The Nakba is still going and Palestinians are threatened by genocide. Community Renewal Society engaged in sacred dialogue with community leaders to discuss solidarity, bridge building, organizing, ethics of love and honoring the full humanity of all where everyone can flourish. The following interviews were led by CRS Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton.

This poem was inspired by the author’s visit to historic state of Palestine, illegally occupied by Israel. It was presented as a part of a peace forum at The Carter Center in Atlanta, GA.

The Latino Caucus of the Chicago City Council has voted to endorse the civilian police oversight ordinance backed by the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) and the coalition for a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC).

The City of Chicago’s Aldermanic Black Caucus (CABC) voted to officially support the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance…

We write this letter on behalf of the Coalition to request that the City immediately share with the Coalition the current draft Chicago Police Department (CPD) foot pursuit policy…

The undersigned grassroots and advocacy organizations stand in solidarity with the Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem

Seventeen years ago, my son Seneca was shot six times by Chicago Police after being chased on foot. The police officers even fired upon and injured an innocent bystander after chasing Seneca into an occupied building.

CRS along with the GAPA Coalition remember those mothers and families at-large mourning the loss of their children due to police brutality and the threats to human life due to racialized violence via police force.

During my sabbatical, I’ve been afforded the blessing of having some great hikes and seeing some great sights: Crestone, CO, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Royal Gorge, Rio Grande Gorge, and much more. As I have made my way around, somewhat planned, somewhat letting the Spirit (and my whims) guide me, I have found some real gems.

The verdict is in. Read statements from our Board of Directors regarding the Derek Chauvin verdict.

Scriptures with Themes for Reflection, Social Justice Warrior Quotes For Reflection, and Litany for Justice.

Honor the Family of the Fallen. Open Your Doors. Support Calls for Justice. Follow the Path of Peace. Quash the Rumor Mill. Connect with the Chicago Police Department. Work to Build a More Just Chicago.

CRS, as a member of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago (CRLMC), shares this Statement on the Police Shooting of Adam Toledo.

We cry out to God with hope in our persistent pursuit of justice. We realize a guilty verdict does not remove the sting of our grief and deep loss with so many lives stolen.

Scriptures with Themes for Reflection, Prayers / Lament

Another indelible image of police murdering an unarmed person of color leaves us perplexed. Chicago Police Officer Eric Stillman shot 13-year-old Adam Toledo less than a second AFTER Adam dropped the gun and had BOTH hands up. In other words, the young man complied.

The trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, the torture of Gerald Reed at the hands of police who was freed after 31 years of being wrongfully imprisoned, the wrongful raid of Anjanette Young. We continue to hear how the police engage in deeply traumatizing behavior. The only way to stop this senseless violence and injustice is by changing the system that allows for such violence to occur.

After twelve months of this pandemic, if our greatest desire is to get back to where we were a year ago, we have missed the memo from the Holy Spirit.

My fifth-grade teacher had a box on her desk for loose change that we collected and sent to an overseas children’s mission. We learned the children received food, clothing, vaccines, and were also baptized as a result of our offerings. One day, our teacher said that our offerings had lagged, and the children were not getting the help they needed.

Inequality’s impact on LGBTQIA+ siblings prompted the Faith for Equality coalition to seize this important moment and work--again--to make the Equality Act law of the land.