Annual Membership Assembly: Liberating Love

The Annual Membership Assembly of Community Renewal Society chose the theme Liberating Love, based on Galatians 5:13, to underscore the call to freedom and service through love. Participants gathered virtually to hear about the organization's victories in social justice and advocacy campaigns, meet board members and staff and be inspired to serve. Rev. Dr. Danielle J. Buhuro delivered the keynote address, while Spoken Word Artist Kwyn Townsend Riley presented several original works that focused on CRS' issue areas. Awards were given to individuals, congregations and coalitions for their work in advancing social justice.

Annual Report
2021 — 2022

CONTENTS

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Tribute to James “Jim” Trapp

James Robert Trapp, Jr., 74, of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, passed away unexpectedly November 26, 2021. After serving in the U.S. Army in Germany (1965-68) and Tacoma, WA, Jim worked his way up from the mailroom to an Executive position at IBM Computers. He was a much-loved and respected patriarch, a self-educated and avid reader, chess player, historian and excellent cook. Beloved husband of 54 years to Carole Jean Trapp (nee Cooksey).

Congregation & Partner Awards

  • Given to a trailblazer, visionary and advocate for human rights displaying integrity and courage.

    Rev. Dr. Jorges Morales

    Anjanette Young

  • Presented to a person who embodies the meaning of justice and faith in action

    The Reverend Jason Coulter

    The Rev. Ronald Howell

    Kim L. Hunt

    LeJia Johnson

  • Presented to a church that has been at the forefront of our work, turning out to events and intentionally building power to move the CRS Platform for Renewal.

    Christ Universal Temple

    McCormick Theological Seminary

  • Presented to individuals, organizations or coalitions who embody extraordinary partnership in a Community Renewal Society campaign.

    Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS), Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), SEIU Health, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUS), Target Area, One Northside, Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN),

    Coalition to End Money Bond, Believers Bail Out, Chicago Metropolitan Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, Illinois Justice Project, The People’s Lobby, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Illinois, Nehemiah Trinity Rising, Workers Center for Racial Justice, Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL), Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, The Nest Movement and A Just Harvest

  • Recognizes a trailblazer and intentional legislative partner who championed the issues affecting our communities.

    Senator Robert Peters

  • We recognize, posthumously, Malik Alim, advocate with the Chicago Community Bond Fund, who passed away in August 2021, but left an indelible impact on the work of the Coalition to End Money Bond. We honor Malik and all that he has contributed to this great work for justice in our communities.

The Chicago Reporter

2022 marked the 50th Anniversary of the founding of The Chicago Reporter. The Reporter continues to serve as a leader in investigative reporting of issues concerning race, poverty and social justice. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Faith in Action Assembly

The 2022 Faith in Action Assembly launched our work around reparations and invited individuals and congregations to sign on to our Reparations Pledge. Held virtually and streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, the gathering featured keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ, Spoken Word Artist Kwyn Townsend Riley, Marvin Slaughter, Interim Director of the African American Leadership Policy Institute and musical selections from the Selah St. Sabina Youth Choir!

Juneteenth

The CRS community participated in a virtual screening of Free Renty. Produced by Together Films, the film tells the story of Tamara Lanier, an African American woman determined to force Harvard University to release possession of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty. This film builds on CRS’ work for reparations, a new issue area added in 2022.

Liberating Love

Watch the full 139th Annual Membership Assembly Liberating Love video.

Financials

Expenses

  • Program Services: $1,330,122

  • Support Services: $569,260

Total Expense: $1,899,382

Contributed Revenue

  • Individual Contributions: $66,575

  • Member Congregation Dues, Nonprofit Donations: $46,392

  • Corporate and Nonprofit Contributions: $7,875

  • Foundation Grants: $350,080

Other Revenue

  • Endowment Distributions: $1,998,243

  • Interest designated for Operations: $41,919

  • Gain from extinguishment of debt: $356,952

  • Publication Sales: $246

Total Revenue: $2,868,284

Thank You to Our Partners!

Coalitions & Community Organizations

  • African American Leadership Policy Institute

  • Coalition to End Money Bond

  • Coalition for Police Contracts Accountability

  • CPD Consent Decree Coalition

  • Empowering Communities for Public Safety Coalition

  • Fully Free Coalition

  • Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability

  • Restoring Rights and Opportunities Coalition of Illinois

  • Together Films

  • Trinity United Church of Christ – Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III

  • Selah St. Sabina Youth Choir

Foundations and Funders

  • Chicago Community Bond Fund

  • Chicago Community Trust

  • Field Foundation

  • Ford Foundation

  • Foundation to Promote Open Society

  • Joyce Foundation

  • Woods Fund of Chicago

Thank you to our member congregations and individual donors.
We could not accomplish what we do without your financial support.

Become a CRS Sustainer by donating monthly and consider including CRS in your estate plan.

Community Renewal Society Staff Members

EXECUTIVE

Rev. Dr. Waltrina N. Middleton
Executive Director

ADMINISTRATION
Liz Kloster
Cassandra McClendon
Bria Taylor

HUMAN RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Rev. Dr. Ebony Only
Jim Trapp

DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Tatum Causey
Catherine Hegarty
Bria Taylor

POLICY AND ORGANIZING

Keron Blair
LaCreshia Birts
Larry Dean
Rev. Jason Carson Wilson
Kwyn Townsend Riley

THE CHICAGO REPORTER

Hugo Balta
Relana Johnson
Glenn Reedus

Community Renewal Society Board of Directors

  • Rev. Avalon Betts-Gaston

  • Arthur Bishop 

  • Wil Boone 

  • Juanita Bradley 

  • Glenn Brewer 

  • Daryle Brown 

  • Dr. Ulysses Burley III 

  • Rev. Molly Carlson 

  • Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel 

  • Beth Johnson

  • Rev. Richard Mosley Jr.

  • Rev. Dr. Terrill Murff 

  • Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks 

  • Charles Perry 

  • Rev. Benjamin Reynolds 

  • Dr. Christophe Ringer 

  • Natasha Robinson 

  • Rev. Brandyn Simmons 

  • Anthony Sullivan 

  • Carrie Thomas 

  • Kevin Tyson

Community Renewal Society Member Congregations

  • Bethel United Church of Christ, Elmhurst

  • Christ Church United Church of Christ, Des Plaines

  • Christ Universal Temple, Chicago

  • Clair-Christian United Methodist Church, Chicago

  • Congregational United Church of Christ of Arlington Heights

  • Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist, Palatine

  • First Congregational Church of La Grange

  • First Congregational Church of Wilmette

  • First Congregational United Church of Christ of Naperville

  • First Congregational United Church of Christ of Waukegan

  • First Unitarian Church of Chicago

  • First United Church of Oak Park

  • First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights

  • First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple

  • Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago

  • Glencoe Union Church

  • Grace Lutheran Church, Evanston

  • Kenwood United Church of Christ, Chicago

  • Kimball Avenue United Church of Christ, Chicago

  • LaSalle Street Church, Chicago

  • Metropolitan Community Church, Chicago

  • Northfield Community Church

  • Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights 

  • Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Oak Park

  • Prince of Peace United Methodist Church, Elk Grove Village

  • Ravenswood United Church of Christ, Chicago

  • Saint James Catholic Church, Chicago

  • San Lucas United Church of Christ, Chicago

  • Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago

  • Second Unitarian Church of Chicago

  • Southminster Presbyterian Church, Arlington Heights 

  • St. Agatha Catholic Church, Chicago

  • St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church, Chicago

  • St. Paul United Church of Christ, Barrington

  • Third Unitarian Church of Chicago

  • Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago

  • Unitarian Church, Evanston

  • Unity Temple, Oak Park

  • University Church of Hyde Park, Chicago

  • Urban Village Church, Chicago and River Forest

  • Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, Chicago

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