“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” — Proverbs 3:27
CRS has joined forces with Trinity United Church of Christ in Gary and their Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. John. E. Jackson Sr., on the road to recovery.
We invite you to volunteer through our Eyes on Gary Taskforce and donate to our Gary Rapid Response Fund to support the community as it rebuilds in this time of need.
Community Renewal Society is a faith-based, community organizing and public policy organization that works with congregations in and around Chicago to address issues of racism and poverty.
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Increase police accountability in Chicago through citywide coalition, constituency and capacity building, by ensuring civilian control of the Chicago Police Department and implementing the Federal Consent Decree.
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Increase employment, housing and educational opportunities for directly impacted people within jail or the prison industrial complex by advancing legislative reforms that restore rights and create economic opportunities for people with records.
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Advocate for reparations and economic justice as restitution for moral injury, protracted trauma and cultural disinheritance.
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Increase shared vision of The Beloved Community, commitment to justice, equity, inclusion, healing and advocacy in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ communities.
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Community Renewal Society is engaged in racial healing through our commitment to honor the full humanity of individuals impacted by the prison industrial complex, persons displaced and homeless, and by honoring the narratives of those lives stolen by racialized violence, discrimination and police brutality. We are committed to building bridges and providing resources to facilitate healing in diverse capacities.
2026-2027 Platform For Renewal
The Platform for Renewal encompasses five key issue areas reflecting on extensive listening sessions, detailed policy analysis and our commitment together with our member congregations and coalition partners, to do the work of antiracism and justice.
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Become a part of Community Renewal Society’s pursuit of social justice, empowering you with resources, insights, and opportunities to challenge systemic injustices and help build equitable, inclusive communities together!
Take Action
Join CRS' mission for positive change by visiting our "Take Action" page. Become a District Council Member, sign the Reparations Pledge and support crucial legislation. Access resources to find officials, understand legislation and request speakers. Engage in advocacy, faith-based discussions and civic activities like voter registration and letter-writing. Share your thoughts with The Chicago Reporter, connect with CRS on social media and subscribe to our newsletter. Donate to support our work and make a difference today!
Resources
Meet the Officers & Staff
The Chicago Reporter was founded in 1972 by John A. McDermott to measure Chicago’s progress toward racial equality as the civil rights era ended. Since its inception, it has been housed at Community Renewal Society.
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The Reporter serves a critical role in the city and nation by focusing the power of investigative reporting on issues of inequality that rarely receive thorough and regular examination by mainstream media organizations. Our core areas of coverage are criminal justice, affordable housing and economic development, jobs and transportation.
The Reporter’s investigations have had a significant impact on policy and the public discourse in Chicago. In the 1980s, then Mayor Harold Washington cited the Reporter’s work in addressing long standing racial inequalities in the distribution of city services. Almost 25 years later, the Reporter’s investigation of racially disparate home mortgage lending sparked a lawsuit by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan that resulted in an $8.7 billion settlement with Countrywide Financial. And in 2015, the Reporter was the only media organization in the city to acquire a video of a police officer shooting into a car of unarmed African-American teenagers, one of many cases of police-involved shootings leading up the release of a video showing the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is felt around the world, and here in Chicago as well. Dr. King spoke about how leaders from Chicago marched with discipline and restraint even when antagonized by racist bystanders.