our Reparations Working Group, as we continue discerning how God calls us to move from reflection toward repair, healing, and restoration in our community.
Timeline of Black Amer. History – https://blackamericanhistory.org/timeline/
Stories of Black History – https://www.28daysofblackhistory.com/
History of Racial Injustice – https://calendar.eji.org/about
Brick, Grass (&) Steel, a podcast hosted by Collette English Dixon, longtime Euclid member – https://shows.acast.com/brick-grass-steel
Code Switch, a podcast from a multiracial, multigenerational group of journalists who explore how race affects every part of society – https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch
Reparations 4 Slavery, resources for white folks walking the path of direct repair (including podcasts) – https://reparations4slavery.com/podcasts/
Race-Conscious Dialogues, programs designed to deepen awareness of identity, privilege, positionality to power and more, then integrate learning with everyday life … creating a brave and supportive space to show up through honest conversation – https://www.raceconsciousdialogues.org/
Kinfolk CoLab, housed on Euclid’s 2nd floor, a community center that prioritizes people of color, & provides space for BIPOC-led groups who seek safe and affirming locations to gather & run programming – https://kinfolkcolab.org/
Northern Illinois Conference of UMC resources on Religion & Race – https://www.umcnic.org/antiracism & https://www.umcnic.org/CA2BC